IN Matthew 13:24-30,24Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: 25But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. 26But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. 27So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? 28He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? 29But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. 30Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn. (Matthew 13:24‑30) the Lord likened the kingdom of heaven to “a man which sowed good seed in his field: but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way,” &c. &c. Great multitudes of men were gathered together listening to His teaching (vs. 2).
In verse 36 Jesus sent them away, and went into the house. Then “his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field.”
We would like to bring our Lord’s explanation of this wonderful scripture before our readers. To the mass who heard it, we fear it remained a parable. But in verse 51, at the close of His teaching, Jesus saith unto His disciples, “Have ye understood all these things? They say unto Him, Yea, Lord.” We trust that many who may read these lines may be found amongst the number who can add their “Yea.”
Jesus answered and said unto His disciples, “He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; the field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; the enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world [age]; and the reapers are the angels” (vers. 37-39).
The sower then is the Son of Man, Jesus; and He sows good seed. Wondrous grace, the Son of God, in human form, down here in this poor world, occupied in sowing good seed! And, blessed be His name, this sowing has gone on from that day to this. It is true that the world rejected Him, and He has gone away, as we learn elsewhere, but the Son of Man is still sowing good seed. And the field is the world. Many would tell us the field is the Church. But where did they get this idea from? It is directly in the teeth of Scripture. So oft many judge of Scripture by the state of things Around them, instead of judging of things around by Scripture. Jesus Himself said, “The field is the; world.” This should settle the matter once and forever, for all who own the authority of His Word. The Son of Man sows good seed in this poor world. This is “his field” (vs. 24).
Then we are told who the good seed are, “the children of the kingdom.” Believers. All who then and now receive the Lord’s word. Have you received it? No one is a child of the kingdom in the natural state. Adam’s fallen race, without exception, has no part nor lot in the matter.
But other seed was sown (vs. 25). Tares sprung up amongst the wheat. And “the tares are the children of the wicked one” (vs. 38). Hence we find a mixed crop. The servants of the Son of Man were negligent― “men slept,”―and an enemy got to work. Hence the state of the kingdom of, heaven. Wherever the rule and authority of heaven on earth has been acknowledged, true and false have been found mixed. That part of the world which owns today the Lordship of the Man Christ Jesus, is peopled with converted and unconverted, believers and unbelievers, possessors and professors, Christians and worldlings. Tens of thousands without the new birth, and with a mere form of godliness, have entered the kingdom externally. It is an enemy’s work. And we are at no loss to discover who the enemy is. “The enemy that sowed them,” saith the Lord, “is the devil.” Satan always works where God works. No sooner does the Son of Man sow good seed, than the enemy at once seeks to introduce the bad. Hence, far and wide, we find the outward acknowledgment of Christ’s authority but the heart of millions far from God. We fear the crop of tares has grown more prolifically than the wheat. Reader, which are you? The Lord well knows wheat from tares, if men do not. You may own Christ with the lip, and be a daily professor of His name, and outwardly acknowledge the rule of heaven to the end of your days, but if you have never heard His voice, and believed on Him that sent Him, you are still in the darkness of nature, without His precious gift of eternal life, and in danger of eternal condemnation (John 5:2424Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24)).
Many go on with eyes fast closed as to what is coming. A sowing is always in view of a harvest. God’s harvest may be delayed, but it will surely come. The harvest is the end of the age (not world, see new translation), and the reapers are the angels. The day draws rapidly near. It is grace to sinners that holds it back. The day of the harvest of the wheat will be the day of the destruction of the tares. The Son of Man will surely have the wheat gathered into His barn (vs. 30). It is a wonderful barn. Who would not be one of the sheaves! His barn is on high; it is the glory of God. All the wheat will be shortly harvested there. The end of the age draws nigh. The reapers are ready; they only wait the word of command from the Master.
“As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world [age]. The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather forth out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity, and shall cast them into a furnace of fire; there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear” (vers. 40-43).
