WHY THE PARABLE OF THE WHEAT AND TARES
by W. G. Guy
Matthew 13:36-43 – Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field. He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man (Jesus); the field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom (believers or His followers); but the tares are the children of the wicked one (Satan); 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 (the wicked unbelievers), 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.
After telling the parable of the wheat and the tares to the people, His disciples later asked Jesus to explain the meaning of it to them. Jesus then tells them that this is an illustration of the end of the age and what happens to the righteous (those truly born-again) and those that are the wicked.
The end of the wicked or tares, as described by Jesus to be the children of the devil, will be horrifying, yet just! They will have absolutely no excuse because they have lived with the righteous children of God who are the light of the world, yet they opposed them and the knowledge of Jesus Christ at every chance.
What is most interesting about Jesus’ explanation of this parable of the tares and wheat is that it reveals an error that is taught by many in their efforts to describe end-time events, or eschatology. They teach that the believers are taken out of this world first, then the wicked are dealt with during the seven year tribulation. Jesus is telling here that the wicked are taken out first, and the righteous remain. This is exactly what happened with the flood of Noah. All the wicked were removed and the righteous remained.
Matthew 24:38-39 – For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
Jesus then goes on to describe further what happens at His return when the wicked are removed while the righteous are preserved:
Matthew 24:40-41 – Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
A closer look at what Jesus was describing is in order even though Jesus himself gives an explanation of what the parable means. Obviously the good seed are those who have accepted Jesus as Savior and Lord, and have also conformed to the image of Christ and become the light of the world. However, the tares, Jesus said, are children of the devil, Satan. The tares describe a very corrupt weed that the enemy sowed in the earth to defile mankind.
Tares are known by their biological name as Lolium temulentum, or commonly called Darnel. This destructive weed is almost indistinguishable from wheat in its early growth. At maturity its true nature is recognized and the harvesters separate this weed from the wheat because it is poisonous both to man and animals. It is then bundled together and burned to be destroyed lest its seeds survive to reproduce. The seed or grain of the tares is black, but it is not seen until its husk is removed. The black seed represents darkness and evil.
Jesus appeared to use the tares to describe the children of the devil because in them is darkness just like the black seed germ within the husk. The fruit of the tares is death and destruction, just as the influence of the wicked children of the devil is death and destruction, both physical and spiritual. Jesus identified the wicked as children of the devil when he was addressing those who would later call for His crucifixion (murder).
John 8:44 – Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
The wicked do the bidding of the devil, whom Jesus called “their father”: doing his includes lies, thefts, murder (and abortion) and all manner of destructive things and corruption.
John 10:10 – The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
In this verse Jesus describes the works of the devil, and obviously of those who are inspired or controlled by Satan through their own lusts as if they were his children or followers. Jesus came to bring God’s love, life and true light to those who believe in Him because there are many who are not identified as tares and need Jesus; and we are to be His witnesses to them.
Another interesting observation is that the tares cannot be changed or converted to wheat even though they occupy the same area and environment. What this implies is that those who are totally committed to the ways of the devil cannot be saved. No matter how much you tell them and demonstrate God’s love, grace and mercy to them, they will not accept but continue to oppose and resist your efforts to change them. This is like when Jesus warned us about trying to give that which is holy to dogs, or casting pearls before the swine, that they will only turn on you as an enemy.
Matthew 7:6 – Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.
Jesus said both the wheat and the tares must continue to grow together until the harvest when the identification and separation occurs. What this tells us is that in this life we are in a struggle and have to do spiritual battle to stand fast against all the efforts and attacks of the enemy and not yield any ground to him. This requires us to apply the Word of God to all of our life’s situations and to stand firm as instructed in Ephesians:
Ephesians 6:10-18 – Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
This brings to our attention another issue that is wrongly taught regarding end-time events. Common teaching tells us that we believers will be taken out of this world before the revelation of the so-called antichrist, the evil one. This is just the opposite of what the apostle Paul wrote in his second letter to the church at Thessalonica.
2 Thessalonians 2:1-4 – Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, that ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
Clearly, that day shall NOT COME until after a falling away from the faith comes first due to great deception and coercion of the enemy; and not until after the alleged antichrist is revealed. Again it behooves us true believers to stand strong and fight the fight of faith, because our faith will be tried, tested, and assaulted by the enemy. This is the work of the poisonous tares and Satan. Now you know why Jesus spoke of the wheat and the tares.
by W. G. Guy
Matthew 13:36-43 – Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field. He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man (Jesus); the field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom (believers or His followers); but the tares are the children of the wicked one (Satan); 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 (the wicked unbelievers), 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.
