Wheat and Tares, Mt 13:37-43
Dear Brethren,
I was reading Christ's explanation to the parable of the wheat and tares, and some questions came to mind.
37 He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;
38 The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;
39 The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.
40 As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.
41 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;
42 And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
43 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
Please HELP. Give me some light.
1. Is the sending forth of his 'angels' a past event, or still a future event?
- If past, when?
- If future, when?
2. If the 'angels' had been sent out, how did they gather out of the kingdom of the Son of man all things that offend, and them which do iniquity?
3. If the 'angels' shall be sent forth in the future, e.g. at Christ second coming, what would they be doing to gather out of the kingdom of the Son of man all things that offend, and them which do iniquity?
- At Christ's second coming, would there still be need to gather out of the kingdom of the Son of man all things that offend, and them which do iniquity?
4. Grammatically, who cast them that do iniquity into the furnace of fire - Son of man or his angels?
- What does casting them into a furnace of fire mean? Is it literal fire?
Here are some of my thoughts about this parable:
- A major mystery that is revealed with the coming of Jesus Christ is the arrival of the kingdom of heaven, and the abolition of the earthly kingdom of Israel; the beginning of the new covenant, and the end of the old covenant. The visible manifestation of the kingdom of God in the new covenant is radically different from that in the old covenant.
- The old covenant community in the form of the nation of Israel (of natural descendants of Abraham) was going to be abolished, and be replaced with the new covenant community in the form of NT churches (of spiritual children of God).
- Therefore the mysteries of the kingdom of God have immediate relevance to the Jews, and especially those living in the period of reformation (AD 30-70), the decaying of the old covenant to the establishment of the new.
b. There are both wheat and tares in the earthly kingdom of Israel. The earthly kingdom of Israel, the visible manifestation of God’s people in the old covenant consisted of both wheat and tares. The kingdom of heaven in the new covenant would no longer be so. A separation shall happen soon. This is another mystery of the kingdom of heaven – delivered through this parable of the wheat and tares.
- “For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh: but he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God… For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel.” Romans 2:28-29, 9:6
- Our Lord Jesus used the picture of wheat and tares that look alike outwardly but their fruit are so different. The parable of the wheat and tares not only brings out this fact, but also reveals that old state of affair will cease. A time of great separation is coming. That is another mystery of the kingdom of heaven Jesus is revealing.
- Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear and get ready for the great separation.
c. The separation of the wheat and tares in the field of the Jewish world culminated at the end of the Jewish world in 70AD. In 70AD the Jewish world came to an end, with a great separation. The unbelieving Jews suffered severely, millions perished under the Roman army. Many others were sold into slavery. There was great wailing and gnashing of teeth.
- Mt 8:12 "But the children of the kingdom [of Israel] shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." Here children of the kingdom are cast out into the outer darkness, and were weeping and gnashing of teeth. This is an apt description of the horrendous tragedy that fell upon the ‘tares’ in 70AD.
- It seems the 'angels' refer to Christ’s apostles who labored during the 40 years of reformation period to gather the wheat, the children of the kingdom into safety. They are ‘angels’ – i.e. messengers sent out by the Lord of the harvest.
- In the 40 years reformation period, the apostles gathered out of the kingdom of heaven all things that offend… things from the old covenant that have been abolished by the finished work of Christ BUT carried into the kingdom of the Son of man by the believing Jews. 'All things that offend' refer to the ceremonies and rituals and forms of the old covenant.
sing feeling lonely in the south seas
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Fri Aug 3, 2007 8:13 pm
Bro. Sing,
I'm open for teaching on the scripture you have given. But, I will give a short response stating how I perceive these verses. That's a good way to see where I may be wrong. I believe a lot of New Testament writings do refer to the 70 A.D. events, but don't think this is one of them. I will insert my reply in bold type.
Yours in hope,
Waine
1. Verse 37 says that the Son of man sows the good seed. And verse 38 says the good seed are the children of the kingdom. Is it right to conclude that the Son of man sows the children of the kingdom? If it is, what does the Son of man sows the children of the kingdom mean?
## Yes it right to say that Jesus Christ sows the children of the kingdom. He places them in this world which is part of his kingdom or domain, and particularly in regeneration places them in His eternal kingdom. There is also the gospel church kingdom where some of His children (good seed) reside.
2. Verse 40 speaks of 'the end of THIS world.' What is the world spoken of? Jewish world in AD 70? The world at Christ return? What is the END spoken of?
## I believe the end is not AD 70, but the closing out of human history in this present world
or the second coming.
