177 – The Parables of the Seed and the Tares Among the Wheat.

BIBLE INSTITUTE OF CORRESPONDENCE

COURSE: THEOLOGY V LESSON # 77

ESCHATOLOGY – THE KINGDOM OF GOD – PARABLES OF THE SEED AND THE TARES AMONG THE WHEAT

INTRODUCTION:

1. Here are two different, but relevant parables, each relevant to that of the sower.
2. All three parables concerning the seed, are clearly relevant to the Kingdom of God.
3. Many realities which we behold in God’s kingdom would be incurably frustrating without these parables.

i. Why does so much work appear futile?
ii. Why is the Gospel the only thing we may preach?
iii. Why must we suffer hypocrites among us?

4. Let us approach the kingdom truths in these parables from four points of view.

I. THE COMPONENTS OF THE PARABLES

i. He and His servants sow no other seed.
ii. This seed always accomplishes divine purpose. (Isa. 55:8-13

)

2. The sower of the bad seed (all but saints) is Satan. (verse 38)
3. The good seed, i.e., its product, (wheat) is the children of the Kingdom. (Jn. 3:3

)
4. The tares are Satan’s children, tares, chaff, (Lk. 3:16

,17

) all that is not wheat.
5. The field is the world (all the world), all who are in it are either Christ’s children, or Satan’s.

II. THE MYSTERY OF THE HOUSEHOLDERS’ PERMISSIVENESS

1. Did you not sow good seed, i.e., only good seed? (verse 27)
2. The householders’ action, (sowing good seed) supposes apparent purpose (wheat without tares).
3. Thus, the assumption that he would have them immediately removed from His field, world.(Kingdom?)

4. At this point He permits the tares among the wheat, but His kingdom shall not always be so. (Mat. 13:30

)

III. THE REALITY OF WHAT THE FIELD IS (THE WORLD) (VS 38)

1. One day His kingdom shall be a new heaven and a new earth, but not now. (The world yet stands.)
2. There is a precise relationship between what the world is and what we are to do and what we shall be.

i. It is a field where much good seed is yet to be sown.
ii. It is a place where the wheat suffers tribulation.
iii. It is this tribulation that purges out our dross.

3. Thus, much which appears to be defiling and hindering His kingdom is really serving it.
4. Do not let the tares in the field defeat you, God leaves them there for a purpose, till the time of judgment.

IV. THE JOY OF HARVEST TIME (MARK 4:26-29 )

1. In this season of sowing, and waiting, and wondering why and how, there is much questioning.
2. Why the tares and the absence of fruit and the fruitless labor?
3. But God’s ground produces (we know not how) sprout, blade, ear, full grown corn.
4. When it is done, we shall share in both reward and rejoicing. (Ps. 126:6

and Jn. 4:34-38

)
5. This world is not the spotless kingdom which is to come, but the field in which it is growing.

Berean Baptist Church