NOTE.—In the preparation of these lessons all Scripture references, and the pages of “Christ’s Object Lessons,” should be thoroughly studied first, then the questions. The questions are not the lessons. They are only for the purpose of finding out what we have observed while studying. More of the preciousness of these lessons will be obtained if the lesson is studied each day throughout the week. In the parables of Jesus there is salvation from sin for every type of sinner—from the Pharisee to the prodigal. The notes are wholly selected from such portions of “Christ’s Object Lessons” as apply to each lesson.
24 “Another parable set He before them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man that sowed good seed in his field; 25 but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed 26 tares also among the wheat, and went away. But when the blade sprang up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the 27 tares also. And the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst thou not sow good seed in thy field? 28 whence then hath it tares? And he said unto them, An enemy hath done this. And the servants say unto him, Wilt 29 thou then that we go and gather them up? But he saith, Nay; lest haply while ye gather up the tares, ye root up the 30 wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest; and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather up first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them; but gather the wheat into my barn.”
Verses 36-43.
36 “Then He left the multitudes, and went into the house; and His disciples came unto Him, saying, Explain unto us the 37 parable of the tares of the field. And He answered and said, 38 He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; and the field is the world; and the good seed, these are the sons of the 39 kingdom; and the tares are the sons of the evil one; and the enemy that sowed them is the devil; and the harvest is the 40 end of the world; and the reapers are angels. As therefore the tares are gathered up and burned with fire, so shall 41 it be in the end of the world. The Son of man shall send forth His angels, and they shall gather out of His kingdom all 42 things that cause stumbling, and them that do iniquity, and shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be the 43 weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He that hath ears, let him hear.”
SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.
What did our Lord again speak?
What was this parable given to illustrate?
To what did He compare the kingdom of heaven?
What did the enemy do? When?
When did the tares appear?
Apart from the fruit, then, were the tares readily distinguished?
What is the great test as to true or false teachers? Matt. 7: 16-21.
Who told the householder about the tares?
What question did they ask?
What was the reply?
What was the servants’ second question?
What answer was given?
What reason was given for this answer?
How long must both grow together?
At that time, what will be said to the reapers?
What is done with the tares?
What is done with the wheat?
Who especially inquired about the parable?
Where was Jesus when this inquiry came?
Where was the multitude?
Who sowed the good seed? What is the field? The good seed are who? Who are the tares? Who sowed them? What is the harvest? Who are the reapers?
Of what is the gathering and burning of the tares a simile? Out of what are these offenders gathered? By whom is this done? Where are they cast?
What shows the literal character of the fire and the suffering?
At that time who will shine forth? Where?
NOTES.
The tares represent a class who are the fruit or embodiment of error, of false principles. “The enemy that sowed them is the devil.” Neither God nor His angels ever sowed a seed that would produce a tare. The tares are always sown by Satan, the enemy of God and man.
It is from enmity to Christ that Satan scatters his evil seed among the good grain of the kingdom. The fruit of the sowing he attributes to the Son of God. By bringing into the church those who bear Christ’s name while they deny His character, the wicked one causes that God shall be dishonored, the work of salvation misrepresented, and souls imperiled.
Christ has plainly taught that those who persist in open sin must be separated from the church; but He has not committed to us the work of judging character and motive.
The Redeemer does not want to lose one soul; His experience with Judas is recorded to show His long patience with perverse human nature; and He bids us bear with it as He has borne.
The Saviour does not point forward to a time when all the tares become wheat. The wheat and tares grow together until the harvest, the end of the world. Then the tares are bound in bundles to be burned, and the wheat is gathered into the garner of God.
