“The Tares”

Saturday, June 03, 2017

Found in Matthew 13:24-30, this parable of Christ is only one of two stories that Jesus explained to His disciples (the explanation is found in verses 36-43).. Several modern versions of the New Testament refer to this as the parable of the weeds, while many still use the more specific term, tares.

According to W.E. Vine, the word, tares, comes from a Greek word, zizanion, and is defined: “is a kind of darnel, the commonest of the four species, being the bearded, growing in the grain fields, as tall as wheat and barley, and resembling wheat in appearance. It was credited among the Jews as being degenerate wheat… The seeds are poisonous to man and herbivorous animals, producing sleepiness, nausea, convulsions and even death.” (Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, page 1133).

Following on the heels of the parable of the sower, this parable shows us that there is more to be considered than just planting good seed. The Lord’s will, of course, is that the seed of the gospel of Christ would be planted in every heart and given opportunity to grow.

But the other side of the coin is that there is also a malevolent force to be dealt with, specifically, the work of the Devil. Satan is the “enemy” who sows tares (or weeds) into the hearts and lives of people as well.

In the parable, those who accept and obey the good seed are “the sons of the kingdom.” Those who receive and follow the tares are “the sons of the wicked one.” Those are the only two options, by the way. You cannot have it both ways, serving God on Sundays and the devil the rest of the week. If you live that way, you are a child of the devil.

At the harvest, which represents the Day of Judgment, the wheat and the weeds will be divided and the tares will be burned, which represents the eternal torment of hell.

One more point remains to be made. Jesus taught, in verse 38, that “the field is the world.” This shows us to breadth of the Lord’s commission to “preach the gospel to every creature.” We should tell everyone we meet about our Savior and the salvation that He offers to all of mankind.

--Roger Hillis

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