3. Verse 41 says, the angels 'shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity.'What do the 'all things that offend' refer to?
## I think He is referring to the wicked children of the devil or non-elect.
4. Is the furnace of fire spoken of in verse 42, the eternal fire of eternal torment (eternal judgment) or some severe temporal judgment (e.g destruction in ad 70??
## I think it is eternal fire.
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Fri Aug 3, 2007 9:05 pm
Dear Bro Waine,
I have looked at this same parable the same way too. Like you said, I am open to further teaching and correction if I am mistaken.
I enjoyed our visit last weekend. I wished we had more opportunities to do so.
Lord Bless You Brother,
shunnin
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Sat Aug 4, 2007 2:00 am
Brother Sing,
Anytime you ask a question about a parable you can pretty well prepare to receive a multitude of answers. My thoughts are in keeping with the posts you've already seen, though with a slightly different emphasis.
If you go back to Matthew 11 and John's inquiry to Jesus, you see one lesson of kingdom advancement, spiritual success, after another. Given chapters eleven and twelve, we might prepare ourselves to think that this scenario is the norm, always to be expected till the Second
Coming. Of course that is not the case either historically or according to Jesus' own prediction (Matthew chapters 23 and 24 as a major example).
I have thought that the sequence of parables in Matthew 13 are intended to inject a dose of reality into the setting that lead up to these parables.
1. The parable of the sower and the seed. Don't expect the response of people to the gospel to always be as positive as you've seen recently. Long term, you will see far more people reject your message than receive it.
2. The parable of the wheat and the tares. Don't jump to judgment regarding a person's eternal state based on their response to your preaching. Such leaps of judgment are dangerously liable to harm some of God's chosen vessels of mercy, tender and growing wheat plants of His own planting. Leave the judgment of wheat and tares to the "Lord of the harvest" who alone knows "...them that are his...."
How should we react when someone rejects our message? We need not jump to judgment; in fact we should not. We should follow Paul's example in Acts 13:46-52. If some folks refuse our message, we tell them goodbye and take our message to other folks who may be more
inclined to hear it. Period--no need to pass judgment against those who reject it. Perhaps we failed to give them a credible testimony, so the fault is not their eternal state but our poor job in presenting our message. God reserves the position of final Judge, so
why do we feel at times so compulsive about passing our own finite and thus flawed judgment? Listen to the parable and leave the matter of judging for the Judge at the Day of Judgment.
3. The parable of the mustard seed. Don't be discouraged by small beginnings. Sometimes small beginnings over time grow into amazing things, especially if God is "growing the plant." "...I have planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase." (1 Corinthians 3:6)
4. The parable of the leaven. The kingdom has its own way of spreading, something about the nature of the kingdom. It does better when we respect its inherent character than when we attempt to micro- manage it based on our own agenda.
5. The parable of the buried treasure and the pearl of great price. For the individual regenerate child of God the effort to "find" the kingdom is rewarded with incredible blessings, and it is always worth the price you pay.
6. And finally the parable of the net. We tend to "line fish" today, but Jesus and the apostles (Book of Acts) practiced net fishing. Characteristic of net fishing is that you catch a lot of "critters" that aren't fish and suited for "kingdom use." The work of the net is to bring all things caught up to the surface where they can be examined, the unusable things thrown back into the water, and the good things kept and cultivated.
Increasingly when I see lists in the New Testament, or in this case a series of parables told in sequence, I look for a unifying truth that makes sense out of the items in the list and their relationship to the whole. This general approach to the "kingdom parables" of Matthew 13 make more sense to me than any explanation I've encountered otherwise. Jesus' primary purpose in the parables was clearly not to "chase the identity of who was and who was not one of the elect." It had to do with the function of the kingdom.
Hope these few thoughts help,
jay
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Sat Aug 4, 2007 2:38 am
Dear Members of ...,
In a previous discussion of "Wheat and Tares" I posted the following on the date indicated below. I am still in agreement with the views given by Elder Cayce, and I also still agree with his statement that says: "We know there is a difference among brethren on many of the parables, and we do not propose that our views are a standard."
Within the copied material, I have supplied some bold print for emphasis.
Genie
P.S. (I was able to locate this material by referring to the forum's Archives. I enjoy reviewing the Archives from time to time.) One can list a subject of interest in the "search" box and often find a wealth of commentaries by the various members of our group.
