While God is planting true believers the enemy is planting false believers. The good seed is what the Lord Jesus Christ sows. God does not tear out the tares? It is too early for the wheat and the tares to be separated. The interpretation is given to us:-

• The sower (vs. 24). The Lord Jesus. (vs. 37).
• The seed (vs. 24). The seed are true believers. (vs38)
• The field (vs24). The world (vs. 38).
• The enemy (vs. 25). The Devil (vs. 38-39).
• The tares (vs. 25). The tares are the false believers (vs. 38).
• The reapers (vs. 30). The reapers are the angels (vs. 39).
• The time of the reaping (vs. 30). The time of the reaping will be at the end of this world (39-43).

1 – The sowing of the tares

Who? The Devil has done this. Why? He is envious. He is a counterfeiter. He is an imitator. He is God’s ape. The Devil is a good counterfeiter. It is difficult to tell the difference. There are five main things he will counterfeit and therefore false:-

• False Jesus. (2 Corinthians 11:4).
• False Spirit. (2 Corinthians 11:4). Don’t believe every spiritual experience.
• False Ministers. (2 Corinthians 11:13-15). Satan can be in the pulpit.
• False brothers. (2 Corinthians 11:26). Paul had to contend with false Christians.
• False Gospel. (Galatians 1:6). There is only one true Gospel. Satan is a pervert and the main thing he wants to pervert is the Gospel.

A counterfeit bill can do a lot of good. The banker will recognise it as false. People will counterfeit something of value. Counterfeit Christians are evidence that the Bible is true. To say that I’m not going to church because of hypocrites is foolish. Counterfeit Christians have not taken God by surprise. While men slept the enemy got in to sow the tares. (vs. 25) It happens because we have been asleep at our posts. (See 1 Corinthians 15:34).

2 – The growing of the tares

Our job today is not killing or rooting out weeds. We can warn people and we can tell the truth. It is not our assignment to root out false religions. Never join a movement to persecute someone because of their faith. You may root out some wheat with some tares. Every church is to exercise discipline but in this example the field is the world. In the world we are not to become obsessed with rooting out evil.

3 – The knowing of the tares (vs. 40)

Why does God tolerate tares? The wheat and the tares are not ripe until the end of the world. The harvest of the earth will be ripe. The evil men of this earth may flaunt much of what is good and wholesome. The influence of their evil will go on to corrupt others. When it is over, then God judges. The same applies to the good that the wheat do. The tares are bundled together to be burned. Make certain of your salvation (2 Corinthians 13:5). Don’t let a counterfeit Christian keep you from heaven. If you have discovered that you are a counterfeit Christian, repent and receive Jesus as your saviour.

Categories: Matthew