Tares Among The Wheat
April 13th
Matthew 13:25, 'But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.'
MATTHEW 13:24-30
Satan has secretly infiltrated the Church with some of his followers for the purpose of hindering the influence of the Church. This has been a more effective strategy than direct opposition.
These tares that are spoken of refer to the Old World variety of darnel, which is poisonous. Virtually all grains are almost indistinguishable from tares when they send up the first blade from the ground. By the time the tares become distinguishable, they are so well rooted that, if growing in close proximity to a productive grain, uprooting the tares would also mean uprooting the productive grain. Therefore, verse 30 admonishes us to let both grow together until the harvest. The grains of the tares are long and black in contrast to the wheat, and are easily recognizable at harvest time. Many will profess Christianity, but 'by their fruits ye shall know them.'
There will be those who are deceived and unaware that they are not born again, who will remain among the Church. Jesus warns us against trying to root them out especially since it is not always possible to discern other people's hearts. In an effort to destroy these tares, we might offend one of Christ's 'little ones' and cause his or her profession of faith to waver.
It is important, though, for our own personal benefit that we be aware that the children of the Wicked One are placed among the true believers. Our best defense is to preach the Word of God without watering it down. False brethren will not endure sound doctrine. They leave when the Word, which is sharper than any two-edged sword, begins to expose the thoughts and intents of the heart. Stick to the Word!
These tares that are spoken of refer to the Old World variety of darnel, which is poisonous. Virtually all grains are almost indistinguishable from tares when they send up the first blade from the ground. By the time the tares become distinguishable, they are so well rooted that, if growing in close proximity to a productive grain, uprooting the tares would also mean uprooting the productive grain. Therefore, verse 30 admonishes us to let both grow together until the harvest. The grains of the tares are long and black in contrast to the wheat, and are easily recognizable at harvest time. Many will profess Christianity, but 'by their fruits ye shall know them.'
There will be those who are deceived and unaware that they are not born again, who will remain among the Church. Jesus warns us against trying to root them out especially since it is not always possible to discern other people's hearts. In an effort to destroy these tares, we might offend one of Christ's 'little ones' and cause his or her profession of faith to waver.
It is important, though, for our own personal benefit that we be aware that the children of the Wicked One are placed among the true believers. Our best defense is to preach the Word of God without watering it down. False brethren will not endure sound doctrine. They leave when the Word, which is sharper than any two-edged sword, begins to expose the thoughts and intents of the heart. Stick to the Word!
To view other devotionals, choose a month and day below:
January
1: About Genealogies
2: Can You Believe It?
3: Knowing God's Will Is Not Enough
4: Nothing Is Impossible
5: The Power To Serve
6: Believers Receive
7: Choosing Joy
8: Desert Training
9: Joseph Was A Man Of Faith
10: God Desires Faith
11: He Was Born A Savior
12: Peace With God
13: God Looks For Availability
14: Revelation Knowledge
15: God's Choice
16: Believe The Word
17: Herod's Folly
18: Spiritual Warfare
19: Jesus Prepared Himself
20: He Became Like Us
21: The Ministry Of John The Baptist
22: A Greater Humility
23: Knowing Who We Are
24: The Weapon Of The Word
25: Satan's Power Is Limited
26: Knowing God's Plan
27: Sharing Our Faith
28: Settling Our Doubts
29: Do What He Says
30: Sharing God's Love
31: God's Peace
February
1: God Is Not Cheap!
2: There Is A Righteous Anger
3: He Uses The Usable
4: The Born Again Experience
5: Eternal Life--a Quality Of Life
6: Humility Before Honor
7: God's Idea Of Greatness
8: He Left Judaea
9: God Is The Greatest Giver
10: Thirsty?
