512. MAT 13:24, &C. THE PARABLE OF THE WHEAT AND TARES

Mat_13:24, &c. The Parable of the Wheat and Tares

"Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field," &c.’97Mat_13:24, &c.

It is of great importance carefully to observe the Saviour’s interpretation of his own parables. For the want of this, the utmost confusion and contradiction have arisen in reference to the one under consideration. Most commentators have interpreted this parable as if it had been descriptive of the Church, and not of the world. The Redeemer emphatically explains it as referring to the world. He says, in his concise, yet clear elucidation of it, "The field is the world," &c. It is obvious that this should be kept in view throughout the whole parable, and in harmony with this declaration must the whole be expounded. Observe the field’97the sowers’97the fruit’97the recommendation’97the decision, and the consummation. Observe,

I. The field. "The field is the world." That is, the whole earth. Including all men, of all ages, and dispensations. The world may be contemplated,

1. As a field of great extent. Including the habitable globe. All nations, and people, and tongues.

2. As a field densely populated. Probably containing a thousand millions of human, immortal beings.

3. As a field of improvement. Where men have numerous mercies, and means, and privileges. The light, and the sunshine, and the shower. The early and the latter rain.

4. As a field of probation. Where men are candidates on trial for immortality. Stewards who must give an account. Laborers for the day of life, &c.

5. As a field of peril. The temptations and snares innumerable. A world under the usurpation of the prince of darkness. Satan’s seat. A world of wiles and dangers. Where sin in all its treacherous arts is spread abroad to the imminent risk and peril of souls. "Satan goeth about." Evil in various forms prevailing, &c. Notice,

II. The sowers. We are referred,

1. To the Son of Man. He sowed the good seed,’97the wheat. He made man upright. Created him in his own likeness, &c. Planted within him holy principles, good desires, &c. We are referred,

2. To Satan as the enemy. He sowed the tares,’97the evil seed. By tares is probably meant darnel, or rye grass, which had a close resemblance to wheat, and was not easily distinguished till near maturity. By this we are to understand the introduction of evil into the hearts of men by the temptations of the devil. Now here we see distinctly purity and good flowing from God, and depravity and evil from the prince of darkness. Notice then,

III. The fruit: Mat_13:26. The field was soon seen to be productive both of wheat and tares, of evil and of good. This has been the condition of the world ever since the fall. In the first family were Cain and Abel, and through all generations there have been the seed of the evil one, as well as the children of God. Everywhere is presented to the eye of the contemplatist the ignorant and the wise,’97the vicious and the good,’97the vile and the holy’97the enemies and the loyal subjects of God. There has been no exception to this in any age, or country, in our world’s history. This mixture everywhere prevails. Never forget that the good and holy are of God, but the evil of the devil. The enemy sowed the tares. Why God allowed it, is not for us to determine, but there can be no doubt he will overrule it for the manifestation of his divine glory. Observe,

IV. The recommendation. "The servants said, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?" Mat_13:28. This recommendation seems quite natural,’97wherefore allow the soil to be cumbered,’97the tares to remain? Is it not better and safer for us to separate the evil from the good?

(1.) How often would men advise thus, who only first contemplate the present, and whose minds do not take in the future.

(2.) How often would men advise thus, who only consult their own feelings of indignation against evil.

(3.) How the mass of men have acted thus in making sanguinary laws, by which criminals have been revengefully and hastily thrust out of life, as not fit to live. But does this accord with the wise benevolent administrations of heaven? Let the text answer the question, for notice,

V. The decision of the proprietor. But he said, "Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them:" Mat_13:29. This shows us,

1. That to discriminate between good and bad men is not always an easy matter. The best men are so frail, so liable to err and to fall into sin, that probably thousands whom God has accepted, men would have rejected. Some unconverted men have had so many amiable and lovely features, that men would have pronounced them pious, where God has seen no change of heart, and no evangelical reformation of character. To judge of heart and state, is God’s prerogative, and let not fallible men invade it.

2. God has his own purposes to accomplish in allowing the wicked to live. He thus exhibits his own clemency and longsuffering. He thus gives space for repentance. He thus renders the ungodly excuseless.

3. He often overrules the actions of evil men for his own glory. They are often "His sword." His instrumentality for carrying out his designs. At any rate he says, "Let both grow together," &c. Notice then,

VI. The consummation. "And in the time of harvest," &c., &c. Observe,

1. The harvest is the end of the world. A predicted’97certain’97and awful event. A day which is approaching’97doomsday. The day of the world’s conflagration. See 2Pe_3:7, &c.

2. Angels will be the administrators of the divine judgments. This has often been so

It will be so then. See Rev_14:15, &c. Mat_25:31. 2Th_1:7, &c.

3. The doom of the wicked will be fearful. "Cast into the furnace of fire," &c. Mat_13:42. Rev_20:11, &c.

4. The destination of the righteous will be glorious. "Then shall the righteous shine forth," &c. Mat_13:43. Theirs will be a state of exaltation and blessedness forever. He shall say unto them, "Come, ye blessed of my Father," &c. Mat_25:34.

Application

"Who hath ears to hear, let him hear," Mat_13:43.

How instructive and solemn the whole subject. Are we the wheat, or the tares? What is to be our future, our eternal state?

Autor: JABEZ BURNS