The Parable of Tares

COLERAINE EVANGELICAL CHURCH

SUNDAY 20 OCTOBER 2025 - REV PAUL HANNA

MATTHEW 13 VERSES 24 TO 30, 36 TO 43

When you read the gospel accounts Matthew, Mark, Luke and John we often discover the Lord was flocked, mauled by the people. They surrounded him just to hear the word he taught them. John 7 verse 46 "no one ever spoke like this man does." He taught them in a different way, as one having authority. Not like the scribes and Pharisees. Why - because this was none other than God and God the Son incarnate. He spoke to them in a way that gripped and held their attention like no-one else could. Jesus talked about every day things and activities they would have been more familiar with. As he stood in the open air he taught about things in a distance - for instance the sower in the field, the birds that flew overhead, the flowers that stood and listed in the meadows. Mathew, Mark and Luke are synoptic gospels. Jesus spoke by parables. Tonight I want to look at one of his many parables. There are 38 parables in total, none are recorded in John's gospel. The word synoptic means seen together. John's gospel stands apart in that regard. The Lord used parables when addressing the people. A parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. That is what the word comes from. Mark's gospel has the highest concentration of parables in it alone - there are 20 along. In chapter 13 of Matthew's gospel there are 7 parables from the Saviour. The parable of the tares is one of those. This is the only time this parable is recorded. There is much to learn and take away from this parable. The Lord spoke and taught through parables. This is the second parable in this chapter. As he addressed those great crowds in verses 1 and 2 we see the context. It must have been wonderful to be there and listen to Jesus. Did you know that we do not have a single recording of C H Spurgeon's voice. I would love to have heard what the prophets sounded like when they addressed the people. Some day we will meet them face to face and hear their voices.

Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away

The truth that was concealed. There are many things concealed today because the god of this world is most active. Concealing is his business at every turn. If he was open then it would prove God does exist. I love this time of the year when we remember the Reformation. Martin Luther marched the streets of Wittenburg and hammered the 95 theses to the door. He struck a blow at the foundations of time. I would rather think of that great event than anything else. The god of this world is most active, he does what he can to keep his activities under seal and wrapped. The church of Jesus Christ is largely sleeping today. What are we doing about this? This was done under the cover of darkness. The devil is ramping up. He believes more and knows more of the canon of scripture than anyone. He knows hiss end is coming. He knows his day is short. The church sleeps and the enemy is sowing the seed, trying to steal away the good seed of the word of God. The god of this world does not want us on our knees or even in the church once a week. The truth that is revealed.

When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared. “The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’ “‘An enemy did this,’ he replied.“ The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ “‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’” 

There was a problem early on. No-one was aware of it. These things were done secretly without anyone knowing what was going on. The Lord knows everything that is going on, that has gone on and will go on. He is omniscient. He knows the state of your heart. He knows the reason why you will not come to the cross and have your sins forgiven. He knows that sin has gripped your heart but he also knows what the real reason is.  Maybe you know you are bound for a Christless eternity. The Lord knows what brought you in tonight. He knows that reason that you are harbouring in your heart that is keeping you coming to the cross. Maybe it is the hypocrisy of some friend or relative. You are not prepared to give way. In 50, 60, 100 or a million years time will it matter? If it keeps you out of heaven and in hell were the worm dieth? The Lord know all about you. This crime was committed while men slept. His enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat. The Lord knows all about that. He knows what reasons you are coming up with why you cannot come. Maybe you know you should get saved but not yet. The greatest lie of the devil is that you have plenty of time. He knows what you are saying and the state of your heart behind closed doors when no-one is around. Jeremiah 18 "the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked." We will reap what we sow. What have you been sowing your whole life? It will bring judgment. I am here to preach the good news. People may call me good living but there is nothing good about me. God took my sin willingly and paid my price in full. This same Saviour who knows your heart. Isn't it remarkable that despite knowing all that he still wants to save you from your sin? He still wants you to come to himself. He gives the invitation in Matthew 11 verse 28 "come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest." Will you not come and ask the Lord to come into your life? He knows all about your past. Will you not give him your present?

Here we have the problem initially concealed. Now the problem is revealed that all might see it. It brought forth fruit. "By their fruits ye shall now them." Whenever it brought forth fruit it also brought forth tares also. It was only at a particular stage that you could see them. Not early on. Quite a late stage of development. That crop was revealed to the servants. Commentators tells us tares were a particular weed, darnel. They look like the desirable wheat planted by the farmer, almost identical in every stage of development until the actual grain is produced. Then it becomes clear it is a fake. The problem only became apparent when the fruit shall appear. Is there fruit in your life? We should make our election sure. Are you saved tonight? Maybe you made a commitment years ago and signed a card. I remember working with someone who I tried to witness to him. He was a blasphemer of the worst kind. He turned around one day and said "they got me when I was yougn and I am alright now." The story transpired that as a young child he was taken to meetings and in one of those meetings he signed a card to say he trusted Christ as Saviour. In his estimation he thought he was ok. He was putting his faith and trust in signing some card some years previously. The tares developed at the same time. But they did not produce fruit. The servants realised what had happened. The Lord calls us to labour. Matthew 7 verse 16 

"By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?" 

We receive a stark warning in verse 21. 

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven."

It is so easy to point the finger at others but there are 3 pointing back. There will be a separation one day from God eternally. What about you tonight? Are you the genuine article tonight? Are you on the way to heaven? The farmer had the knowledge of what had happened. In the second half of our reading we read the master is the Lord himself. The servants quickly realised what was happening but the reaction of the master is made clear - he wanted to wait until it was harvested. Are you ready to stand before God one day? At the great white throne judgment? We are still living in the day of opportunity. We have had dozens of opportunities to hear the message of the gospel. What if this is your last opportunity. DL L Moody in one of his meetings told his audience "I want you to go home tonight and think seriously of the invitation I have given. Then come back to our next meeting and give your life to Christ." He regretted making that statement because the great fire of Chicago swept through shortly afterwards. Some of the congregation lost their lives. It was the final opportunity. D L Moody vowed never to do that again. It was said that by his labours under God the population of hell was reduced by a million souls. He vowed never to finish his meeting unless people got right with God first. I can never guarantee that you will have another opportunity to hear this message. What about you right now? We are told here of something that is yet to happen. Did you know that the bible speaks more of hell than it does of heaven? We are given more warnings about hell. Why? Because it is so important to heed that warning. Why would you not come? The scriptures command us to prepare. The preparation that is needed. Will you not come? Simply ask the Lord. He has done it all. He gave his life blood for you. Will you not ask the Lord to come into your life? The only opportunity is right now. Will you not come?