IN 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 5:24).
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. 1:7-9). None shall escape. The sickle of judgment is sharp, and will do its work without fail (Rev. 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. 25:46).
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, 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. 10:9).
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. 1:13). 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. 3:10). God only can count us righteous, and that by faith. God is just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus (Rom. 3:26). 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. 4:17), 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 14,15). Every saint, as well as every angel, shall accompany Him in His glorious train (Rev. 19:14; Matt. 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. 14:1-11).
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.