Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who 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 grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. So the servants of the owner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’ He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The servants said to him, ‘Do you want us then to go and gather them up?’ But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.”
Then Jesus sent the multitude away and went into the house. And His disciples came to Him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the tares of the field.” He answered and said to them: “He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one. The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels. Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He, who has ears to hear, let him hear! (Matt 13:24-30; 36-43)
VERSE 24 “Another parable put Him forth unto them (This parable stands related to the one before, “The Parable of the Sower” The first prepares the way for the other. The first deals with the individual; the second with the church collectively.) Saying, The kingdom of heaven (Practically every parable which our Lord uttered was given to teach something respecting the character of the Kingdom. The Kingdom of Heaven [the spiritual phase] here spoken of is the embryo Kingdom, which is the kingdom as it is during the entire Gospel age) is likened unto (The Lord here was using a metaphor) a man (the Lord Jesus Himself) which sowed good seed (The Gospel of the Kingdom, "Which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord" (Heb 2:3) "Bringing life and immortality to light through the Gospel" (2 Tim 1:10), in his field (the entire world).”
VERSE 25 “But while men slept (After the apostles fell asleep, that is, after they had died and had left the scene. In the night, of the dark ages, a general spirit of slumber regarding the truth prevailed among the Lord's people. Even till now the same thing is true. "Therefore, let us not sleep as do others."(1 Thess 5:6) The Church was kept free from tares before the apostles fell asleep by God arranging that truth be put forth for acceptance or rejection by the Jews in its most unfavorable light, so that only Israelite's indeed would be inclined to become followers of Jesus. During the Apostles' days such special gifts as "discernment of spirits" enabled them to prevent tares from getting in among the wheat, hypocrites from getting into the Church. Paul warned the Church of what would take place after he died "After my departing grievous wolves shall enter in among you, not sparing the flock." (Acts 20:29, 30)
his enemy came (The great adversary, Satan, using human instrumentalities) and sowed tares (Sham wheat, imitation wheat, professors who draw nigh with their lips while their hearts are far from the Lord. Hypocrites, nominal Christians (i.e. in name only), resembling or counterfeiting the true, Deceived individuals, misnaming themselves Christians, because mis-taught by churchianity. These have since run the church organizations, and the Lord has permitted it to be so and is allowing the truly consecrated ones to be developed under these different conditions. The tares are begotten of error--false doctrine, nevertheless there are however many fine, noble people among them who have neither part nor lot with the wheat because they are not of the same nature, not begotten of the truth) among the wheat and went his way (Among the true saints, the children of the Kingdom, for the very purpose of choking it, "We wrestle not with flesh and blood, but with wicked spirits in high positions." (Eph 6:12).”
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