The Parable of the wheat and the tares is one of the parables of Jesus. A parable is a simple short story that illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson. Human beings respond better when they hear simple stories than when they listen to theories, arguments or principles. In the previous Parable of the Sower, we have one Sower, one type of seed (God’s Word), one field and four different types of soils. Here we have one Man who owns a good field. He sows good seed (wheat) in His field. In the night, when his servants are sleeping, another man called ‘his enemy’ came and planted bad seed (tares) in the same good field. Both types of seed germinate at the same time, and they grow together. The servants observed that there are two types of plants. They asked their Master three questions: “Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?… Do you want us then to go and gather them up?”. The Master said that an enemy has done that. He also said that they should leave the mixed plants to grow together until the harvest. Judgment shall happen during the harvest. Then the separation shall be total. The tares will be gathered and burnt. The wheat will be deposited in the Owner’s storehouse.

Jesus explains that Kingdom of God, and the church in its visible form is a mixed multitude. This is the mystery of evil in the world. Immediately God planted the good seed called Adam and Eve, the devil came to deposit his lies in their hearts. We have many questions about evil and sin: why did God allowed the devil to enter the Garden of Eden? Why is the devil still permitted to ‘to kill, steal and destroy’? From this parable we see that God allows the devil to tempt and attack even the Christians. But evil does not last forever. There is a final judgment when God, sited on the Great White Throne in heaven, will judge and punish the devil and all who followed him. God is the good man who plants the good seed, the believers. Never forget the great picture of God’s plan and purpose in His creation.

Jesus calls the devil ‘an enemy’. The devil is a liar, the enemy of truth, of righteousness, of peace, of joy and of all good things in life. Here we see that part of the strategy of spiritual warfare is to endure side by side with the wicked people, for a time. The deliverance from oppressors and difficult people is not always instant. This closeness is difficult, but God uses it to shine the light from the true believers on the false believers, who have grace opportunities to repent of sin and give their lives to Christ. The unbelievers are our ‘neighbors’. We must love the unlovely. Agape Love is busy in such a field. This is evangelism one to one. This is a reminder that the devil is wicked. He waited for the Owner to plant the good seeds before he planted his wicked seeds. If the devil planted his evil seed where other evil plants grow, then we can understand that. But, no! He planted his evil seed on the good man’s land and among the good man’s seed. This is a reminder that God is the owner of this earth. The devil plants in God’s field.

The devil planted his seed during the night when the good man’s servants were sleeping. This parable tells us that the devil is a coward. He did not attack the man’s children in the daytime, but in the night, where all good men sleep. This is not a careless sleep but the normal sleep of hardworking men. This parable also tells us that this is a time of grace, when men may still repent. All organizations, companies, families, even the visible Church and the Kingdom of God are all a mixed multitude. Wicked people are our neighbors and colleagues in the offices. They are the people we call brethren and pastors in the church. Finally, we are reminded that there is judgment ahead. Evil does not last forever. Wicked, unrepentant people will surely regret their foolish pride! They will be punished in the Lake of Fire forever! But the righteous in Christ have eternal life. Lessons: Fear God! Repent of Sins! Surrender unconditionally to the Lord Jesus Christ! Grow in grace and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ! Be patient! Be watchful! Pray! Study God’s Word! Worship God! Serve God! Amen!