Tuesday, June 28, 2022

 Matthew 13:24-30  Matthew records 6 parables that  Jesus presented about the Kingdom of heaven. The first of these is the parable of the tares and the wheat. "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field."  The enemy snuck in and sowed the tares.. the weed that resembles wheat at first.. and as it began to grow, "the tares became evident".  The slaves of the landowner  informed their master and asked whether they should pull the tares out, but the master knew better.. for this would destroy the wheat's roots.  So, both plants were allowed to grow until the harvest. The tares would then be destroyed and the wheat gathered into the barn. 

We get this.. the good- those who are true children of God-will be saved. The evil - those who are false, who are rebels against God - will be judged and will never enter God's kingdom.  We can also draw some other conclusions from the parable:  

The sower represents God - Who made all things "good" at the creation. 
The enemy represents satan - who deceived Eve.. and sin entered mankind.. tares were sown. 
The evidence of the presence of "tares" are obvious..  As Paul wrote - "Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, ending, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these.. " ( Gal. 5:19-21)

We see this also in the I John 3:4-10 passage that talks about those who "practice sinning" as opposed to those who "practice righteousness"..  The difference should be obvious.. and it is usually.. but remember the tares are sneaky sometimes.. they blend in for a while.. It is only made clear when the fruit starts being produced..   As Jesus taught - the good tree will produce good fruit.. the good heart will produce good words;  but the evil tree produces bad fruit and the evil heart produces evil words.. 

So what does this have to do with the Kingdom of heaven?  Only the true "seed" will enter God's kingdom... those born of God.. " No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God." ( I John 3:9)  and ".. for you have been born again, not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, this is, through the living and abiding word of God. " (I Peter 1:23)

Father, we are Your children, born of Your Spirit through Your Word.. purchased by the shed blood of our crucified Lord Jesus.  We desire to walk according to Your Spirit.. that we might receive the imperishable inheritance of Your Kingdom.  Let our lives produce the abiding fruit of "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.. ." as we abide in Christ, the True Vine. Grant us ears to hear and hearts to receive Your Word.. plant it deep in our souls.. We ask these things according to Your Word and in the Name of our Savior and King, Jesus Christ.   Amen. 

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