(a) Relate the parable of The Wheat and The Tares and give its interpretation. (b) How is this parable applicable to the church today?

(a) The parable of the Wheat and the Tares (Matthew 13:24-30) and its interpretation (Matthew 13:36-43)

Jesus said the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while men were asleep, his enemy came and sowed tares (weeds) among the wheat and went away. When the plants grew and bore grain, the tares also appeared. The servants of the householder came and asked, "Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then has it weeds?" He answered, "An enemy has done this." The servants offered to go and gather the weeds, but he said, "No; lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. Let both grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn."

Interpretation given by Jesus:

• The sower of the good seed is the Son of Man (Jesus).
• The field is the world.
• The good seed represents the sons (children) of the kingdom.
• The tares are the sons of the evil one.
• The enemy who sowed them is the devil.
• The harvest is the close of the age (the end of the world).
• The reapers are the angels.

Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so it will be at the close of the age. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all evildoers, and throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.

(b) Application of the parable to the church today

• Good and bad people (true and false believers) exist side by side in the church; the visible church is a mixture, not a pure body.
• It teaches patience and tolerance; the church should not hastily condemn or expel members, since final judgement belongs to God.
• Final separation and judgement will be carried out by God through His angels at the end of the age, not by human beings.
• It warns believers to remain faithful and fruitful, for the righteous will be rewarded and the wicked punished.
• It reminds the church that the devil is always at work sowing evil even among genuine believers, so members must be watchful and not sleep spiritually.