How to recognize the wheat from the tares.

Leon ♦ March 3, 2017 ♦ Leave a comment

   In the 13th chapter of Matthew, Jesus gives a parable of wheat and tares. 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.” Jesus is asked latter in the same chapter, to explain the parable to his disciples, he gives his explanation in Matthew 37-43. “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.”

Is it possible to distinguish wheat from tares? It is explained that they look almost identical. Perhaps we can tell them apart from their works. Good wheat must be doing good works, and the tares are probably not being very serious about their Christian calling. Matthew 7:21-23 “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” Here Jesus explains that even those who do many wonderful and mighty works, and miracles in his name, will not enter his kingdom. It looks like it may be even more difficult than it first appeared, to tell the good wheat from the tares. We could ask our Pastor, Minister or Priest, to help us. They, we would asume, have studied theses things much more in-depth then we have time for. Perhaps they can help us to spot the wheat from the tares. 2 Corinthians 11 :13-15 ^“For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.”  Satan himself, would be almost impossible to detect, if he gave a sermon at your church next week. So how can we possibly detect good wheat in our churches, or in the world as a whole, from bad tares?  The answer is Jesus. He is the way, the truth and the life. He is the answer to all our questions. In the previous verse Jesus explained that not those that say Lord, Lord, or that do many mighty works in his name will enter the kingdom, but those that do the will of his Father. John 6:28-29 “Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.” Jesus said the works of God are not works we do. If this were the case, then we would have something of ourselves to boast about. He said the work of God is to believe in Him. Romans 3:27-28 “Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.” Jesus made it abundantly clear, he is the only way to enter into his kingdom. Paul emphasized over and over, that faith in Jesus, and not our own works, is what saves us. Ephesians 2:8 ^“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.” Jesus said, he was the only way to the Father. John 14:6 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John 3:36 “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” 1 Timothy 2:5 ^“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” 

If anyone preaches there are many ways, and paths to heaven, including the Pope, or Oprah, or an angel himself, apart from, Jesus, and faith in him, this is a tare, and not good wheat. Galatians 1:8 “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.” Hindu, Muslim, Buddhists and many Christians are about to be merged into a one world religion. The message will be, we all worship one God, and many paths lead to him. The tares will go along willingly. The wheat will remain faithful unto death, proclaiming, “Jesus alone is the way, the truth, and the life!”