The Kingdom of Heaven is at Hand, 1:1-28:20

The Galilean Ministry, 8:1-18:35

Reception Of the Messiah: Rising Opposition, 11:2-13:53

The Third Discourse: The Parables Of The Kingdom, 13:1-53 (1-33, 44-53); Mar 4:1-34; Lu 8:4-18.

SOWING AND TARING IN THE SOIL (Pentecost 8, 12)

Mat 13:24-30, 36-43.

Reading:

Songs: This is my Father’s world

Theme:

A. I like to garden. For me there is a great satisfaction found in working the earth, nurturing it, planting, caring for the plants and than reaping the harvest. However, for many who do not understand, there is the idea that gardening only involves, planting, pulling up an easy chair, sipping lemonade until September and expecting to have need to use a machete to hack their way through their cucumbers, carrots, and tomatoes. All joking aside we need to understand that much of gardening also involves weeds. All gardeners must make no mistake, that a garden left on its own will quickly fill with weeds. They’re a curse against which all farmers alike, must labour. Anyway, suppose the garden has weeds. Than what should the gardener do? Pull up all the weeds? The problem is, sometimes there is difficulty in knowing if the plant erupting up through the soil is a weed or a desired plant. Sometimes one must wait long to know because some weeds closely resemble the desired plant. As the weeds grow their roots intertwine among the roots of the desired plants so that pulling up the weeds may also result in destroying the desired plants. There are great similarities to planting seed in the garden and dealing with weeds, to seed planted for the kingdom of God.

B. Continuing with parables, in our text, Jesus was describing the nature of his kingdom by mentioning it was like a man planting a garden. In planting good seed he expected good plants to grow as a result. However, sometimes, though good seed was planted, weeds still grow in abundance. Let’s examine this idea.

Theme: planting for the kingdom of heaven and growth may include some undesirable fruit

II. THE SOWER AND THE SEED, 13:24-26.

A. ... The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man that sowed good seed ..., 13:24.

24 ¶ Another <243> parable <3850> [put KJV] set he [forth KJV] <3908> (5656) [unto them KJV] before them <846>, saying <3004> (5723), The kingdom <932> of heaven <3772> is likened <3666> (5681) unto a man <444> [which KJV] that sowed <4687> (5723) (5625) <4687> (5660) good <2570> seed <4690> in <1722> his <846> field <68>:

1. There is nothing unusual about the man in the text planting seed.

a. In spring, even early summer for quick crops following a warm spring, it is common place to see people planting seed.

b. This is especially true in our community.

2. However, in the text we read that a while later someone else also planted seed.

B. ... while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares also among the wheat ..., 13:25-26.

25 [But KJV] but <1161> while <1722> men <444> slept <2518> (5721), his <846> enemy <2190> came <2064> (5627) and <2532> sowed <4687> (5656) tares <2215> also among <303> <3319> the wheat <4621>, and <2532> went his way <565> (5627).

26 But <1161> when <3753> the blade <5528> [was sprung KJV] sprang up <985> (5656) and <2532> brought forth <4160> (5656) fruit <2590>, then <5119> appeared <5316> (5648) the tares <2215> also <2532>.

27 [So KJV] And <1161> the servants <1401> of the householder <3617> came <4334> (5631) and said <2036> (5627) unto him <846>, Sir <2962>, didst <4687> <0> [not KJV] thou not <3780> sow <4687> (5656) good <2570> seed <4690> in <1722> thy <4674> field <68>? [from KJV] whence <4159> then <3767> hath it <2192> (5719) tares <2215>?

28 [<1161> He KJV] And he said <5346> (5713) unto them <846>, An enemy <2190> <444> hath done <4160> (5656) this <5124>. <1161>. [The KJV] And the servants <1401> [said KJV] say <2036> (5627) unto him <846>, Wilt thou <2309> (5719) then <3767> that we go <565> (5631) and gather <4816> <0> them <846> up <4816> (5661)?

