WHEAT, TARES & WEEDS!

Wheat, Tares & Weeds

Matthew 13:24 NKJV

“The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. So the servants of the owner came and said to him, Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares? He said to them, An enemy has done this. The servants said to him, Do you want us then to go and gather them up? But he said, No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.”

There is quite a teaching here in this parable, but our focus is going to be upon the difference between wheat, tares and weeds. To those of us who are not farmers, we would not readily be able to determine the difference, but there is a significant difference between “wheat, tares, and weeds.”

We must realize that the wheat and tares is symbolic of wheat being a believer and follower of Christ whereas the tares are those who have not come to faith in Christ. One reason, the wheat and tares grow together is that Jesus would have believers to influence unbelievers that all would come to the knowledge of the truth.

Now, even in the Church, it is sometimes difficult to see the difference between wheat and tares. Some have the form of godliness, but deny the power thereof (2 Timothy 3:5). They may appear to be a born-again believer, when in actuality, they are not.

Now, back to the difference between wheat, tares, and weeds. The wheat is longer, bigger, and stronger. This is a believer in Christ who even when in trials, he demonstrates a strength and confidence in Jesus that carries him through the toughest of storms.

The tare is shorter, medium sized, and weaker. And the weed is the shortest, smallest, and the weakest. The weed DOES NOT PRODUCE ANY SEED. The wheat produces the biggest seeds.

Remember as believers, we are to be fruit-bearers.

Harvest time is when the imposters are readily seen. When the wheat is ready to be harvested, it bends down almost in a bowing position because it’s full of seed. It bends according to the wind blowing against it. This is symbolic of the believer and disciple of Christ, filled with the Spirit of the Lord. Humility is the sign of a believer, bowing to the one they love. These are the ones who spend time with the Lord, walking devoted to Him.

The tare on the other hand is readily seen by the farmer as straight up in form. They do not bow as the wheat. They are not filled with an abundance of seed, symbolic of the unbeliever who is only full of themselves. They are stubborn and prideful. Something I learned from a site about tares, even though they produce “some” seed, and act like wheat, if eaten, it causes one to become severely ill. This is symbolic of those even in our Churches who we sit beside weekly. Be careful who you let minister to you. The tare’s job is to choke the life out of the wheat!


Now remember the weeds produce nothing. They are the shortest, smallest, and the weakest. They are just ugly to look at. We all know what a weed looks like and the minute we see the weed we are anxious to get rid of it because we know the damage weeds can do to our produce. A weed can also be in our Churches. As wheat, believers in Christ, we should influence the weeds (unbelievers and troublemakers) instead of allowing them to influence us. Instead of looking down on the weeds, we must have compassion for them, remembering that we too were weeds before we became wheat. We must consider that every weed can become wheat if only we will allow Christ to be revealed to them through our daily lives.

At the harvest, the weeds will be uprooted and thrown away. Oh what a sad day that will be. We must pray to the Lord of the Harvest to send us out into the harvest field because the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few (Matthew 9:38). This does not mean we have to go to Africa to win the lost. They are all around us!

We must be vigiliant to continue right standing before the Lord as well as being compassionate and concerned about those who have yet to hear the Good News that God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16).

SAINTS WHO SOMETIMES SIN....

Why is it that we’d rather say we are sinners saved by grace instead of saints who sometimes sin? Many Christians still consider themselves less than what God says they are? Is it because we are more “Sin Conscious” than “God Conscious?”

“This life and nature of God is RIGHTEOUSNESS. Consequently, the man who has received the nature of God has automatically become the RIGHTEOUSNESS of God in Christ” E.W. Kenyon

When Jesus Christ becomes your Savior and the Lord of your life, RIGHTEOUSNESS becomes a part of you. 1 John 2:29, “If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone who does what is right has been born of him.”

John also said, “Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. He who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous” (John 3:7). According to John 14, the Father sent the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, who teaches us all things and reminds us of everything Jesus said. The Holy Spirit will reveal the standard of God’s RIGHTEOUSNESS to anyone who believes and He will convict us of sin in our lives. So, if you feel conviction about something ---- repent(1 John 1:9), but don’t believe any lies such as …. “How can I be saved and do what I just did… or “I sure don’t feel very RIGHTEOUS today.” The very fact that you’re feeling conviction is a sign that you belong to the Lord.

Remember, you are a New Creation now. You are the RIGHTEOUSNESS of God in Christ Jesus. Try saying that every day and see how it changes the way you see yourself before God. If we don’t know who we are, then we are subject to the lies of the enemy. He will always lie to us because satan is the father of lies (John 8:44)and we will always fall for it until we realize Christ is in us and we are RIGHTEOUS … whether we feel like it or not.

NICE SHOES.....

“….created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness” Ephesians 4:24

Some may say it’s sacrilege to insinuate that we could be like God. Many Christians still see themselves as lowly worms before a righteous God. That would be true if it had not been for the sacrifice Christ made upon the cross 2,000 years ago. Christ’s demonstration of his love for mankind was a divine exchange of our sin for his righteousness. We now stand before him NEW - “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Imagine ---- you taking your old smelly tennis shoes into a store and as you lay them upon the counter - you’re met with a kind clerk with an enormous smile, who without hesitation hands you the latest, best looking tennis shoes you’ve ever seen. And, the best part is ….. There is NO CHARGE to you. It’s a gift. You walk out of the store wearing your NEW SHOES, you forget those worn out, ugly, smelly sneakers you brought into the store. You won’t ever need them or want them again.

So just as you exchanged your old smelly tennis shoes for a new pair…. Christ took our smelly sin upon himself and gave us a gift - HIMSELF and all that he is. “He became sin, who knew no sin, that we might become his righteousness…“ (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Now, we’re walking in our new shiny shoes - HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS and holiness. If, by faith you have received this precious gift of Jesus into your heart, you have now begun the greatest journey of your life. There’s no turning back - that old life is gone - a new one has begun. And, I do look like my heavenly Father after all.

.........Nice shoes!