11: God Looks Inside
12: Worship Him In Spirit
13: Spiritual Food
14: God's Word Has No Limits
15: Our Debts Have Been Cancelled
16: Familiarity Breeds Contempt
17: The Chosen Ones
18: Demons In Church
19: Ministry In Action
20: Drawn By His Power
21: At Thy Word
22: Only The Hungry Are Fed
23: He Will Share His Reward
24: Salt Shakers
25: The Best Sinner
26: Spiritual Fitness
27: Commandments Lead To Happiness
28: More Than Just Words
March
1: Quality Prayer
2: A Loving Father
3: Salvation Begins Now
4: Victory - A Provision
5: The Benefits Of Fasting
6: Knowing God Is Our Greatest Treasure
7: Singleness Of Vision
8: Taking Thoughts - Or Not
9: Righteous Judgment
10: God Answers Every Prayer
11: God Takes Pleasure In Meeting Our Needs
12: A Lifestyle Check
13: Healing Is God's Will
14: Touched By Love
15: Faith That Is Seen
16: Let Christ Live Through Us
17: Something New
18: Naturally Holy
19: Rest In His Love
20: Jesus Shared His Father's Glory
21: God Or Man Pleasers
22: About Those Scribes
23: His Mercy Endures Forever
24: More Than Just Sowing And Reaping
25: God's Kind Of Love
26: Whose Faith Was It
27: Our Inheritance With Christ
28: Being Yoked To Jesus
29: The Unpardonable Sin
30: No Peace For The Wicked
31: Rest And Re-fire
April
1: Singleness Of Heart
2: Just Words
3: To Whom Much Is Given
4: Jesus, Teacher And Savior
5: God's Truths Belong To His Children
6: Naturally Holy
7: The Power Of God's Word
8: God's Word: Use As Directed
9: Understanding God's Word
10: No Distractions, Please
11: Worldly Cares Are Thorns
12: His Love Is Our Light
13: Tares Among The Wheat
14: King Of Hearts
15: His Chosen Treasures
16: Joint Heirs With Christ
17: Peace In The Midst Of The Storm
18: Servant Power
19: Worship Is Warfare
20: God Likes Us
21: Love And Trust
22: The Law Of Faith
23: Making Faith Work
24: Get Rid Of Fear
25: The Gospel Is The Power Of God
26: Godly Sorrow Leads To Repentance
27: About Persecution
28: Degrees Of Denial
29: Opposition To The Gospel
30: He Rewards Even Little Things
May
1: Jesus Meets All Our Needs
2: He Blesses What We Already Have
3: God's Options Or Ours?
4: About Humility
5: Word Power
6: Enter Doubt, Exit Faith
7: Sensitivity To The Right Things
8: Salvation: A Relationship
9: Self Seeking Not God Seeking
10: Dead Works
11: Bread Of Heaven
12: Revelation Knowledge
13: Receiving Christ
14: Separating The Tares From The Wheat
15: The Spirit And The Word Are One
16: The Law Is Not Of Faith
17: Taking Off The Masks
18: Tradition Neutralizes
19: Our Hearts Control Our Bodies
20: Change Your Mind
21: Jesus Tried Her Faith
22: The Ministry Of The Holy Spirit
23: Jesus Challenges The Sadducees
24: Symptoms Of A Hard Heart
25: Petition Not Repetition
26: Jesus, The Chief Cornerstone
27: God's Will Above Ours
28: Recognize The Real Enemy
29: His Purpose Revealed
30: His Will Is In The Word
31: Give All The Glory To God
June
1: Fasting Drives Away Doubt
2: One Hundred Times Zero
3: Humility Before Honor
4: Angelic Protection
5: God Likes Us
6: Discipline Brings Life
7: Limitless Forgiveness
8: Holy Ghost Teacher
9: Rebirth
10: The Heart Matters
11: Effortless Fruit
12: Amazing Grace
13: Mystery Of The Trinity
14: Jesus Paid It All
15: Sonship Or Slavery
16: Abraham's Children
17: The Old Man Is Gone
18: What Pleases God
19: God Made Flesh
20: Sickness Is Not From God
21: Love Conquers Fear
22: It's Who You Know
23: About Those Pharisees
24: Jesus Found Him
25: Hearing God's Voice
26: Life Of God
27: Grow In Grace
28: The Cost Of Living For Christ
29: The Best Defense
30: What's Your Motivation
July
1: Power In The Name Of Jesus
2: Freedom From Temptation
3: Focus On Jesus
4: Saved By Grace
5: Who Crosses Your Path?
6: Seek First The Kingdom
7: Prayer Power
8: Our Loving Father
9: Be Filled
10: Grow In Grace
11: Holiness Is A Fruit
12: Jesus, The Wisdom Of God
13: Hypocrisy Is.....
14: The Goodness Of God
15: Stewards Of God's Grace
16: No Excuses
17: Avoid Strife
18: We Must Receive
19: God's Great Love For Us
20: No Denial Of Deity
21: Who Is Saved?
22: R.s.v.p.
