- Jun 13, 2005
- 335
- 49
- 81
- Country
- United States
- Faith
- Baptist
- Marital Status
- Married
- Politics
- US-Republican
Jesus said that the purpose of the parables was so His Church would know the mysteries of the kingdom. If we understand the parables we understand the truths of the kingdom of God.
Matthew 13:24 Another parable He put forth to them, saying: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; 25 but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. 26 But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. 27 So the servants of the owner came and said to him, 'Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?' 28 He said to them, 'An enemy has done this.' The servants said to him, 'Do you want us then to go and gather them up?' 29 But he said, 'No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, "First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn."'" NKJV
So what does the parable of the tares tell us? Satan planted tares in the world after the crop appeared. Jesus was the first fruits so after Jesus established His church Satan sowed tares in the world. These tares are not part of the church. Some of the tares established cult churches that mimic Christianity. This would be churches that claimed to be christian but their doctrine is such that none of the members would be truly saved. Some tares would be members of the real church that professed belief in Jesus but didn't believe. The purpose of the tares is to cause confusion in the world about Christ and Christianity. If they are in a real church the purpose was to pollute the doctrine of the church and lead it astray. Jesus tells us He will let them grow and weed them out at the end of the age.
Another truth established in the parable is He does not want us to eliminate the tares. We cannot tell if someone is wheat or tare. Some of the elect can resemble tares. 1 Corinthians 5:9- 13 If someone acts like a tare we are to withhold fellowship.
Another truth established by this parable we know when the harvest is. In this parable the field is the world. The weeding does not take place until the world belongs to God again. Revelation 11: 15 the seventh trumpet sounds and the world becomes the kingdom of God.
Matthew 13:47 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind, 48 which, when it was full, they drew to shore; and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but threw the bad away. 49 So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, 50 and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth." NKJV
A drag net catches fish by trapping them. Unlike some other ways of catching fish a dragnet does not lure the fish. The net is thrown into the water and it traps any fish inside the net, That is why it catches good and bad fish. A truth established by the dragnet parable is that people can be saved and fall away. Another truth if they fall away God does not do anything to rid the church of them until the end of the age.
From the two parables one truth is: if God removes anyone from a church the person is saved. He would be disciplining them. This is very helpful in determining scripture. As an example;
Acts 5:4 While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God." 5 Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. NKJV
We can say that Ananias is not a tare or bad fish. Matthew 16:19 as a steward Peter was given disciplinary powers over the Church. I suspect that he conferred with the other 11 and James to bind Ananias' sin to him. 2Corinthians 10: 8 and 2Corinthians 13: 10 God gave other apostles disciplinary powers. (Discipline is for edification and not for punishment) (The bound sin is not permanently bound to keep them out of heaven.) John 15: 1 the father will bind sins for discipline. 1Corinthians 11: 29-32 the Father will discipline a person with sickness to get them to repent. If they do not repent He will call them home to heaven. This sounds like a reward but they lose out on the blessings God had planed for them. Those blessings will then go to those who are obedient.
Revelation 2:18 "And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write,'These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass: 19 "I know your works, love, service, faith and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first. 20 Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. 21 And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. 22 Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. 23 I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works. NKJV
If she or her followers were tares or bad fish God would do nothing except warn the church of her teachings. Jezebel is under discipline. She is saved.
Matthew 13:24 Another parable He put forth to them, saying: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; 25 but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. 26 But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. 27 So the servants of the owner came and said to him, 'Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?' 28 He said to them, 'An enemy has done this.' The servants said to him, 'Do you want us then to go and gather them up?' 29 But he said, 'No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, "First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn."'" NKJV
So what does the parable of the tares tell us? Satan planted tares in the world after the crop appeared. Jesus was the first fruits so after Jesus established His church Satan sowed tares in the world. These tares are not part of the church. Some of the tares established cult churches that mimic Christianity. This would be churches that claimed to be christian but their doctrine is such that none of the members would be truly saved. Some tares would be members of the real church that professed belief in Jesus but didn't believe. The purpose of the tares is to cause confusion in the world about Christ and Christianity. If they are in a real church the purpose was to pollute the doctrine of the church and lead it astray. Jesus tells us He will let them grow and weed them out at the end of the age.
Another truth established in the parable is He does not want us to eliminate the tares. We cannot tell if someone is wheat or tare. Some of the elect can resemble tares. 1 Corinthians 5:9- 13 If someone acts like a tare we are to withhold fellowship.
Another truth established by this parable we know when the harvest is. In this parable the field is the world. The weeding does not take place until the world belongs to God again. Revelation 11: 15 the seventh trumpet sounds and the world becomes the kingdom of God.
Matthew 13:47 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind, 48 which, when it was full, they drew to shore; and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but threw the bad away. 49 So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, 50 and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth." NKJV
A drag net catches fish by trapping them. Unlike some other ways of catching fish a dragnet does not lure the fish. The net is thrown into the water and it traps any fish inside the net, That is why it catches good and bad fish. A truth established by the dragnet parable is that people can be saved and fall away. Another truth if they fall away God does not do anything to rid the church of them until the end of the age.
From the two parables one truth is: if God removes anyone from a church the person is saved. He would be disciplining them. This is very helpful in determining scripture. As an example;
Acts 5:4 While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God." 5 Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. NKJV
We can say that Ananias is not a tare or bad fish. Matthew 16:19 as a steward Peter was given disciplinary powers over the Church. I suspect that he conferred with the other 11 and James to bind Ananias' sin to him. 2Corinthians 10: 8 and 2Corinthians 13: 10 God gave other apostles disciplinary powers. (Discipline is for edification and not for punishment) (The bound sin is not permanently bound to keep them out of heaven.) John 15: 1 the father will bind sins for discipline. 1Corinthians 11: 29-32 the Father will discipline a person with sickness to get them to repent. If they do not repent He will call them home to heaven. This sounds like a reward but they lose out on the blessings God had planed for them. Those blessings will then go to those who are obedient.
Revelation 2:18 "And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write,'These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass: 19 "I know your works, love, service, faith and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first. 20 Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. 21 And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. 22 Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. 23 I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works. NKJV
If she or her followers were tares or bad fish God would do nothing except warn the church of her teachings. Jezebel is under discipline. She is saved.