Matthew 13:36–43
36Then He left the crowds and went into the house. And His disciples came to Him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the tares of the field.” 37And He said, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man, 38and the field is the world; and as for the good seed, these are the sons of the kingdom; and the tares are the sons of the evil one; 39and the enemy who sowed them is the devil, and the harvest is the end of the age; and the reapers are angels. 40“So just as the tares are gathered up and burned with fire, so shall it be at the end of the age. 41“The Son of Man will send forth His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all stumbling blocks, and those who commit lawlessness, 42and will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43“Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.
Focused Thinking:
“Explain to us the parable of the tares of the field.”
The one who sows the GOOD SEED is the SON OF MAN.
The GOOD SEED are the SONS of the KINGDOM.
The one who sows the BAD SEED is the ENEMY, the DEVIL.
The TARES are the SONS of the EVIL ONE.
The FIELD is the WORLD.
The HARVEST is the END of the AGE.
The REAPERS are ANGELS.
Just as the TARES are GATHERED UP and BURNED with FIRE, so shall it be at the END of the AGE.
The SON of MAN will send forth HIS ANGELS, and they will GATHER OUT of His kingdom ALL STUMBLING BLOCKS, and those who COMMIT LAWLESSNESS, and will THROW them into the FURNACE of FIRE; in that place there will be WEEPING and GNASHING of TEETH.
Then the RIGHTEOUS will SHINE FORTH as the SUN in the KINGDOM of their FATHER.
- Reflecting words from Daniel 12:3, Jesus described the final glory of the righteous: “Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.”
Those who receive God’s favor stand in bright contrast to those who receive his judgment.
- He who has EARS, let him HEAR.
Is there anything more important to hear?
How tragic that the message is so available, but that it falls on deaf ears?
Defining Terms:
“Furnace of fire” is not a name for hell but is a metaphor for final judgment (Daniel 3:6).
Jesus often used the term “weeping and gnashing of teeth” to refer to the coming judgment (see 8:12; 13:50; 22:13; 24:51; 25:30). The “weeping” indicates sorrow or remorse, and “gnashing of teeth” shows extreme anxiety or pain.
End of the Age:
Jesus, who has already identified himself as the Son of Man (8:20; 9:6; 10:23; 11:19; 12:8, 32, 40), revealed that he will inaugurate the end of the age and the final judgment.
Personal Application:
How should followers of Jesus respond to tragedy of evil?
Tears–for the separation and suffering that will fall upon evildoers. God mourns over lost souls, and so should we.
Share the Gospel–since many need to hear and all who respond in faith will be saved from judgment. Christians ought to always be witnessing people.
Lifelong service–all you do should be dedicated to God. God uses your work to advance His kingdom and overcome evil.
See my priority time from Matthew 13:24–30 to get a more complete picture of this parable and all the truths and applications associated with it.
I deal more with the implications of this truth in the church in that priority time.
This explanation is straightforward and doesn’t need much additional explanation. I’m not going to improve Jesus’ explanation.
Interactive Prayer:
Father, give us the ability as a church to scatter as much seed as possible. I pray that a higher percentage of our seed will fall on good soil. I pray for the privilege and responsibility to reap where we have not sown as well as where we have sown. I pray for the wisdom and ability to know how to cultivate good soil. I pray for You to bring the rain of the Holy Spirit to do what we cannot do. I pray that the seeds of Friday night will fall on good soil.
I pray that You will give this church a harvest during this month of September. Give us a harvest of souls. Give us a harvest of commitments. Give us a harvest of people who are willing to say “yes” to the Holy Spirit. Father, we can’t make that happen, but I pray for Your favor and blessing. Father, give us the ability to truly be salt and light in this city. Give us the ability to be difference makers. Give us the ability to truly change a community. Give us the ability to see You do exceedingly abundantly beyond all that we can ask or think according to Your mighty power in and through us. Father, I pray that Your Son will be exalted and receive all the glory in the church.
Leave a Reply