Day 24 – Wheat & Tares

“Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.” Matthew 13:24-25 KJV

To the eye of a non-farmer, identifying wheat from tares is not as easy as deciphering a dandelion from grass. The principal agricultural grain of the time, wheat, is known for its long slender leaves and large, luscious golden coloured seeds swaying in the wind whilst ripening in the sun. Tares are very similar in appearance, except for the roots and seeds. This false wheat, called Darnel, is poisonous and has a very bitter taste on the pallet. The roots are complex and entwine with any roots close to them and when pulling them out, you pull out everything around it too.

Yes, this parable relates how servants eager to pull up weeds were warned that in so doing they would root out the wheat as well and were told to let both grow together until the harvest. But there is a deeper lesson within these lines for us acting as God’s ministers. What Darnel, false doctrine, has the enemy sown in your field? Can you spot the difference between the golden wheat and the poisonous weed? And more importantly, is the fruit of your harvest nourishing bread or bitter to the pallet of the Farmer?

Prayer: Father, help us to identify the tares sown by the enemy in our fields so that we can separate them when harvested and burn them with the fire of Truth. May the daily bread we receive and share with others be nourishing with truth and there is no bitter poison in it. Teach us to help our fellow field workers to identify the tares in their fields with love and grace and help them to rid their fields of false wheat. Amen.