Stay awake

Rev. Tetteh-Annor Larbi | April 29, 2023 | Matthew 13:24-30

KEY VERSE:

But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. Matthew 13:25 (NIV)

MESSAGE:

In this parable, the Lord Jesus presents his disciples with another allegory which He expects them to interpret to reveal its hidden meaning. He likened the Kingdom of Heaven to a man who sows his good seed (wheat) in his field but during the night, another came to sow bad seed (tares) among his seed.

Tares are a kind of darnel, resembling wheat except that the grains are black. They are sometimes referred to as false grain. Tares are very common in Israel, so no wonder Jesus used them as the perfect example for the disciples who were very familiar with tares to understand the parable. Jesus was trying to depict the opposing force to the work he came to do, which points to the devil as the enemy who sows the tares by night.

The good seed represents the children of God who have received his word and are growing in the grace of salvation to bear fruit. While the tares are the children of the devil planted to compete in space and resources with the Kingdom children who must bear fruits for the great harvest by the reapers. For He causes his sun to rise on both the evil and the good and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous (Matthew 5:45b). In this world, Christ is not the only farmer, and we are not the only children walking the face of the earth. The children of the devil walk among us. (John 8:37-47)

FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE:

The wheat and the tares were allowed to grow together until fruit-bearing. This is because it is only by the fruit, they bear that one can know which is which, for they are very similar. Note that they are both fruitful, but one bears false fruit. The are many children of the devil also bearing false fruits in our world today. So, stay awake. 1 John 3:10 shows how the distinction is made: the children of the kingdom will practice righteousness and bear the fruit of LOVE (genuine love)- Love without hypocrisy (Romans 12:9a): “Let love be without hypocrisy”.

Not every seed is planted by God and therefore not every fruit is pleasing to God. So, stay awake after you receive grace and the seed of God, less an enemy comes to plant tares with the seed you have received and thereby corrupt your fruit. (1 John 3:9-10)

PRAYER:

Thank you Heavenly Father, that I have your seed in me. Help me by your Holy Spirit to grow into bearing good fruit. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING.

SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!!