1. A jealous enemy was also planted in the same field.

2. Many disastrous events in history occurred while men slept, Ep 5:14.

a. Sept. 12, 1759 -- In Quebec -- French headquarters in Canada was under attack by Major General James Wolf of England. After the French repelled 3 attempts the governor felt safe and wrote a friend a letter --Said, "no longer concerned about security of Quebec”. But while men slept, the British scaled the north wall along the St. Laurence sea way, and at early dawn the caught French unprepared and won the battle. North American continent came under the control of Britian.

b. Christmas 1776 -- The fire for American independence burned low, several defeats were suffered in a row. -- But while men slept Gen. Washington led 2500 men across the Delaware River at Trent New Jersey Dec. 26,1776 the fire was rekindled and swept to victory for American independence.

c. Belshazzar -- King of Babylon -- While men slept, the Meades and Persians entered and conquered the capital of the world.

3. Though much can happen while men lazily, carelessly or because of inactivity (Pr 24:30-34), sleep, but the sleep of the men in the text was normal, expected.

a. What had happened was no fault of their own.

b. tares, 2215 ZIZANION {dziz-an'-ee-on} of uncertain origin;; n n AV - tares 8; 8 1) a kind of darnel, resembling wheat except the grains are black

(1) a species in the same family of wheat, barley, rye, etc. It has a blade very similar to the wheat and cannot be distinguished until it forms its seed head.

(2) I have read that this weed, called bearded darnel (lolium temulentum), in its early stages so closely resembles the wheat that it is impossible to distinguish the one from the other until they are mature. However by that time their roots were so intertwined that the tares could not be weeded out without tearing the wheat out with them. During harvest it was important to separate the two because the grain of the bearded darnel is slightly poisonous, causing dizziness, sickness and is narcotic in its effects.

Transition: As bad as the tares were, or any weeds, sometimes it is necessary to leave them until the harvest.

III. THE SOWER THE QUESTION AND THE DECISION, 13:27-30.

A. ... whence then hath it tares?... Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?, 13:27-28.

27 [So KJV] And <1161> the servants <1401> of the householder <3617> came <4334> (5631) and said <2036> (5627) unto him <846>, Sir <2962>, didst <4687> <0> [not <3780> KJV] thou not <3780> sow <4687> (5656) good <2570> seed <4690> in <1722> thy <4674> field <68>? [from KJV] whence <4159> then <3767> hath it <2192> (5719) tares <2215>?

28 [<1161> He KJV] And he said <5346> (5713) unto them <846>, An enemy <2190> <444> hath done <4160> (5656) this <5124>. [<1161> The KJV] And the servants <1401> [said KJV] say <2036> (5627) unto him <846>, Wilt thou <2309> (5719) then <3767> that we go <565> (5631) and gather <4816> <0> them <846> up <4816> (5661)?

B. ... Nay lest while ye gather up the tares ye root up also the wheat ... , 13:29-30.

29 But <1161> he [said KJV] saith <5346> (5713), Nay <3756>; lest <3379> while ye gather up <4816> (5723) the tares <2215>, ye root up <1610> (5661) also the wheat <4621> with <260> them <846>.

30 Let <863> (5628) both <297> grow together <4885> (5745) until <3360> the harvest <2326>: and <2532> in <1722> the time <2540> of harvest <2326> I will say <2046> (5692) to the reapers <2327>, Gather ye together <4816> (5657) first <4412> the tares <2215>, and <2532> bind <1210> (5657) them <846> in <1519> bundles <1197> to <4314> burn <2618> (5658) them <846>; but <1161> gather <4863> (5628) the wheat <4621> into <1519> my <3450> barn <596>.

1. As good servants, the workers were concerned that:

a. there were weeds among the wheat

b. the harvest might not turn out well

c. the good purpose of their master might fail.

2. However, the farmer feared that good wheat might be mistaken for tares, or that the wheat might have been pulled up with the tares.

Transition: Let’s take a look at what Jesus was trying to teach with this parable of the tares.