Since this subject (Wheat and Tares) is being discussed, I am taking liberty to post the views on this parable as given in some articles written by Elder Cayce. If you are like me, you always appreciate the various views that may be given relative to the teaching of parables. Please notice the Elder Cayce does not claim that his views are necessarily regarded as the standard. Personally, I agree with the views of Elder Cayce on this lesson, but please realize that I do not have views on parables poured in concrete----I am aware that other brethren have differing views from mine, and I will be respectful of any views that I deem to be reasonable, even if I disagree.
For teaching fundamental doctrines, it is my desire to have lessons other than parables to be the main foundation.
Genie
PARABLE OF THE TARES
February 26, 1907
We have been requested to give our views on this parable, which is recorded in Matthew xiii. 24 to 30. It reads as follows:
"Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto 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.
But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.
So 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?
He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?
But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.
Let 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."
The Saviour gave some light on this parable, in declaring it unto His disciples, as recorded in verse 36 to 43:
"Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field.
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; and the reapers are the angels.
As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.
The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather 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.
Now, it seems to us that this parable has reference somewhat to the end or closing out of the old or law dispensation and the ushering in of the new, or rather to the end of the Jewish age or Jewish world. Jesus says the harvest is the end of the world, and the reapers are the angels. The word angel, in Scripture, often means minister. "Unto the angel of the church" is used several times in Revelation, certainly refers to the minister of the church. So the reapers or angels were ministers of Christ, sent by Him. They were not sent by the church or by a board, but were sent by Him. They are sent the same way now as they were then---that is, Christ sends His ministers or His angels now.
As the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it was in the end of the Jewish age or Jewish world. Those wicked Jews were cast out; there was wailing and gnashing of teeth. The Lord's kingdom, or church, came forth from all the darkness of that age, her subjects shining as the sun. Though they suffered persecution and martyrdom, yet loyal subjects were there, and the kingdom of Christ was "fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners."
These are a few of the thoughts we have had in connection with this parable. We do not know that this is the correct view, but it is the way we view it, and we offer these thoughts for our readers, and not as a standard at all. We know there is a difference among brethren on many of the parables, and we do not propose that our views are a standard.
(This article was taken from Editorial Writings of Elder C.H. Cayce, Vol. 1, pp. 163-164.)
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WHEAT AND TARES
December 6, 1910
Brother H.E. Rouw, of Holdenville, Okla., requests our views of the parable of the wheat and the tares. We will give only a brief reply.
The parable refers to the closing out of the law dispensation and the ushering in of the gospel dispensation. The wheat was gathered the gospel kingdom in gospel worship and service. The tares were not admitted in the gospel worship and service. The law service and worship was then done away. It was destroyed.
(This article was taken from Editorial Writings of Elder C.H. Cayce, Vol. 1, p.388.)
(I have always enjoyed the plain, simple way that Elder Cayce often used in giving his specific views. Genie)
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WHEAT AND TARES
February 21, 1911
On another page of this paper appears a letter from Brother John G. Rousseau, of Paint Rock, Ala., in which he takes issue with us concerning the wheat and the tares. We gave a short statement of our views on this in our issue of December 6, 1910. We do not propose to set up our views as standard, but we certainly think Brother Rousseau is wrong in his application of the subject.
It is a fact that most, if not all, the parables the Saviour used had primary reference to the closing out of the law dispensation, or the Jewish age, and ushering in of the gospel dispensation, or gospel age. The original meaning of the term, "end of the world," as used in the parables in the thirteeth chapter of Matthew, is the "end of the age;" the end of the dispensation. The word "world" in the original has no reference to this material universe. For this reason Brother Rousseau's position cannot possibly be correct.
The passage quoted by Brother Rousseau showing that grievous wolves shall enter the church, and so on, does not, at all, disprove our statement that the parable has reference to the closing out of that Jewish age of dispensation.
An angel is a messenger. The Lord's angels were His apostles and ministers, and by their ministry and preaching they gathered the good out from the bad. The good were gathered together in bundles into gospel worship and service.
If Brother Rousseau makes the proper application of the parable, it would be wrong to ever exclude anyone from the church, no matter what crime he might commit, for we understand his application to be that the tares are in the church, and must not be rooted up, or taken out, for fear of rooting up the wheat; and if this be a correct application it would destroy all church discipline. Not only so, but the Saviour does not say the field is the church, the field is the world.
