Key: SCHAFF: “When the Lord open his mouth, we should open our ears and hearts”
THE PARABLE OF THE TARES OF THE FIELD …1. Matt. 13:36, 24-30, 36-43
“‘Tares’ is generally agreed that it denotes darnel, a plant of the same family as wheat, and not readily distinguished from it in the early stages. Jerome, who lived in Palestine AD 385-420, states it was quite difficult to distinguish them until the head of the wheat appeared. Robinson, journeying in Galilee in April, 1852 says, among the splendid field of grain are still found the tares spoken of in the New Testament. They are not to be distinguished from the wheat until the ear appears. ‘The roots of the two plants are so intertwined that it is impossible to separate them without plucking up both. Thompson, ii, p. 395.’ The seed resembles wheat in form; but smaller and black. In Beirut poultry are fed upon the seed. When this is not separated from the wheat, bread made from the flour often causes dizziness to those who eat it.” Broadus John A.
- Matt. 13:25-28, 38-39. “But while men slept, his enemy came, and sowed tares among the wheat and went away”
- “But while men slept” Gen. 2:21-22; 15:11-16, Job. 33:15, 1Thes. 5:7 ‘For they that sleep, sleep in the night’ .This is a time when there was none to observe. It simply means that the enemy selected the opportunity for secretly doing an injury.
- Humanly speaking, we have to sleep as Jesus slept in Matt. 8:24, and the disciples in Matt. 26:40. You can see others 1Sam. 26:12, 1Kg. 19:4-5, Jona. 1:5.
- The enemy rules, carries out evil works in the night. Ps. 104:20-21, Lk. 22:53. Sinners are in darkness and are of the dark and not of the day, hence, Jesus had to enter into darkness when he was made sin to draw men out of darkness Matt. 27:45-46, Col. 1:12-13, thereby put an end to the work of darkness in believers. Eph. 5:8, 1Thess. 5:4-5.
- It is equally important to be on our guards and be vigilant as the enemy is looking for our weak points, and any slight opportunity to strike. 1Thess. 5:6-9, Matt. 13:35-36.
- “The enemy came” the enemy is the devil Matt. 13:39. The world is controlled by the devil. “The prince of this world” Jn. 12:31; 14:30; 16:11, 1 Jn. 4:4; 5:19-“lieth in the evil one”, Lk. 4:5-6, Eph. 2:1-3. Sometimes he appears as angel of light. 2Cor. 11:13-14.
- ‘Tares are the children of the wicked one’ Matt. 13:38, they are those who have the nature of the evil one. Jn. 8:44, Act. 13:10, Lk. 16:8; 20:34, Eph. 2:2-3. All men in the world are by nature of the world, children of disobedience, of the devil, and of wrath. Jesus came to destroy the work of the devil. 1Jn. 3:6-10