IV.THE SOWER AND THE EXPLANATION, 13:36-43. (Jesus' Explanation Of The Parable)

A. ... and his disciples came ..., saying... Explain unto us the parable of the tares ... And he answered ..., 13:36-39.

36 Then <5119> [Jesus <2424> sent <863> <0> KJV] he left the multitude <3793>, [away <863> (5631),KJV] and went <2064> (5627) into <1519> the house <3614>: and <2532> his <846> disciples <3101> came <4334> (5656) unto him <846>, saying <3004> (5723), [Declare KJV] Explain <5419> (5657) unto us <2254> the parable <3850> of the tares <2215> of the field <68>.

37 [He KJV] And he answered <611> (5679) and <1161> said <2036> (5627) [unto them <846> KJV], He that soweth <4687> (5723) the good <2570> seed <4690> is <2076> (5748) the Son <5207> of man <444>;

38 [<1161> The KJV] and the field <68> is <2076> (5748) the world <2889>; <1161> and the good <2570> seed <4690> , these are <3778> <1526> (5748) the [children KJV] sons <5207> of the kingdom <932>; [but KJV] and <1161> the tares <2215> are <1526> (5748) the [children KJV] sons <5207> of the [wicked KJV] evil <4190> one;

39 <1161> The KJV] and the enemy <2190> that sowed <4687> (5660) them <846> is <2076> (5748) the devil <1228>: and <1161> the harvest <2326> is <2076> (5748) the end <4930> of the world <165>; and <1161> the reapers <2327> are <1526> (5748) the angels <32>.

1. The sower, Jesus identified as himself, the “Son of man”.

a. The one in Daniel dream who received a kingdom, Da 7:13-14

b. The one who preached the gospel of the kingdom, Mat 4:23

c. The one who after his ascension received all authority, Mat 28:18-20; 1Pe 3:2; Re 2:26-27; 3:21

2. The field Jesus explained was the world over which he came to sow his seed. It is important we understand that the field is not the church.

3. The good seed Jesus explained is those of the kingdom.

a. kingdom, 932 BASILEIA {bas-il-i'-ah} from 935; TDNT - 1:579,97; n f AV - kingdom (of God) 71, kingdom (of heaven) 32, kingdom (general or evil) 20, (Thy or Thine) kingdom 6, His kingdom 6, the kingdom 5, (My) kingdom 4, misc 18; 162 1) royal power, kingship, dominion, rule 1a) not to be confused with an actual kingdom but rather the right or authority to rule over a kingdom 1b) of the royal power of Jesus as the triumphant Messiah 1c) of the royal power and dignity conferred on Christians in the Messiah's kingdom 2) a kingdom, the territory subject to the rule of a king 3) used in the N.T. to refer to the reign of the Messiah

(1) In the Parable of the Tares, the word "kingdom" does not refer to the church, but Christ's rule over all things, cf. Mt. 28:18.

(2) We understand this further in that Jesus said the field into which the seed was planted is the world.

(3) The world is definitely not the church.

4. The tares Jesus explained were those who follow the ways of the devil, those who practice lawlessness (cf. 1Jo 3:4; Mat 13:41) and thereby do not submit to the Lord's authority.

5. The enemy Jesus explained is Satan, whose efforts it is to try to destroy the Lord’s rule or influence

a. Satan plants in the world among those who allow God to reign over them just as tares among the wheat.

b. We should all understand that Satan is constantly working against those who follow with God’s authority, cp, Ac 20:29-32; 1Pe 5:8

(1) We might think God wouldn't allow Satan to influence those in whom the word is planted. However, Satan has been testing God's people since the Garden of Eden.

(a) There is a need to be watchful for the enemy will attack when we least expect.

(b) Evil lurks under the cover of darkness, when the righteous are weary.

(2) One of the difficulties that results when the devil plants weeds, is many of the weeds look just like the wheat, the desired results, making it very difficult know the good from the bad.

(a) We must understand well, that Satan uses many devices (2Co 2:11) and ne of the those devices that he uses most to accomplish his goals are people, 2Co 11:13-15.

(b) We need always to remain alert.

6. The reapers Jesus explained were the angels who will accompany him when he returns at the end of the age.

a. They will not only accompany him (2 Th 1:7-9) but will also separate the wicked from among the just, vs 40-43; cf. Mat 13:49.

b. Note the text states that the angels will gather certain ones "out of His kingdom, Mat 13:41.

