Tares among Wheat

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- Struggling With OCDAccompanied by strong feelings of doubt, fear, and anxiety.
- Struggling With LegalismThe Leaven of the Pharisees
  - Another Insufficient Attempt to Explain the Depth of God’s GraceIt’s Too Wonderful to Fully Explain but I Like Trying
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  - Those Under Grace Need Not Worry About Abusing ItSome, out of fear of abusing God's grace don't apply it at all. This is actually more detrimental.
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Tares among Wheat.

Read Matthew 13:24-43

vs 24,37,38. good seed is the sons of the kingdom (vs 38), and it is good in the eyes of the Sower. Good here in Greek is Kalos meaning, beautiful, handsome, excellent, eminent, choice, surpassing, precious, useful, suitable, commendable, admirable. The sower of this good seed is the Son of Man (vs 37). The field is the world (vs 38).

vs 25,38,39 tares, meaning various sorts of weeds/useless plants, possibly darnel which appears like wheat while growing but bears no fruit. Contrast to the wheat, the tares are the sons of the evil one (vs 38) planted sowed by the devil (vs 39)l. What do you suppose is the intent of the enemy here? (John 10:10, 1 Peter 5:8)

vs 26. Once the wheat sprouted and begin to be fruitful, the tares at that time became evident. Before that, they all looked the same, started the same. The hired men had not previously seen any difference.

vs 27."The slaves...", Who are the slaves? Are they the ones who sowed? Nope, that's the Lord (vs 37), are they the enemy? Nope, that's the devil. (vs 39) Are they the tares? Nope that's the sons of the devil. (vs 38) Are they the reapers? Nope, that's the Lord's angels (vs 39) as distinguished in verse 30. Who are the slaves? They are not specified here. But let me ask this, who's left? Us, Christians. 1 Peter 2:16 tells us to use our freedom as bondslaves of God. (see also Rom. 6:22)

"...'Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?'" Listen to the confusion. How many of us have felt just like this in the midst of tribulation? You think you understand what's going on, you see God's plan moving forward, and then your broadsided by a barriage of seemingly contradicting events. The slaves who worked in the field didn't understand what had happened. In their bewilderment they ask, Lord how can this be, surely you didn't mess it up did you? Reminds me of Asaph for example in Psalm 77 when he says "Has God forgotten to be gracious".

vs 28. "...'An enemy has done this!' notice the emphasis. The confusion was dispersed by understanding the truth that the enemy is at work in the world. How many times do we forget we have an enemy? C.S. Lewis said, "the greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist". It's interesting that when suffering comes, often we only see God in the picture wondering how He could allow this, and sometimes even as the causer. Job did this too. Job 7:20 Job cries out regarding God, "Why have You set me as Your target". There is a strong reason why there are so many warnings in the bible that the enemy is at work in the world. Yet many of us are still "surprised at the fiery ordeal" among us.

In this parable when the sower was questioned by the slaves, He answered them immediately informing them an enemy had planted the tares. My question is what if He didn't inform them?

As the Sower informed His slaves that the enemy was at work, has God also informed us? Yes He has. (Luke 22:31, John 10:10, 15:15, 17:15, Eph. 4:27,6:11,13, Jam. 4:7, 1 Pet. 1:13, 1 Pet. 5:8). Is it important to heed that warning? Absolutely, or else you may find yourself like Asaph incorrectly wondering if God had failed you. (Matt. 7:26-27, the one who did not listen was like the man who built his house on the sand).

vs 29. you may uproot the wheat with them. God's heart here? The harvest is too precious, I'm not willing to risk it. If you try and remove the tears before the harvest fully matures, you will lose the product I intended to grow in the first place.

Abraham petitioned God with a similar challenge. (Gen. 18:23)

What does that tell you about God's heart? The same God who did not spare His own Son to protect the harvest. (Rom. 8:32).

What does that tell you about the harvest? That it is precious in the eyes of the Lord, a treasure to Him. Heb. 12:2 tells us that for the Joy set before Him, He endured the cross. God would send His own Son to die for this harvest if He had to. And He did have to. There was no other way (Matt. 26:42). Not that we deserve it, but because of His character, His love (Rom. 5:8).

Understanding God's heart is like that, what does it tell you about the delay in the coming of the end times?

But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day.

The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. - 2 Peter 3:8-9

vs 30,40 Now that the finish product has reached it's intended, desired consummation, now the separation begins between that which is God's harvest, and that which is the enemies harvest.

Knowing at first the wheat was hard to distinguish from the tares, how can we tell now that the harvest has matured?

By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother. - 1 John 3:10

vs 41 "...they will gather out of His kingdom..." It's interesting that the stumbling blocks/lawless are removed from His kingdom, not vice versa.

vs 42 "...weeping and gnashing of teeth." Weeping/Klauthmos, or lamenting, meaning extreme anguish. Gnashing/Brugmos, snarling, growling: in the sense of biting, denotes extreme anguish and utter despair of men consigned to eternal punishment in hell. (Greek Lexicon, studylight.org)

vs 43 "Then THE RIGHTEOUS WILL SHINE FORTH AS THE SUN in the kingdom of their Father..." Did you know that you are God's trophy? You are covered by the blood of the lamb, your are clothed in the righteousness of Jesus Christ. Do you know when God saw your sin on Jesus He saw you clothed with Jesus' righteousness?

Your shine here is Jesus' Glory. His finish work, His fulfillment of the law, His righteousness. (Heb. 12:10, Eph. 4:13, 4:24, 1 John 3:2, 2 Pet. 1:4).

Did you know that where you go, there the righteousness of Christ is upon you. The finish work of His goodness is covering you. You shine with His success.

It's amazing to imagine how God presents us. The same Christ whom the Father declared, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" now sees that same covering on us. It's no wonder the enemy hates us. We're walking around victorious in Jesus.

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