Other reasons might be given along this line, but we think these are sufficient. We trust Brother Rousseau and all our readers may consider these thoughts, and remember that we do not propose to be a standard, and that we are well aware of the fact that we make mistakes and are not always right. C.H.C
( This article was taken from Editorial Writings of Elder C.H. Cayce, Vol II, pp. 18-19)
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WHEAT AND TARES AGAIN
August 8, 1911
To make the separation of the wheat and tares to mean the final wind up of time, at the resurrection, is to make the resurrection of all and the separation of the sheep and goats, a work done through instrumentality. We would as soon believe and teach that God regenerates sinners through the instrumentality of ministers (angels) as to teach that He will resurrect them and separate them from the goats that way at the final wind up of all time.
Now, brethren, no matter how much you quibble, nor how much you quarrel about the matter, our statement remains true, whether you believe it or not, that the word world in the expression, "so shall it be in the end of the world," is translated from a word which means age, and never was used to denote mankind, neither part nor all the race. Now, that is a fact, and all your grumbling at our position will not change this fact. We have now said our say on the matter, and there is no use of all this continual stirring of a difference over a parable.
(This article was taken from Editorial Writings of Elder C.H. Cayce, Vol. II, p. 57.)
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Sat Aug 4, 2007 2:48 am
Dear Brother Jay,
You have presented these parables in a light I have never considered before, and your presentation cheers me somehow. Thank you for posting it.
Years ago, Bro. David preached a sermon on the buried treasure and the pearl, likening them to the searches of a child of God who grew up in the church, and a child of God who came looking for the church from the outside. This, too, is helpful to one who desires to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ, for it helps him to realize that there will be young people he has known for years that will one day "wake up" and realize that a treasure has been hidden right under their noses, and there will be people coming from other places who have been diligently searching for the kingdom for some time.
Smithy
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Sat Aug 4, 2007 4:51 am
Bro Jay,
You Wrote:
"Perhaps we failed to give them a credible testimony, so the fault is not their eternal state but our poor job in presenting our message."
Amen! That is one of my main objections to the errant theory that all of God's elect will respond positively to the gospel and live the rest of their lives as active disciples of Christ. Many times I do not do the gospel justice in explaining it to others.
Also, I've know a lot of good people who loved Christ but were hurt very deeply by others at church and ceased their activities therein. These people were not false professors, but were found at the receiving end of non-Christian behavior. There are many people involved in a persons church experience other than the individual person. In college, I took a Criminal Investigation class in which we learned to always look at the totality of circumstances. In short, there are just too many factors for us to consider in making an accurate "sheep assessment." I am glad God is the true judge and that He "knoweth them that are His."
God bless,
Benny
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Sat Aug 4, 2007 11:28 am
Dear Brother Waine,
Thank you very much for your thoughts. They assist me in understanding the passage.
Please see some further inquiries to your comments, marked ##.
2. Verse 40 speaks of 'the end of THIS world.' What is the world spoken of? Jewish world in AD 70? The world at Christ return? What is the END spoken of?
== I believe the end is not AD 70, but the closing out of human history in this present world or the second coming. ==
## A few things goaded me to ask the above questions.
- Jesus used 'THIS world' instead of 'THE' word... may be he refers to the world of the Jews.
- Jesus used the picture of 'good seed' (wheat?) and tares... they look alike but their results are so different. It reminds me of what apostle Paul said later, For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel.'
- I believe the parables deal mainly with the Jews in the transitional period from the old covenant to the new.
3. Verse 41 says, the angels 'shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity.'What do the 'all things that offend' refer to?
== I think He is referring to the wicked children of the devil or non-elect. ==
## I think there is a clear distinction made between 'ALL THINGS that offend,' and 'THEM which do iniquity.' I would make more sense if we understand 'them which do iniquity' to refer to 'the children of the wicked one.' What could 'all things that offend' refer to? Or is 'them that do iniquity' an explication of 'all things that offend'?
And it the 'ANGELS" that execute these work of gathering out of Christ's kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity? Are they literal angels?
Could all things that offend refer to the old covenant ceremonies and rituals? Could the 'angels' refer to the apostles during the transitional 'reformation' period between crucifixion and the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70?
4. Is the furnace of fire spoken of in verse 42, the eternal fire of eternal torment (eternal judgment) or some severe temporal judgment (e.g destruction in ad 70??)
== I think it is eternal fire ==
## I read in Mt 8:12 "But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.>> Here children of the kingdom are cast out into the outer darkness, and were weeping and gnashing of teeth. Perhaps the furnace may refer to something temporal - something to be greatly fear too.
Please keep talking... to keep my little rusty mind from dying.
sing
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Sat Aug 4, 2007 11:51 am
Dear Brother Jay,
I can't thank you enough for this VERY ENLIGHTENING reply.