(1) So much for eternal security and once saved, always saved regardless.

(2) Those gathered out from among those "in the kingdom" are then "cast into the furnace,” Mat 13:42

(3) Who would those cast out be? Remember, the field is the world (not the Jews alone and not in the church). It is:

(a) Those who "offend" (cause others to stumble)

(b)Against which Jesus warned His disciples, Mat 18:6-7

(c)Against which Paul warned the Christians at Corinth and Rome, 1Co 8:11-13; 10:31-11:1; Ro 16:17-18 (cf. 14:13, 19-21)

(4) Those who "practice lawlessness" (some might add - do things without authority)

(a)Remember the warnings of Jesus and John, Mat 7:21-23; 2 Jn 9

(b)The way to avoid lawlessness is given in Co 3:17

(c)Because of the very real danger of not "entering our heavenly rest", we find warnings to persevere, cf. He 3:12-14; 4:1-2,

c. age, 165 AION {ahee-ohn'} from the same as 104; TDNT - 1:197,31; n m AV - ever 71, world 38, never + 3364 + 1519 + 3588 6, evermore 4, age 2, eternal 2, misc 5; 128 1) for ever, an unbroken age, perpetuity of time, eternity 2) the worlds, universe 3) period of time, age

B. As therefore the tares are gathered up and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of the world, 13:40-43.

40 As <5618> therefore <3767> the tares <2215> are gathered <4816> (5743) up and <2532> burned <2618> (5743) in the fire <4442>; so <3779> shall it be <2071> (5704) in <1722> the end <4930> of [this KJV] the <5127> world <165>.

41 The Son <5207> of man <444> shall send forth <649> (5692) his <846> angels <32>, and <2532> they shall gather <4816> (5692) out of <1537> his <846> kingdom <932> all things <3956> that [offend KJV] cause stumbling <4625>, and <2532> them [which KJV] that do <4160> (5723) iniquity <458>,

42 [And KJV] and <2532> shall cast <906> (5692) them <846> into <1519> [a KJV] the furnace <2575> of fire <4442>: there <1563> shall be <2071> (5704) [wailing KJV] the weeping <2805> and <2532> the gnashing <1030> of teeth <3599>.

43 Then <5119> shall the righteous <1342> shine forth <1584> (5692) as <5613> the sun <2246> in <1722> the kingdom <932> of their <846> Father <3962>. [Who KJV] He that <3588> hath <2192> (5723) ears <3775> [to hear <191> (5721) KJV], let him hear <191> (5720).

1. Punishment of the wicked is a recurring theme in several of the parables.

a. The Parable Of The Dragnet, cf. Mat 13:49-50

b. The Parable Of The Unforgiving Servant, cf. Mat 18:34-35

c. There is a place prepared for the wicked, cf. Mat 25:41, 45-46

2. Indeed, this is a warning to all not to allow ourselves to be influenced by the wicked one!

a. Our objective is to allow the word of God to abide in us so we can overcome the wicked one, cp. 1 Jn 2:14.

CONCLUSION:

The premillennial theory cannot be true. People who receive and obey the gospel are the sons of the kingdom in this age now. The text denies the “Rapture,” the ascension of the righteous to Christ to leave the evil on earth. Both good an devil will continue to the end of the age when Jesus returns. There will also, according to text, be no Battle of Armageddon or thousand year reign of Jesus.

Questions:

In planting good things did the farmer get good things as a result?

God has planted his seed, the word, in you. Has it resulted in good growth?

Do all people react to the word of the kingdom in the proper manner

Why does Jesus suffer so long with the wicked around us?

Preached:

Fargo, ND 20, June, 1999

Bibliography:

David Riggs, PARABLE OF THE TARES

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

A Farmers's Parable: The Wheat and The Weeds

Mark Copeland, The "Executable Outlines" Series, "THE PARABLES OF JESUS", The Wheat And Tares

WHILE MEN SLEPT

David Holwick, "ARE YOU A WHEAT OR A WEED?"

What the world says about kjv and along with kingdom
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