Matthew 13:24-30 records Jesus expounding on the kingdom of heaven in the parable of the wheat and the tares. (A tare is a weedy plant that grows in grain fields.) A man sowed good seed in his field but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat. When the wheat grew, so also did the tares. The servants asked their master where the tares had come from as he had sown good seed. The master told them it was the work of an enemy. The servants enquired if they should gather up the tares, but the master, in his wisdom, told them to leave them at this stage. He knew that if the tares were pulled up at this time, the roots of the wheat would be removed with them producing crop failure. He instructed to leave them to grow together until harvest time. Then the tares could first be gathered, bound and burned, then the wheat could be harvested and safely stored in his barn.
Matthew 13: 36-43 The disciples asked Jesus to explain the parable to them. Jesus declared that he that sowed the good seed is the Son of man, (himself). 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 and the harvest is the end of the world. The reapers are the angels. The Son of man shall send his angels at the end of this world and they shall gather out of the kingdom everything that offends and those who do iniquity and cast them in a furnace of fire. Then shall the righteous shine as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.
What is relevant to us at this stage? We see that the same climate produces the right environment for the growth of good and bad seed. We can get despondent when we observe the iniquity in this world, but let us remember that it is our Heavenly Father, not these immoral agents, who has the sovereign, ultimate control of our planet. His word declares the beginning, the end and all in between. He has not lost control, no one can remove it from his hand and“… his kingdom rules over all,” Psalm 103:19.
We are the “good seed” the Master has sown. As the wheat matures with the fruit grain, it bends and bows with the weight of the fruit. The bowing is likened to humility, the character of Jesus. The tares remain upright and are easily discerned from the wheat. Their proud stance reveals their true nature of the devil’s seed and are an abomination in their pride. At harvest time the angels of the Lord will deal with them. Meanwhile, let us keep our eyes on the Master, our Lord Jesus Christ, surrendering our lives to his growth in us. “This is the day the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it,” Psalm 118:24.
The line of a song given to John Anthony finds a resting place in our hearts, speaking of Jesus: “He is the Summer with all its restful ripening….” Amen! Jesus is our assurance and confidence in this life as our constant Companion throughout all of our days. He takes the words of the Shunammite woman, ( 2 Kings 4) and whispers to us, “It is well,” and quiets our heart with his love. His words are creative and as I believe what he says, faith is birthed in my heart and all fear and doubt are dispelled. In the environment of faith, they cannot live!
Let us look at our lives through God’s perspective, remembering that from little acorns mighty Oak trees grow! Do not despise the day of small things, (Zechariah 4: 8-10) but be thankful and stay expectant! The Lord began his work in us and he shall finish it. As we continue in humility, the work will be sweeter and quicker in a surrendered life. May I come to the position of allowing God’s word to find a resting place in my heart, producing fruit for his glory. Thus I will be able to sing, “He is my Summer with all its restful ripening.” All is well!