I will read it several more times for the lessons to sink into this
little mind.
Thanks. So glad you took time to write your thoughts.
In our mid-week bible study, we are going through Matthew. Last
Wednesday we were at the second half of Mt 10.
blessed
sing
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Sat Aug 4, 2007 11:52 am
Dear Brother Genie,
Thank you for reposting that helpful article by Elder Cayce.
sing
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Sat Aug 4, 2007 6:27 pm
Dear Brother Sing,
With all due respect I don't believe anyone on FGF or anywhere else is capable of explaining the parable you are talking about any better than the Lord Jesus Christ himself. In verses 37-43 Jesus gives his disciples the explanation. Why should we try to explain the explanation?
Brother Norrel
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Sat Aug 4, 2007 8:49 pm
Dear Brother Sing,
I offer my further comments in $
Waine
## A few things goaded me to ask the above questions. - Jesus used 'THIS world' instead of 'THE' word... may be he refers to the world of the Jews. Good point. You may be right. - Jesus used the picture of 'good seed' (wheat?) and tares... they look alike but their results are so different. It reminds me of what apostle Paul said later, For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel.' - I believe the parables deal mainly with the Jews in the transitional period from the old covenant to the new.
$ "When we substitute age for the word world it does make sense
that it could be referring to this transition. Tares, IMO, just seems too different from the wheat. In my mind it is almost like the contrast between sheep and goats in Mat. 25. Mat. 25 is made clear at the end when the sheep are said to enter into eternal life and the the goats into everlasting (eternal) punishment.
## I think there is a clear distinction made between 'ALL THINGS that offend,' and 'THEM which do iniquity.' I would make more sense if we understand 'them which do iniquity' to refer to 'the children of the wicked one.' What could 'all things that offend' refer to? Or is 'them that do iniquity' an explication of 'all things that offend'?
I tend to think that a yes answer to your last question is correct. But I may be wrong. When men like Bro. Cayce, Bro. Genie and yourself seem in agreement in an explanation different from mine, I do prayerfully reconsider my position.
## And it the 'ANGELS" that execute these work of gathering out of Christ's kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity? Are they literal angels?
$ I find it difficult to see how the apostles succeeded in gathering out all things that offend! It seems to me that literal angels are involved, regardless of whether this occurred in 70AD or will occur at the closing out of human history.
## Could all things that offend refer to the old covenant ceremonies and rituals? Could the 'angels' refer to the apostles during the transitional 'reformation' period between crucifixion and the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70?
$ See answer above.
## I read in Mt 8:12 "But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.>> Here children of the kingdom are cast out into the outer darkness, and were weeping and gnashing of teeth. Perhaps the furnace may refer to something temporal - something to be greatly fear too.
$ I still lean toward the eternal fire explanation, but could be wrong in Mat. 13, but I do
strongly believe that Mat. 8:12 is dealing with temporal judgement upon the Jews in 70 AD
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Sun Aug 5, 2007 4:13 pm
Dear brother Norrel,
Thank you for all the respect you could muster for a little lad in the far east.
May be I should cease trying to understand the explanation.
Why should you try to explain? To rightly divide the explanation. That's why.
OK. I will muzzle up. Thanks.
sing
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Tue Aug 7, 2007 1:41 am
Dear Genie,
I had just now read the short articles by Elder Cayce on the wheat and tares.
I am comforted and relieved that as I fumble about to understand the Scriptures, that veterans in the past have thought in the same way too.
Thanks you for pulling out some gems from your wonderful treasure box.
Thank you Genie.
The political situation here in this nation is tempestuous at the moment.
The excesses of the Muslims are making many very agitated.
sing
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Re: Mt 13:37-43
Bro. Sing,
May God Bless you with His felt presence so continually that you will always strongly desire that good part as Mary did.
I read a little story about a little boy who was taken into the arms of the man of God and he was held so close that he heard the heartbeat of the man of God and it changed his life.
John leaned on the breast of Jesus and was the disciple whom Jesus loved.
Isaiah tells of God talking to His people, especially His Old Testament church, Mt Zion, in these terms. "Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee." Here, God is telling us how much we should feel the need of our Lord, how we should enjoy being a part of the Vine, which brought us into existence and sustains us with food convenient for us, as we live in faith which worketh by love.
I am thankful for your love of the truth of God as a new born babe desiring the sincere milk of the word.
God Bless You and Yours, yours naturally and spiritually.
Pray for us.
far-east
