The Parable of the Wheat and the Tares: A Parable of Grace
Pastor Tan Thai
This sermon expounds the parable of the wheat and tares from Matthew 13:24-43 as a lesson on God's grace. The parable teaches that in the present age, children of the kingdom and children of the devil dwell together in the world until the day of judgment. Believers and the church should not presume authority to judge or remove the wicked, for only God through His angels has the power to separate them on the day of reckoning.
The sermon presents the context of the seven parables in Matthew 13:1-51, all concerning the kingdom of God. The pastor explains that the kingdom of God is not merely a geographic territory but more importantly the place where God completely rules, reigns, and has total authority. Six other parables such as the parable of the four soils, the mustard seed, and the leaven all illustrate different aspects of God's kingdom, from the reception of the Gospel to growth and the immeasurable value of the kingdom.
The parable of the wheat and tares teaches that the world is the field, Jesus Christ is the sower of good seed (children of the kingdom), while Satan is the enemy who sows tares (children of the devil) into the field. When the tares first sprout, they are difficult to distinguish from wheat; only when they grow and bear fruit can they be clearly separated. This sabotage is dreadful and extremely difficult for the field owner to detect. The field is explained by Jesus to represent the world, not the church—a crucial point showing that God's church must live in the midst of a sin-filled world.
The pastor emphasizes that two kingdoms exist in parallel during the present age: the kingdom of heaven and the kingdom of evil. Satan is the god of this age, holding power and sway over the world. However, God has given all people, even the children of the devil, the opportunity to repent and receive Christ during this time. This is God's great grace, not only in giving His Only Son for redemption but also in His patience in granting time and opportunity for all people. The parable is fundamentally a parable of grace because God extends mercy and allows both wheat and tares to grow together, giving sinners time to repent.
The sermon warns against two historical errors of the church. First is isolation from the world, attempting to escape sin by establishing separate communities. Second is the destruction of tares through violence, manifested in crusades and purges throughout church history. The history of the Catholic Church and the Crusades are the worst examples of believers presuming authority to judge and destroy those deemed evil, causing immense suffering to innocent people. The pastor emphasizes that no one possesses the wisdom, clarity, justice, and impartiality of God.
Instead, Jesus teaches the church to be salt and light, bearing witness to the Gospel so the Holy Spirit can transform children of the devil into children of the kingdom. The Lord instructs believers to be patient, learn compassion from Christ, and treat all people with love, mercy, gentleness, forgiveness, and opportunities for repentance. Even with Judas, whom Christ knew would betray Him, Jesus washed his feet, gave him bread as an honored guest, and called him friend when he came to arrest Him. The pastor concludes that believers must have hearts of compassion, not hearts of condemnation.