Wheat and Tares...the Wayfarer 6/25/17

Wheat and Tares
6/25/17

Matthew 13:24-30King James Version (KJV)²⁴ Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:
²⁵ But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.
²⁶ But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.
²⁷ 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?
²⁸ He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?
²⁹ But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.
³⁰ 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.

Wheat and tares, planted in the same fertile ground by two different sources, indistinguishable one from the other until the fruit of each is seen, both vying for the nutrition and space to grow within the field intended only for one of them, is the subject of this parable given us by Christ Jesus.

Like all of the parables taught, it contains a not so hidden message to those willing to comprehend the message, but one that is obscure to those unwilling to comprehend, comprehension escaping them only because of their own unwillingness to read meaning beyond the spoken words, intent of comparison beyond simple plants that look quite alike, yet are so different one from the other, producing entirely different fruits, one edible and life sustaining, the other taking room and nourishment that sustain only themselves as they vie for the rewards of the rich soil and sunlight.

Take note that "GOOD SEED" was sewn by the householder. He was aware of what he was planting, choosing carefully only that seed that could and would produce the wheat intended to be grown, gathered and threshed into a useable source of continued nourishment.

He knew immediately that an enemy had sewn the tares within the same field, hoping to choke out what had been planted, rendering a smaller crop, hoping also perhaps that that crop be made even smaller by the attempts to separate the growing plants that resembled each other so closely.

He knew also that to uproot the one, planted so closely to the other, could not help but disrupt the roots of the other as well, roots that were needed for its growth in order to produce the intended fruit that was  to be grown.

Once rooted, both plants could only grow to become what they were, would only produce fruit of their kind.

He knew also that they could be separated once the harvest came, and that the wheat was still salvageable and would still be valuable for its intended purpose if allowed to grow undisturbed.

Jesus used this parable to show that good and evil continue to thrive alongside each other despite the fact that each remains constantly in competition with the other, but eventually fruit will distinguish between the two, as the harvest time comes for the souls that ARE the fruit of what has grown within the hearts of men, so alike, yet so different as choices are made by them determining their worth to the Creator.

That worth cannot and will not be determined by men, fallible and far too often unable to see beyond similarity of kind, finding commonality that allows for coexistence until the time of harvest finally determines what has been produced by them.

That final determination will be made by no less than Christ Himself on the completion of that harvest.

Matthew 3:1-12

King James Version (KJV)

3 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,

² And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

³ For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

⁴ And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.

⁵ Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,

⁶ And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.

⁷ But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

⁸ Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:

⁹ And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

¹⁰ And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

¹¹ I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance. but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:

¹² Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

Chaff, and tares will be separated with finality only by Christ Jesus.

Fruits worthy of repentance are to be determined only by Him.

Those fruits cannot be bought by those not having possession of them, but are paid for only by the One enabling them to exist through His sacrifice, death and resurrection.

Those fruits come only by way of that repentance that was and remains demanded in return for redemption, preached and taught by the One purges the floor at the end of that harvest.

Roots are established while the plant is still young, developing only from what has been sewn by the sower.

Each sews in kind, each produces in kind. 

As the harvest approaches, roots must still be maintained, care given that the fruit produced not be spoiled  by the plant being uprooted in an untimely manner and coming to death before fruit may be produced.

Wheat must remain wheat, despite the tares that surround it, must continue to strive for its nourishment despite the tares that would choke it out.

That nourishment continues to come only from the Word of God, not from the poison that is inflicted on the whole field by the sower of the tares.

2 Timothy 1:12

King James Version (KJV)

¹² For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

Amen and Amen

the Wayfarer