‘STORIES JESUS TOLD’

(2.) THE PARABLE OF THE ‘TARES’ (weeds) -    A Story About Good and Evil

READ MATTHEW 13. 24-30, 36-43

THINGS IT HELPS TO KNOW: The ‘TARES’ (or ‘weeds’ NIV) are ‘the bearded darnel’ plant, a weed that in the blade closely resembles wheat. If both are allowed to grow together till harvest then they are clearly distinguished by their seed heads.  Then it was usually the tedious task of the women and children to separate them. SOWING TARES in another’s field out of malevolent purposes is a well documented practice and was a crime under Roman law.

INTRODUCTION TO A STORY ABOUT GOOD AND EVIL:   This simple little parable of Jesus has some important things to say about the age-old problem that has troubled people, namely:

‘With a good Creator God, why is their evil in the world?’ Or, as the servants put it: ‘Where did the weeds come from?’

In his parable Jesus does not tell us all that we would like to know about the origins of evil, but he does tell us all we need to know. He tells us how things are in this world; why they are so; and what to expect. These truths are enough for us to live by. They assure us that God is not the source of the evil in the world, but that he is the one who will end it in his chosen time. 

WE WILL LOOK AT THE STORY UNDER FOUR HEADINGS.

  I        THE SOURCE OF EVIL in God’s world:      13.24-28, 36-39

The servants are totally perplexed by the presence of tares in the field planted with good seed.  What question, so frequently asked today, does this reflect?

In your experience, how often do you find this question is posed?

And just how big a problem is it in people’s minds?  In what ways (or words) do they frame the problem?

What simple but vital thing does the parable teach us about the source of all the evil in God’s good world?

What does it explain?  And what does it leave unexplained?

What does the parable tell us about the devil?

Why does he act like he does?

  II.      THE PROGRESS OF EVIL in this world:  13. 28-30

‘Let both grow together till harvest’. Which of the following statements can be deduced to be true from the parable,(and the above words especially?)

evil will not gradually decline and eventually disappear

evil will grow and flourish throughout history

evil won’t last forever

evil will one day be totally eradicated

evil will only be finally eradicated by the act of God not man

How does the solution which the servants suggest to their master accurately reflect the way so many people think God should tackle the problem of evil?

What reason does the master give for not adopting the servants’ suggestion?

What light does this shed on God’s ‘delay’ in eliminating with evil?

Do you think there is any significance in the fact that wheat and  ‘tares’ are so hard to distinguish from each other until near harvest time?

  III.     THE END OF EVIL in this world:       13.30, 39-42

When were the ‘tares’ to be completely eradicated?

What does ‘harvest’ stand for?

What does this tell us about the end of evil?

13.29 ‘Collect the weeds/tares and tie them into bundles’   What are we taught about the final separation of good and evil?

who are the wicked for ever separated from? And who are they ‘bundled up’ together with?  Think of the implications of this? Would you like it?

What does the parable warn us about the end that evil and evil doers will face?

  IV.    THE FINAL GLORY OF THE GOOD:    13.30,43

What is said about the final destiny of the ‘wheat’ (the righteous people)?

             - How inspiring and encouraging do you find the picture painted in 13.43?