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

Answer Details

(a) The Parable of the Wheat and the Tares and its interpretation

Jesus told His disciples a parable about a man who sowed good wheat seed in his field. While men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares (weeds) among the wheat and went away. When the wheat began to grow and produce grain, the tares also appeared. The servants asked the master whether he had not sown good seed in the field and how the weeds came about. The master replied that an enemy had done it.

The servants then asked whether they should go and uproot the tares. The master refused, saying that while uprooting the tares they might also uproot the wheat. He instructed them to allow both wheat and tares to grow together until harvest time. At the harvest, the reapers would first gather the tares, bind them in bundles and burn them, while the wheat would be gathered into the barn.

Jesus explained that the sower of the good seed is the Son of Man; the field is the world; the good seed represents the children of the kingdom; and the tares represent the children of the evil one. The enemy who sowed the tares is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age or judgement day, while the reapers are the angels.

Just as the tares are gathered and burnt with fire, so shall it be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send His angels to gather all evildoers and those who cause sin and cast 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

(i) In the church today, good and bad people, true believers and false believers, may live and worship together.

(ii) The church should not hastily condemn, destroy or finally judge members, because human beings may wrongly judge or harm innocent people. Final judgement belongs to God.

(iii) The church should, however, teach, correct and discipline erring members in love, with the aim of repentance and restoration, while leaving eternal judgement to God.

(iv) Christians should remain faithful and righteous, knowing that God will reward the righteous and punish the wicked on the day of judgement.

(v) The parable warns the church to be watchful, since the devil continues to sow evil and false teachings among God’s people.