The Son of Man will ere long send His angels forth. What an awful moment for this poor world! Woe to the Christless in that day! “They shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend [margin, scandals], and them which do iniquity, and shall cast them into a furnace of fire; there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.” And elsewhere we read, “The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ; who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power,” &c. (2 Thess. 1:7-97And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 8In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; (2 Thessalonians 1:7‑9)). None shall escape. The sickle of judgment is sharp, and will do its work without fail (Rev. 14:14, 1514And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. 15And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. (Revelation 14:14‑15)). Until the harvest the wheat and the tares grow together in the world. It is not the time to root them up yet. Separation from evil in the house of God is another thing altogether. But in the time of harvest, the Lord will say to the reapers, “Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them; but gather the wheat into my barn” (vers. 28-30). Bound in bundles, the ungodly, who know not God, and who obeyed not the Gospel, but lived for time, and self, and iniquity, will be cast into a furnace of fire. Awful doom! “There shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth,” saith the Lord (vs. 42). And that awful judgment is eternal (Matt. 25:4646And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. (Matthew 25:46)).
We appeal to you, dear reader, to weigh these matters solemnly, whilst the day of sowing continues, and ere the harvest come, and judgment ensue. Now is the day of salvation. Probably you own the authority of the Lord, glorified at the right hand of God. But do you know Him as your Saviour? Do you love Him as the One who loved you; and gave Himself for you? Can you say, Jesus is mine, and I am His? Alas, it is only too true of a great multitude today, like the Jews in our Lord’s day on earth, “This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men” (Matt. 15:8, 98This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoreth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. 9But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. (Matthew 15:8‑9)). The Lord looketh on the heart. Is your heart right with Him? Your head may be full of doctrine, your moral character amongst men may be irreproachable, but, to be saved, you must confess Jesus Lord with the mouth, and with the heart believe that God raised Him from the dead (Rom. 10:99That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (Romans 10:9)).
Run not away with the vain idea that it is only those who live in open iniquity, on whom the judgment of God will fall in that day. Scripture says, “It is iniquity, even the solemn meeting” (Isa. 1:1313Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting. (Isaiah 1:13)). God’s thoughts are not as ours. Even that which is highly esteemed amongst men, is abomination in the sight of God. Even the thought of foolishness is sin. The righteous only will escape, and in the natural state there is none righteous, no, not one (Rom. 3:1010As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: (Romans 3:10)). God only can count us righteous, and that by faith. God is just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus (Rom. 3:2626To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. (Romans 3:26)). To be found amongst the righteous, you must bow to, and believe the Gospel of His wondrous grace.
And in the day of harvest, when the Christless shall be judged, “then,” adds the Lord, “shall the righteous shine forth in the kingdom of their Father” (vs. 43). Caught up to meet Him in the air (1 Thess. 4:1717Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. (1 Thessalonians 4:17)), before the final closing in of the age, and the execution of judgment on men on the earth, they shall appear with Christ in glory, when. He shall be manifested as Judge (Jude 14,1514And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, 15To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him. (Jude 14‑15)). Every saint, as well as every angel, shall accompany Him in His glorious train (Rev. 19:1414And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. (Revelation 19:14); Matt. 25:3131When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: (Matthew 25:31)). And as the sun shines forth in the heavens, so will all His saved ones shine forth with Him, the Sun of righteousness, in that glorious day. He shall judge His foes, and establish the kingdom (Zech. 14:1-111Behold, the day of the Lord cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee. 2For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city. 3Then shall the Lord go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. 4And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south. 5And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the Lord my God shall come, and all the saints with thee. 6And it shall come to pass in that day, that the light shall not be clear, nor dark: 7But it shall be one day which shall be known to the Lord, not day, nor night: but it shall come to pass, that at evening time it shall be light. 8And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the former sea, and half of them toward the hinder sea: in summer and in winter shall it be. 9And the Lord shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one Lord, and his name one. 10All the land shall be turned as a plain from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem: and it shall be lifted up, and inhabited in her place, from Benjamin's gate unto the place of the first gate, unto the corner gate, and from the tower of Hananeel unto the king's winepresses. 11And men shall dwell in it, and there shall be no more utter destruction; but Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited. (Zechariah 14:1‑11)).
Knowing that these things must shortly come to pass, we press upon every soul, that reads these lines, our Lord’s closing words, “Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.” Soon it will be too late.
A Saviour in glory says to you— “Come into me.” Never did a burdened soul respond without receiving rest. Come to Him now while you may, and salvation is yours. E. H. C.