The Voice in the Wilderness





Series: 20-2021

PARABLE OF THE TARES
[Matthew 13:24-30; Parable explained Matthew 13:36-43]

Before explaining this Parable, JESUS CHRIST took time to explain again for emphasis, the reasons for His teaching in parables [MATTHEW 13:34-35]. He had earlier explained this in MATTHEW 13:10-17. Verse 11, the Kingdom of GOD is a mystery. It is available to only those whose eyes have been opened by the HOLY SPIRIT [John 6:44; Matthew 11:27; 1 Corinthians 1:18-24; 2 Corinthians 4:3-7]

A. Introduction
CHRIST begins the explanation of this parable by stating that He is the Sower of the good seed [v 37]. The enemy that sowed the tares is the devil [v 39]. The harvest is the end of the world [39] and the reapers are the angels [39]. As explained by the LORD JESUS CHRIST, this parable is one of the parables that emphasises that there will be a day that we all shall stand before the JUDGEMENT seat of CHRIST, where everyone who has ever lived on this planet earth will give account of how he or she sojourned on this earth. It tells us without any iota of doubt that there will be a day of reckoning. A day when all the deeds of man shall be revealed and judgement pronounced.

Verse 41 of Matthew 13 says
41 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;

2 Corinthians 5:10
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

Acts 17:31
31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.



It is a day whereby JESUS CHRIST, Whom GOD the Father hath committed all judgement unto (John 5:22) will judge both the righteous and the wicked.

B. Just 2 types of people will face the Judgement

As shown in this parable there will be just two types of people who will appear before the judgement seat of CHRIST. There will be (i) the children of the wicked one [verse 38] and (ii) the righteous ones [verse 43]. The Parable states very clearly that the children of the wicked one shall be cast into the furnace of fire [verse 41-42], the righteous on the other hand shall “shine forth as the sun in the Kingdom of their Father” [verse 43].

C. What defines the children of the wicked ones on one hand and the righteous ones on the other hand?

Is it determined by race, nationality, religion, profession etc. Fortunately for some and most unfortunately for others, none of the above determines our eternal destination. GOD is a just GOD. He will never use any yardstick such as race or nationality that we don’t have control over to determine one’s eternal destination. Why do I say this? Let’s look at what CHRIST told the Jews in John 8:39-44.

Here we see the LORD JESUS CHRIST defining the wicked ones not on the basis of natural birth, nor on the basis of religious leanings, but on the basis of:

1. One’s rejection of Him as the only begotten Son of GOD [John 10:42-43, 47; John 3:16-18; John 3:36] and

2. On the basis of one’s works [John 10:39, 41, 44]

1. Acceptance of CHRIST by faith brings salvation to anybody, male or female. Salvation of a soul does not depend on one’s nationality or race. CHRIST is the Saviour of both the Jews and the Gentiles. Peter said this while in the house of Cornelius, a gentile “....... Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.” [Acts 10:34-35].

CHRIST JESUS says in John 6:37 “.... him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”

GOD is for all nations. Paul says in Romans 3:29-30 “Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also:

30 Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.”

· It is faith in CHRIST JESUS that brings salvation [Ephesians 2:8-9]

D. Implications of being born again
When we accept CHRIST, it means that we have accepted His Lordship over our lives. It means that His will becomes our will; we like what He likes and hate what He hates. His teaching determines our actions and we now live lives that are in total submission to His desires.

i. It also implies that we have repented from our sins, renounced our old ways of life and have “put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.” [Ephesians 4:24].

ii. In addition, Colossians 3:10 says that when we put on CHRIST we “put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him”.

iii. It means that we are now born again and the HOLY SPIRIT now indwells us [John 3:3,5-7; John 20:22].

2 Corinthians 5:17 says
Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

iv. A person who is born again is dead to sin and alive unto righteousness [Romans 6:11]

v. The SPIRIT of GOD in him or her which is as a result of the presence of GOD’s Seed in us make us alive in Him. We are able to walk in the SPIRIT and at the same time produce the fruit of righteousness [Galatians 5:22-23, 25].

vi. A person who has the seed of GOD in him will not practise sin, neither will he be an advocate of rising and falling Christianity [1 John 3:8-10].

E. Belief in CHRIST alone without accompanying good works is nullity: it is of no importance or worth. It is totally useless [1 Corinthians 6:9-11, 15-20; Galatians 5:20-21].

In the same vein, good works alone without faith in CHRIST and submission unto His will is rubbish [Isaiah 64:6; Luke 18:10-14; Philippians 3:4–8].

F. Conclusion
The righteous as seen in the Bible are those who have faith in CHRIST JESUS and at the same time accompany this faith with bearing good fruits or doing good works [Philippians 1:9-11; John 15:4-5; Romans 14:17-18; James 2:15-26]. Anyone who does not abide by this doctrine is regarded as a wicked person before GOD. These are the ones whom the angels of CHRIST shall gather and cast them into the furnace of fire [verses 40-42].

But the righteous who follow the teaching of CHRIST and of the apostles will inherit the Kingdom prepared for them from the foundation of the world (Matthew 25:34).

“Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.” [verse 43].

CHRIST JESUS now ends this parable with the statement “Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.”

GOD bless you.


Bro Michael Dike