The Tares 12/7-9

07-09 December 2016 - The Tares – Manna by Dorothy Callies

Matthew 13:24-25 . . . “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field: But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.”

This is about the “justice of God” from the Manna called, “Doing Good” from Dec. 4-6.  As I wrote the devotion, I thought about “The Tares” from Jack Chick Publications, chicknews@chick.com.  There’s a connection about “the justice of God” in the parable of the Wheat and the Tares.

Jesus gave the parable of the Wheat and the Tares from Matthew 13:24-30. My impression of this parable was about the Tares and what the enemy had done. During the night when the workers slept, the enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat.  When the grain had grown and produced a crop, then the servants noticed that the tares also appeared.

The servants were alarmed and came to the owner about this “problem with the tares.” “Didn’t you sow good seed in your field? How did the field get the tares?” asked the servants.  The owner simply said, “An enemy has done this.”  The servants want to solve this problem right away and asked him, “Do you want us to go and gather them up?”

Let’s stop right there.  How did the servants know the difference between the tares and the wheat?  Tares are grassy weeds that looks like wheat. Tares are identified as darnel, a weed like corn; black seeds, a weedy rye grass. When its seeds are infested with a certain fungus, they become poisonous. 

The servants were eager to get rid of tares since they could see the difference with the golden wheat. Here is the interesting answer, the owner said, “No, it’s too early. If you tried to get rid of tares, you might also uproot the wheat with the tares because they are almost alike.”  Are you getting the picture idea?  Do we get rid of people who are “the tares?”  The tares are the children of the wicked one.

We have problem with the ‘tares’ yet the owner said, “Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest …” Here’s the answer about when will God judge the “tares?” The harvest is the end of the age …” (Matt. 13:39).  The angels are the reapers, and the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age.

Dorothy: We as the “the Wheat,” the righteous will shine forth as a sun in the kingdom of their Father (Matt. 13:43).  This should encourage us to keep on “doing good” among “the tares,” knowing their end will come.  Therefore, the chorus encourage us to sing:

Thank You, oh, my Father, for giving us Your Son,

And leaving Your Spirit ‘till the work on earth is done.

(Lyrics and music by Melody Green, ‘There is a Redeemer’)

May the Lord bless you today!