The Wheat and The Tares
Who are the tares in this parable? Some say they are the people of the world (i.e., the unregenerate within and without the church). Others say they are the unregenerate within the church who profess to be Christians. What say you?
Matthew 13:24-30 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.
Matthew 13:36-43 Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field. He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
Labels: Tares
posted by Dawn @ 6/03/2007 05:36:00 PM
14 comments
14 Comments:
Hi Dawn!
Here is the answer here "The field is the world".
There are some who hold that Christ, as the second Adam, is the new head of the human race. If you also keep this thought in mind then look at John 15, those branches that don't bear fruit are taken away, it would mean the unregenerate of the world.
I've only recently been exposed to this teaching. I don't know anything of its history. I am waying it out as to whether or not I should embrace it.
Blessings,
Mark
Dawn,
It seems to me the field is the world (unregenerate) and Christ sows seed in the world that produce good plants (Christians) in the church. Then satan sows seed that produce bad plants (hypocrits) in the church. If Satan were just adding to the unregenerate that were already in the world, why even add this step in the parable.
wayne
Hi Mark! Thanks for taking he time to state your view on this parable. That's how I read this scripture. To me, it is point blank, but then I decided to read others' opinions and the majority were saying that it is the "church" world (Kingdom of God) because tares are darnels and darnels look exactly like wheat until they produce their "fruit". Much like some in the church who profess to be Christians, but may not be Christians and only the Lord knows for sure. The fruit of the darnel is poisonous (possibly due to a fungus).
If it were the "church" world Jesus was speaking of, it would seem to negate church discipline and I know that God expects us to exercise church discipline.
Thanks again Mark!
Hey Jazzy! Thanks for your opinion. Goodness. I'm having to really rethink this...multiple times! =:0 I'm rethinking now. *sigh*
The field is indeed the world, in which the Gospel is preached.
The tares are introduced by Satan subsequently to the preaching of the Gospel. Therefore they are not simply unregenerate people, but false professors in the mystery form of the kingdom or Christendom (not the church which was not revealed at this point).
Every Blessing in Christ
Matthew
I believe the tares are one of satans most useful tools today.
Howdy,
The tares are the children of the wicked one per the clear statement of the Lord Jesus. I would have to see these as figurative children, as spirits cannot procreate, hence, these must be humans. While I say that these humans are unregenerate is it possible that some are "Carnal Christian's" in the vein of Lewis Sperry Chafer, some being regenerate*? Hmmm? But may Christians be tossed from Kingdom into the furnace, speaking of reward loss? Doesn’t seem to be the case as these wail and gnash their teeth (speaking of hell in other places) I must say then that all of these are unregenerate.
*(Note: I am not saying the Dr. Chafer interpreted this passage in that manner)
Hey Matthew, thanks for stopping and commenting.
Matthew: "Therefore they are not simply unregenerate people, but false professors in the mystery form of the kingdom or Christendom..."
If I'm reading you correctly, you believe the tares are ALL unregenerate people.
Anonymous, I agree.
Hey Leo! Thanks for commenting.
Definitely the tares are human and definitely they are unregenerate. I believe the field is the world and the world includes the church; therefore, the tares are the unregenerate in and out of the church.
Some people believe the tares describe only those who infiltrate the church as false professors of Christ and not the unregenerate outside the church as well.
The tares are unregenerate people who profess to be Christian.
Not Muslims, Hindus or heathens.
Interesting. Seems to me the world and that part of the kingdom here right now in Spirit are sharing the same ground. And at the divinely chosen end of this world the mess will be sorted out and purified by the Lord through His reaping angels and His fire. And it appears that He's going to have to apply the same treatment to His remaining kingdom here on earth too, and"gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;".
To me, it's a parable directed at the world and includes any part of the world that claims inheritance in the kingdom. And we would all agree that it seems like there is alot of the world that has sprung up within the Church that would like to lay claim to the kingdom and will probably be weeded out.
That's how I handle that parable anyway Dawn.
Hey Todd! Thanks for your opinions. I tend to see it the way you do. Either way, this scripture does not negate church discipline. Someone I know has used this scripture to prove that we are not to exercise church discipline to the point where one who professes Christ should be put out of the church if after he still refuses to repent after all the correct measures have been taken (i.e., Matthew 18).
Then I misread you Matthew. Thanks for clearing it up for me.
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