The parable of the tares

Jesus used parables to explain the kingdom of heaven. Each parable makes a primary point; each parable adds something to the whole description of the kingdom of God. One parable may emphasize one aspect; another a different aspect. Jesus gave an explanation for some of the parables; others He did not. The parables were meant to be pondered in order to be understood.

Jesus told one parable about a sower sowing seed on different soils. The primary point is that the different soils matter in the growth of the seed. This parable had one seed, but different soils. Jesus explained this parable, stating that the seed was the word of the kingdom, and soil was the heart of man.

Jesus told another parable, but using two different seeds.

"He presented another parable to them, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed tares also among the wheat, and went away. But when the wheat sprang up and bore grain, then the tares became evident also. And the slaves of the landowner came and said to him, "Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?" And he said to them, "An enemy has done this!" And the slaves said to him, "Do you want us, then, to go and gather them up?" But he said, "No; lest while you are gathering up the tares, you may root up the wheat with them. Allow them both to grow together until the harvest; and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, 'First gather up the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them up; but gather the wheat into my barn.'"'" Matthew 13:24-30

Jesus explained this one as well. He is the Sower who sowed good seed; He is the Son of Man. But His enemy, the devil, sowed bad seed in the same field. Jesus explained that the field is the world. Jesus went on to state that the good seed are the sons of the kingdom, and the bad seed are the sons of the evil one.

Now the parable could be taken as saying that some men are sons of the kingdom, and were born that way. And some men are sons of the evil one, and were born that way. This would then imply that men are simply made the way they are; they can have no other destiny. Tares cannot become wheat, nor can wheat become tares.

But this does not agree with the point of the parable of the sower, nor does it agree what Peter wrote.

"...for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, the living and abiding word of God." I Peter 1:23

The seed gives us a new birth; we did not always have life. The life was sown in us, sprouted, and took root. This is the picture in the parable of the sower. The imperishable seed is the son of the kingdom, not us. We are the soil that the seed grows in. The wheat grows in us.

If we as a person became the soil for the word of the kingdom, then we as a person can become the soil for the bad seed. Whatever is received into the soil grows. It is our choice.

A son of the kingdom can grow in us, and a son of the evil one can grow in us as well. In both cases it is an issue of a life growing in us. What we receive will grow in us. We do not construct wheat; we do not construct tares. The nature of the seed determines the outcome.

The parable of the tares works with the parable of the sower, expanding the description of the kingdom of God. The kingdom of heaven brings life from above; the kingdom of the devil brings his life.

Sons of the kingdom grow from good seed; Christ can be formed in us. Sons of the evil one grow from bad seed; the devil can be formed in us.

When Jesus asked His disciples who He was, Peter answered, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus replied to Peter saying that he was blessed because the Father was the One who revealed this to him. But immediately afterwards in Matthew, Jesus rebuked Peter, but in the name of Satan.

"But He turned and said to Peter, 'Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God's interests, but man's.'" Matthew 16:23

In the same person, the Father was revealing truth, and Satan was also active.

Be careful what you accept.