THE GOOD AND THE BAD SEED

B Mills

It is an obvious fact that there are misinformed individuals who believe that they can live a “good life” and attain heaven without a formal relationship with the Lord’s church. They have never repented of their old way of life, have not confessed the divinity of Christ before others, nor have they been obedient to the Lord in Christian baptism. So, they blend with the saints in the activities of the church and from all outward appearances, are Christians. Jesus, in this parable, and his half brother James in his book, both call our attention to the fact that that this is not an acceptable relationship. God looks at the heart, not the outward appearances. At “harvest time” they will be separated from the true. Yes, there are hypocrites in every congregation of the church flock, and they are not easy to see in this life. They are intermingled with the true and faithful, but Jesus tells us how to deal with them without uprooting the true and faithful in the process.

Matthew 13:24-30

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 (Matthew 13:31, Matthew 13:33, Matthew 13:45, Matthew 13:47, Matthew 18:23, Matthew 21:1, Matthew 22:2, Matthew 13:1, Mark 4:26-30, Luke 13:18, Luke 12:20)

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. (Matthew 3:12)

Matthew 13:36-40

36 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. (Matthew 13:1, Matthew 15:15)

37 He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; (Matthew 8:20)

38 The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; (Matthew 8:12, John 8:44, Acts 13:10, 1 John 3:qo, Matthew 5:37)

39 The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. (Matthew 12:32, Matthew 13:22, Matthew 13:40, Matthew 12:49, Matthew 24:3, Matthew 28:20, 1 Corinthians 10:11, Hebrews 9:26)

40 As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. (Matthew 12:32, Matthew 13:22, Matthew 13:39, Matthew 13:40, Matthew 24:3, Matthew 28:20, 1 Corinthians 10:11, Hebrews 9:26)

The tares in this parable probably refer to darnel, a weed which can hardly be distinguished from wheat until harvest time when it remains green and will have a different seed head from wheat. At that time, it is easy to separate the two.

Many have been quick to point out that there are hypocrites in the church. That is true, but it is God’s problem, not ours. The purpose of the church is to save souls so it is up to us to, set an example, to teach, and to lead them to salvation in the Lord. Jesus Christ. (Matthew 28:19-20, Mark 16:15-16, Acts 2:38,39, Acts 8:36-38)