Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time, I will tell the harvesters: First, collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn. – Matthew 13:30
Weeds growing among good seed is a real threat to any farmer. | WATCH ON YOUTUBE
Tares were a kind of weed that was familiar to the people of Galilee. In their early stages, tares so resembled the wheat that it was impossible to distinguish one from the other. As they grow, they are distinctly different from each other, but by then, the roots are fully intertwined.
And so, the farmer leaves them until the time of harvest when the tares are sorted and burned first. And then the good grain is gathered into barns.
Jesus told this parable to teach about the Kingdom of God. The world is the field and the enemy is the devil. The evil one is constantly trying to influence each soul with wrong teaching. We are to be on our guard. The day of judgment is for real and is sure to come. A day when there will be a sorting of the good seed from the bad.
This parable also reminds us not to judge others. Those that seem like the good seed to us, may turn out to be the ones that are cast away to be burnt. While those that seem as bad seed may be in heaven before us. It is not our place to judge. Our focus is to keep our hearts free from the evil that could ruin us. The Lord alone is the Judge of all.
How will you protect your heart from the tares of the evil one?
Lord, help me guard my heart against the influences of the evil one, I pray.
Extended Reading – Matthew 13; Luke 8
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I like how you presented both sides of the argument fairly.
This article came at the perfect time for me.