Two Harvests
Sermon
SERMONS ON THE GOSPEL READINGS
Series I, Cycle A
All of the Bible is inspired. But just as some parts of a turkey have more meat on them, so some parts of the Bible are meatier than others. For example, the genealogies of Leviticus versus the Sermon on the Mount.
Matthew 13 is one of the meatier portions of the scriptures. It is unique as an identifiable sermon of Christ Jesus, a series of seven, maybe eight parables that seem to be prophetic, to foretell the history of ministry ahead of time.
The parable of the wheat and the tares is the second in Jesus' sermon. Let's look at it now.
Two Sowers
Jesus tells of two sowers, "a man who sowed good seed in his field" (v. 24) whom he interprets for us as "the son of man" (v. 37). And "while men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat" (v. 25) whom Christ interprets for us as "the devil" (v. 39). The Greek word for devil is diabolos or liar or one set against.
From the earliest pages of scripture, we are taught of the almighty God, the ancient of days, who created life, who upholds justice and righteousness, and who is to be worshiped and loved. But we are also taught of Satan, the evil one, the tempter, the deceiver. It is for us to realize that ours is a world in conflict between God and the devil, good and evil. That is the message of the two sowers.
Two Seeds
The "son of man" plows his field and sows "good seed" (v. 24). They are the "sons of the kingdom" (v. 38). In the first parable of the four soils, "seed" was interpreted as "the Word" of God. Now, in the second parable, the seed has taken root in certain persons so that they, like Jesus, are further incarnations of God's Word. Colossians 3:16 bids us, "Let the word of God dwell in you richly." By trusting in his word, doing it, fleshing it out, we become "sons of the kingdom."
Ah, but while good men slept from the rigors of sowing the farm fields, the devil came and sowed bad seed, or "weeds," among the wheat (v. 25). These weeds grew up to become "the sons of the evil one" (v. 38).
The "weeds" sown were undoubtedly tares or "darnel." Jews called it "bastard wheat." Today farmers often refer to it as "cheat." Examining the seed of wheat and tares, it is difficult for the untrained eye to distinguish between them. Even in the early stages of growth one cannot tell them apart. It is only at harvest time when the wheat ripens that tares can be easily singled out as fakes.
According to ancient Roman Law, it was illegal to sow darnel. Such a deed of treachery was punishable by death, for it could ruin a harvest and leave a field weed--infested for years. The crime was made further malicious because eating darnel causes nausea, vertigo, and sometimes death.
Two Questions
So we have two sowers, two seeds, and now two questions. The farm hands, closely caring for their crop, begin to detect weeds among the wheat as the crop ripens toward harvest. So they ask their boss, "Didn't you sow good seed? How then has it weeds?" (v. 27). This is the question of humanity echoing across the ages! Why evil? Jews asked it in Egyptian slavery while watching their fathers lashed by cruel taskmasters. Young women asked it after being raped by Assyrian soldiers looting the land. Nazi death camp prisoners asked it before they were shot. And we asked it again on September 11, 2001, when Arab terrorists turned passenger jets into missiles, killing several thousand men, women, and children. "How then has it weeds?"
The fact that Satan sowed his cheat while men slept is no sign of negligence, but rather a sign of the devil's sneakiness and cowardice. It also is a hint of his evil ploy to deceive humanity. I call it "opposition by imitation."
The next question the farm hands ask their boss is in verse 20: "Do you want us to gather them?" In short, "Shall we go fix it for now? Shall we pluck out the evil? Rid the field of tares today?" The wise boss says, "No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them." It seems tares have a well--developed root system that entwines itself around nearby plant roots. So, in plucking up the cheat one inadvertently plucks up the wheat as well. So the wise farmer, though vexed, determines to "let them both grow together until harvest" (v. 30).
This means Christ's kingdom has a mixed character until judgment day. Jesus had his Peter but he also had his Judas. The early church had Barnabas but also Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5). We have our sheep, but also our wolves in sheep's clothing. Paul warned the Ephesian elders of false brethren, even "savage wolves" who would come in among them (Acts 20). The two letters to the Corinthian church certainly evidence this. Along with the righteous singles and marrieds are the incestuous, the homosexual. Along with the sober are the drunkards. Along with apt teachers are the doctrinally false.
This same mixed field of wheat and tares is represented in our church pews, in schools, often on elder councils and beyond - persons not of Christ but sown of the devil. Darnel. Cheat. Tares. Imposters.
