Matthew 13:24-30 AMPC
Another parable He set forth before them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while he was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed also darnel (weeds resembling wheat) among the wheat, and went on his way. So when the plants sprouted and formed grain, the darnel (weeds) appeared also. And the servants of the owner came to him and said, Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? Then how does it have darnel shoots in it? He replied to them, An enemy has done this. The servants said to him, Then do you want us to go and weed them out? But he said, No, lest in gathering the wild wheat (weeds resembling wheat), you root up the true wheat along with it. Let them grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will say to the reapers, Gather the darnel first and bind it in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my granary.
In order to make sense of this parable, you have to read it in the light of where Jesus told it and the materials it involved.
The audience would have been familiar with the agriculture of the middle east: farmers sowing wheat seeds and enemies spoiling the crop by secretly planting darnel seeds which, from the outside, appear identical to wheat as it grows. The only way to tell is at harvest time. Darnel seeds grow and in the process can uproot the real wheat. Moreover, darnel can be toxic if you try to eat it. In short it's a counterfeit.
How does it relate to our day and age and to the Kingdom of God?
A story recently resurfaced regarding an eminent theologian and apologist. Accusations previously refuted were now proved true by an independent investigation.
The depth of corruption and, indeed depravity, has left many reeling from the revelations - shaking their faith.
Posthumously, the person in question has finally been denounced and branded forever a fraud, having been previously eulogized by many at his funeral!
What are we to make of it? Should such a thing undermine our faith?
Jesus knew that situations such as this one would occur, that's why He told the Parable of the wheat and the tares.
Satan plants false Christians in the body of believers in order to try to uproot and undermine true believers. From the outside it is impossible to spot that they are indeed frauds.
The ploy is to discredit the gospel.
There always will be people who infiltrate the church, the Ananiases and Sapphiras and the Judas Iscariots—the satanic plants that undermine the Word of God. But it is not our job to weed those people out. We don't see a person's heart. Our concern should not be who the hypocrites are, but whether we are hypocrites ourselves. Our job is to take care of ourselves, to take heed and make sure that we are true believers.
Rest assured that whatever has been hidden will be revealed.
Don't let fallen leaders ever undermine your faith - keep your focus on Jesus - He is the perfect sinless Son of God.
Hebrews 12:2
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
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