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by Sandy Shaw
We are in Matthew Chapter 13, and we have been looking at that parable about the wheat and the tares and we have to read on to verse 36 to be given the full significance of what at first sight appears to be a very simple illustration. These stories which we call the parables are just so wonderful and beautiful – are they?
Jesus left the crowd and went into the house and his disciples came to him and asked for a further explanation. Tell us the meaning.
It is always encouraging when someone comes with a question wanting further teaching – wanting to know more. It does not happen very often, but when it does, it lifts your heart – when you have people asking for deeper insights into the Word of God.
We see here – access to Jesus – a question – and a full explanation.
Jesus explained – I am the one sowing the good seed – the field is the world – and the good seed represents sons of the Kingdom.
The weeds are the sons of the evil one. The enemy who sows them is the devil.
This is becoming much more than just a nice story. This is shocking revelation to anyone hearing it for the first time.
Jesus does not dress up the truth in nice religious language. He just explains it as it really is. Jesus is giving his disciples an insight into what is going on in the world, and it is in the form of spiritual warfare.
Jesus is going around sowing disciples – planting men and women in strategic places – and the enemy goes around sowing weeds. Now, as we perceive what Jesus is saying and teaching and revealing, certain scenarios and circumstances around the world might just become a little bit easier to understand
There are some things which are not accidents – these problems – battles – obstacles – difficulties – and there are many – and they are varied.
When the wheat begins to grow, so do the weeds. Every farmer knows that. Every gardener knows that.
The same climatic conditions which cause the good plants to grow also cause the weeds to appear and grow. Now, that explains and reveals much.
Some servants want to pull up the weeds. Jesus has to warn them. The two types of groups look identical at various stages of growth. No matter how careful the servants were, it would have been possible that they could have pulled up good wheat.
Leave them – let them both grow together – and the harvesters will burn the weeds – and gather the wheat – and bring the wheat into my barn.
Jesus had given the crowd the equivalent of a children’s address, but to the disciples Jesus gave more, because they asked, and they could take it.
They are hungry for spiritual food which will nourish deeply and satisfy.
This is what it will be like in the kingdom.
When I was preparing these words came to me – and you have to judge them as to whether they be true – wheat know they are wheat – and weeds know they are weeds. People know if they are in Christ, or not in Christ. People know if they are born again, or if that is something they have never experienced.
Can one take it further – people know if they are baptised in the Holy Spirit – or if that anointing is an experience for which they have yet to ask the baptiser.
Jesus goes on to speak about the end of the age. This age is going to end.
When Jesus sees really hungry people He will feed them and explain things and reveal spiritual truths. You cannot get this knowledge anywhere else in the whole world – except in the Word of God. Jesus has this desire to reveal tremendous truths to His people.
When crisis comes how will we cope? Jesus answers that question here. When things arise and appear which we thought would never arise and appear in our field, how will we cope? When Jesus speaks about the final harvest the angels are going to do the harvesting, and it will be very delicate work. This age is not going to go on for ever.
Verse 41 must terrify some people.
Wheat and tares – good fruit and weeds – light and darkness – they continue to grow right to the end.
The same climatic conditions which ripened the wheat also ripened the tares.
Jesus Christ works in the light, but the enemy works in the dark.
The light of God is becoming brighter and the darkness is becoming darker.
The enemy works where the owner is working.
Some will been right alongside those who are in the kingdom, and they may even have looked like disciples of Jesus.
What are we sowing? What are we growing? What are we producing?
Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!
Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.
Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.
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