After telling the parable of the wheat and the tares to the people, His disciples later asked Jesus to explain the meaning of it to them. Jesus then tells them that this is an illustration of the end of the age and what happens to the righteous (those truly born-again) and those that are the wicked.
The end of the wicked or tares, as described by Jesus to be the children of the devil, will be horrifying, yet just! They will have absolutely no excuse because they have lived with the righteous children of God who are the light of the world, yet they opposed them and the knowledge of Jesus Christ at every chance.
What is most interesting about Jesus’ explanation of this parable of the tares and wheat is that it reveals an error that is taught by many in their efforts to describe end-time events, or eschatology. They teach that the believers are taken out of this world first, then the wicked are dealt with during the seven year tribulation. Jesus is telling here that the wicked are taken out first, and the righteous remain. This is exactly what happened with the flood of Noah. All the wicked were removed and the righteous remained.
Matthew 24:38-39 – For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
Jesus then goes on to describe further what happens at His return when the wicked are removed while the righteous are preserved:
Matthew 24:40-41 – Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
A closer look at what Jesus was describing is in order even though Jesus himself gives an explanation of what the parable means. Obviously the good seed are those who have accepted Jesus as Savior and Lord, and have also conformed to the image of Christ and become the light of the world. However, the tares, Jesus said, are children of the devil, Satan. The tares describe a very corrupt weed that the enemy sowed in the earth to defile mankind.
Tares are known by their biological name as Lolium temulentum, or commonly called Darnel. This destructive weed is almost indistinguishable from wheat in its early growth. At maturity its true nature is recognized and the harvesters separate this weed from the wheat because it is poisonous both to man and animals. It is then bundled together and burned to be destroyed lest its seeds survive to reproduce. The seed or grain of the tares is black, but it is not seen until its husk is removed. The black seed represents darkness and evil.
Jesus appeared to use the tares to describe the children of the devil because in them is darkness just like the black seed germ within the husk. The fruit of the tares is death and destruction, just as the influence of the wicked children of the devil is death and destruction, both physical and spiritual. Jesus identified the wicked as children of the devil when he was addressing those who would later call for His crucifixion (murder).
John 8:44 – Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
The wicked do the bidding of the devil, whom Jesus called “their father”: doing his includes lies, thefts, murder (and abortion) and all manner of destructive things and corruption.
John 10:10 – The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
In this verse Jesus describes the works of the devil, and obviously of those who are inspired or controlled by Satan through their own lusts as if they were his children or followers. Jesus came to bring God’s love, life and true light to those who believe in Him because there are many who are not identified as tares and need Jesus; and we are to be His witnesses to them.
Another interesting observation is that the tares cannot be changed or converted to wheat even though they occupy the same area and environment. What this implies is that those who are totally committed to the ways of the devil cannot be saved. No matter how much you tell them and demonstrate God’s love, grace and mercy to them, they will not accept but continue to oppose and resist your efforts to change them. This is like when Jesus warned us about trying to give that which is holy to dogs, or casting pearls before the swine, that they will only turn on you as an enemy.
Matthew 7:6 – Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.
Jesus said both the wheat and the tares must continue to grow together until the harvest when the identification and separation occurs. What this tells us is that in this life we are in a struggle and have to do spiritual battle to stand fast against all the efforts and attacks of the enemy and not yield any ground to him. This requires us to apply the Word of God to all of our life’s situations and to stand firm as instructed in Ephesians:
Ephesians 6:10-18 – Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
This brings to our attention another issue that is wrongly taught regarding end-time events. Common teaching tells us that we believers will be taken out of this world before the revelation of the so-called antichrist, the evil one. This is just the opposite of what the apostle Paul wrote in his second letter to the church at Thessalonica.
2 Thessalonians 2:1-4 – Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, that ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
Clearly, that day shall NOT COME until after a falling away from the faith comes first due to great deception and coercion of the enemy; and not until after the alleged antichrist is revealed. Again it behooves us true believers to stand strong and fight the fight of faith, because our faith will be tried, tested, and assaulted by the enemy. This is the work of the poisonous tares and Satan. Now you know why Jesus spoke of the wheat and the tares.
