The Parable of the Wheat and the Tares
Pastor Tan Thai · Oct 2, 2022
This sermon expounds the parable of the wheat and tares in Matthew 13, showing that Jesus is the one who sows good seed in the world while the devil is the enemy who sows weeds. Final judgment belongs to God alone, not to people, and the end of the age will clearly separate the children of the kingdom from the children of the evil one.
This sermon was delivered at Albuquerque Baptist Church on October 2, 2022, focusing on the parable of the wheat and tares in Matthew 13:24-30 and Jesus' own interpretation in Matthew 13:36-43. It is one of seven parables about the Kingdom of Heaven in Matthew 13, and the sermon places this parable within the context of the entire chapter to help the congregation grasp its deeper theological significance.
The sermon carefully analyzes each element of the parable according to Jesus' precise explanation: the one who sows good seed is the Son of Man, the field is the world, the good seed are the children of the kingdom, the tares are the children of the evil one, the enemy is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are the angels. The sermon emphasizes that God loves the world (John 3:16-17) and that His purpose is salvation rather than immediate judgment. This explains why He does not uproot the tares at once — He is patient and does not want anyone to perish (2 Peter 3:9).
The sermon also explores the relationship between Christians and the world based on Jesus' prayer in John 17:14-16. Believers live in the world but do not belong to it, and God keeps them from the evil one. The parable further teaches that the Church is not called to judge or remove those outside, but does have a responsibility to maintain purity within, in line with Paul's teaching in 1 Corinthians 5:9-13.
Regarding final judgment, the sermon stresses that the end of the age will be a time of clear divine separation: angels will gather out of the kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil, throwing them into the fiery furnace where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, while the righteous will shine like the sun in their Father's kingdom. This coming judgment calls for serious personal response, which is why Jesus concludes with the solemn summons: "Whoever has ears, let them hear!"