The Bible says we must learn to live with it for a while. Impurity, corruption, deceit are a part of our very real struggle to live by faith in Christ in a world of two sowers and two seeds. Like the text, it will undoubtedly leave each of us scratching our heads and asking a lot of questions of God.
Reminds me of a needlepointed quote on Mrs. Harvey Milton's kitchen wall in Virginia. I first read it there as a newly minted and na•ve 25--year--old pastor. The sign said, "In dealing with men's souls, one has to put up with a few heels."
Two Harvests
Ah, but not forever will Satan deceive and weeds pollute God's garden! There is coming a harvest, a judgment day! And sooner than we think! Then Jesus says, "At harvest time I will tell the reapers, 'Gather the weeds first and bind them into bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.' " Jesus interprets the meaning of the harvest for us most graphically in verse 39 and following. "The harvest is the close of the age, and the reapers are angels. Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it 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. There men will weep and gnash their teeth."
Jesus said this. I didn't. There's coming a harvest, a judgment. On that day the weeds will be pulled up and burned with fire, but the wheat will be stored in barns.
Revelation 14:13--20 further illuminates this:
Then I heard a voice from heaven say, "Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on." "Yes," says the Spirit, "they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them."
I looked and there before me was a white cloud, and seated on the cloud was one "like a son of man" with a sickle in his hand. Then another angel came out of the temple and called in a loud voice to him who was sitting on the cloud, "Take your sickle and reap, because the time to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is ripe." So he who was seated on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the earth was harvested.
Another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle. Still another angel, who had charge of the fire, came from the altar and called in a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, "Take your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of grapes from the earth's vine, because its grapes are ripe." The angel swung his sickle on the earth, gathered its grapes and threw them into the great winepress of God's wrath.
Conclusion
For over thirty years people have looked me in the eye and asked with urgency, "Are things getting better or worse?" And I have long struggled for an honest response. Mostly I have tried to be optimistic, pointing at some hint of revival or purity or act of courageous statesmanship by some leader. Now, however, I think I've come up with a better answer. When queried are things getting better or worse, I quickly answer, "Both!" For indeed, both God's seed and the devil's seed are being sown, both growing. Ah! But harvest day is coming. Not forever will the world be polarized as we know it. Take hope! Continue to receive and grow in Christ's Word! For there is a cleansing on the dawn!
Suggested Prayer
Sweet Jesus, my Lord, sow your gracious word in my life that I may grow for your harvest. Amen.
Stephen M. Crotts
Matthew 13 is one of the meatier portions of the scriptures. It is unique as an identifiable sermon of Christ Jesus, a series of seven, maybe eight parables that seem to be prophetic, to foretell the history of ministry ahead of time.
The parable of the wheat and the tares is the second in Jesus' sermon. Let's look at it now.
Two Sowers
Jesus tells of two sowers, "a man who sowed good seed in his field" (v. 24) whom he interprets for us as "the son of man" (v. 37). And "while men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat" (v. 25) whom Christ interprets for us as "the devil" (v. 39). The Greek word for devil is diabolos or liar or one set against.
From the earliest pages of scripture, we are taught of the almighty God, the ancient of days, who created life, who upholds justice and righteousness, and who is to be worshiped and loved. But we are also taught of Satan, the evil one, the tempter, the deceiver. It is for us to realize that ours is a world in conflict between God and the devil, good and evil. That is the message of the two sowers.
Two Seeds
The "son of man" plows his field and sows "good seed" (v. 24). They are the "sons of the kingdom" (v. 38). In the first parable of the four soils, "seed" was interpreted as "the Word" of God. Now, in the second parable, the seed has taken root in certain persons so that they, like Jesus, are further incarnations of God's Word. Colossians 3:16 bids us, "Let the word of God dwell in you richly." By trusting in his word, doing it, fleshing it out, we become "sons of the kingdom."
Ah, but while good men slept from the rigors of sowing the farm fields, the devil came and sowed bad seed, or "weeds," among the wheat (v. 25). These weeds grew up to become "the sons of the evil one" (v. 38).
The "weeds" sown were undoubtedly tares or "darnel." Jews called it "bastard wheat." Today farmers often refer to it as "cheat." Examining the seed of wheat and tares, it is difficult for the untrained eye to distinguish between them. Even in the early stages of growth one cannot tell them apart. It is only at harvest time when the wheat ripens that tares can be easily singled out as fakes.
According to ancient Roman Law, it was illegal to sow darnel. Such a deed of treachery was punishable by death, for it could ruin a harvest and leave a field weed--infested for years. The crime was made further malicious because eating darnel causes nausea, vertigo, and sometimes death.