23: The Cost Of Discipleship
24: Hard Knocks Or God's Word
25: Negatives Become Positives
26: The Father's Love
27: All The Wrong Reasons
28: Blessed To Be A Blessing
29: The Right Righteousness
30: Alive Unto God
31: Build Faith, Destroy Doubt
August
1: Freed From The Law
2: Our Debt Was Paid
3: Comfort In Eternity
4: Vengeance Is God's
5: The Faith To Forgive
6: The Measure Of Faith
7: Turn From Sin
8: Walk In The Light
9: Our Resurrected Bodies
10: Confess God's Truth
11: Live Forever In Him
12: Groaning In The Spirit
13: Focus On The Things Above
14: Give Thanks Daily
15: Like A Thief In The Night
16: God Answers Prayer
17: Righteousness Is A Gift
18: Divorce Is Not God's Best
19: One Flesh
20: Marriage Is A Covenant
21: Trust In Jesus As Your Savior
22: Receive The Gift Of Salvation
23: It's Not What You Do
24: Share In His Sufferings
25: Jesus Paid The Price
26: Please God Not People
27: Minister God's Love
28: Be Faithful With A Little
29: Relieve Each Other's Burdens
30: Respond To God's Direction
31: Worship From Your Heart
September
1: The Power Of Praise And Worship
2: God's New Creation
3: God's Voice
4: Jesus Paid Our Debt
5: The Power To Live A Holy Life
6: Choose To Believe
7: Believe That You Have Received
8: Our Words Are Alive
9: The Word Produces Fruit
10: Works Don't Save
11: The Battle Is In The Mind
12: Forgiving Others Is To Your Advantage
13: Faith Is A Muscle
14: Righteousness Depends On God, Not On Self
15: Our Righteousness Is In Christ
16: Our Life Belongs To God
17: The Resurrection Power
18: Heaven
19: Marriage Is For This Life
20: The Two Greatest Commands
21: Jesus The Servant
22: Understanding Truth
23: Seek God's Wisdom
24: Give Agape Love
25: Hypocrisy Is An Attitude
26: Give Cheerfully, Not Out Of Fear
27: God's Mercy Is A Gift
28: God Recognizes Our Sacrifices
29: Jesus Was God
30: Now, Or Then?
October
1: Our Nature In Christ
2: Our Hope Is In Eternity
3: Get Ready For Jesus
4: Follow The Leading Of The Holy Spirit
5: How To Esteem Others More Than Self
6: Escape Condemnation
7: Resist The Temptation Of Sin
8: Test The Gifts Of The Spirit
9: The Meaning Of Passover
10: Communion Is Sacred
11: Let God Minister To You
12: We Are Complete, Only In Him
13: A New Revelation Of Love
14: Love Comes First
15: Our Success Is In God
16: Turn Back To God
17: Our Comfort Is In Eternity
18: There Is Only One Way To The Father
19: God Works In The Simple Things
20: God Is Our Comfort
21: Jesus In The Flesh
22: Let God Prune You His Way
23: Our Life Is In Him
24: Expect Persecution
25: Embrace The Holy Spirit
26: Be A Witness, Not A Judge
27: Overcome Tribulation
28: Rejoice In The Lord - Always
29: How To Experience Eternal Life Today
30: The Miracle Of The Donkey And Colt
31: Depend On God, Not The Gift
November
1: One In Spirit
2: Fill Up With God
3: Chosen Before Creation
4: Seek The Will Of God
5: He Is Our 'abba'
6: His Fathomless Pain
7: Choose To Focus On All That Is Good
8: You Have It All--in The Spirit
9: Exercise Your Soul
10: Walk In The Light
11: The 'old Man' Is Dead
12: Receive The Ministry Of The Angels
13: Chose To Serve
14: Learn The Word By Doing It
15: Our Life Is Not Our Own
16: Healing Is An Expression Of God's Mercy
17: God's Awesome Power
18: Fight The Battle In The Spirit
19: Circumcision Is A Matter Of The Heart
20: Hide The Word In Your Heart
21: The Silence Of The Son
22: Prophesy - To Build Up The Body
23: Seek Greater Revelation
24: Choose To Love
25: The Sword Is The Word
26: What Is A Miracle?
27: Jesus - The Name Above Names
28: You're Not Alone In Persecution
29: Guard Against Deception
30: Base Your Relationships On God
December
1: Pilate Violates The Truth
2: Religious Pride Brings Dissension
3: One In Spirit
4: Pilate Condemns Jesus
5: Jesus Freed Us From Sin
6: Where's Your Focus?
7: Accept The Gift Of Forgiveness
8: Abraham's Bosom
9: The Veil Is Torn
10: Honor Your Parents
11: Christ Is Alive In Us
12: Death Has Lost Its Power
13: The True Meaning Of The Sabbath
14: Value Christ Higher Than Self
15: Proof Of The Resurrection
16: The Father's Plan
17: Let God's Peace Lead You
18: Kinds Of Evangelism
19: God Pours Out His Spirit
20: Be Filled With The Holy Ghost
21: Minister The Good News
22: The Effects Of Sin
23: Supernatural Faith
24: We Are Only Complete In Christ
25: Water Baptism Is A Sign
26: Be Single-minded
27: God Is Good
28: How To Baptize
29: Water Baptism Is An Act Of Faith
30: Use Your Delegated Authority
31: God Still Performs Miracles
No comments:
Post a Comment