Two Questions
So we have two sowers, two seeds, and now two questions. The farm hands, closely caring for their crop, begin to detect weeds among the wheat as the crop ripens toward harvest. So they ask their boss, "Didn't you sow good seed? How then has it weeds?" (v. 27). This is the question of humanity echoing across the ages! Why evil? Jews asked it in Egyptian slavery while watching their fathers lashed by cruel taskmasters. Young women asked it after being raped by Assyrian soldiers looting the land. Nazi death camp prisoners asked it before they were shot. And we asked it again on September 11, 2001, when Arab terrorists turned passenger jets into missiles, killing several thousand men, women, and children. "How then has it weeds?"
The fact that Satan sowed his cheat while men slept is no sign of negligence, but rather a sign of the devil's sneakiness and cowardice. It also is a hint of his evil ploy to deceive humanity. I call it "opposition by imitation."
The next question the farm hands ask their boss is in verse 20: "Do you want us to gather them?" In short, "Shall we go fix it for now? Shall we pluck out the evil? Rid the field of tares today?" The wise boss says, "No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them." It seems tares have a well--developed root system that entwines itself around nearby plant roots. So, in plucking up the cheat one inadvertently plucks up the wheat as well. So the wise farmer, though vexed, determines to "let them both grow together until harvest" (v. 30).
This means Christ's kingdom has a mixed character until judgment day. Jesus had his Peter but he also had his Judas. The early church had Barnabas but also Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5). We have our sheep, but also our wolves in sheep's clothing. Paul warned the Ephesian elders of false brethren, even "savage wolves" who would come in among them (Acts 20). The two letters to the Corinthian church certainly evidence this. Along with the righteous singles and marrieds are the incestuous, the homosexual. Along with the sober are the drunkards. Along with apt teachers are the doctrinally false.
This same mixed field of wheat and tares is represented in our church pews, in schools, often on elder councils and beyond - persons not of Christ but sown of the devil. Darnel. Cheat. Tares. Imposters.
The Bible says we must learn to live with it for a while. Impurity, corruption, deceit are a part of our very real struggle to live by faith in Christ in a world of two sowers and two seeds. Like the text, it will undoubtedly leave each of us scratching our heads and asking a lot of questions of God.
Reminds me of a needlepointed quote on Mrs. Harvey Milton's kitchen wall in Virginia. I first read it there as a newly minted and na•ve 25--year--old pastor. The sign said, "In dealing with men's souls, one has to put up with a few heels."
Two Harvests
Ah, but not forever will Satan deceive and weeds pollute God's garden! There is coming a harvest, a judgment day! And sooner than we think! Then Jesus says, "At harvest time I will tell the reapers, 'Gather the weeds first and bind them into bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.' " Jesus interprets the meaning of the harvest for us most graphically in verse 39 and following. "The harvest is the close of the age, and the reapers are angels. Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it 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. There men will weep and gnash their teeth."
Jesus said this. I didn't. There's coming a harvest, a judgment. On that day the weeds will be pulled up and burned with fire, but the wheat will be stored in barns.
Revelation 14:13--20 further illuminates this:
Then I heard a voice from heaven say, "Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on." "Yes," says the Spirit, "they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them."
I looked and there before me was a white cloud, and seated on the cloud was one "like a son of man" with a sickle in his hand. Then another angel came out of the temple and called in a loud voice to him who was sitting on the cloud, "Take your sickle and reap, because the time to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is ripe." So he who was seated on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the earth was harvested.
Another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle. Still another angel, who had charge of the fire, came from the altar and called in a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, "Take your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of grapes from the earth's vine, because its grapes are ripe." The angel swung his sickle on the earth, gathered its grapes and threw them into the great winepress of God's wrath.
Conclusion
For over thirty years people have looked me in the eye and asked with urgency, "Are things getting better or worse?" And I have long struggled for an honest response. Mostly I have tried to be optimistic, pointing at some hint of revival or purity or act of courageous statesmanship by some leader. Now, however, I think I've come up with a better answer. When queried are things getting better or worse, I quickly answer, "Both!" For indeed, both God's seed and the devil's seed are being sown, both growing. Ah! But harvest day is coming. Not forever will the world be polarized as we know it. Take hope! Continue to receive and grow in Christ's Word! For there is a cleansing on the dawn!
Suggested Prayer
Sweet Jesus, my Lord, sow your gracious word in my life that I may grow for your harvest. Amen.
Stephen M. Crotts
