Our Lord, as was so often the case, used an agricultural illustration to teach spiritual truth in Matthew 13: 24-30. Let’s go to the word of God and read vs 24-30.

In verse 24 we are told of the “good seed” sown in his field. Note that despite the programming of modern education in the minds of the simple, there are good and bad and they are not equal. Also note that the domain is SON and as such, it is the domain alone who decides its course. As the teaching continues, we are told that in addition to good seed, bad seed has been sown in the same field by an enemy. “Weeds among the wheat. The bad seeds among the good. Verse 26 tells us that when the time came the wheat and the tares grew at the same time and the workers in the fields noticed and told their master.

Verse 28 tells us that the workers asked the master if he wanted them to pluck up the weeds, but he said, “No, lest while you gather the weeds you also gather the wheat with them. . ” Verse 30 gives us the sad conclusion: “May the two of them grow together until the harvest.

So we have good and bad people living their lives together in this world. Some of the good are so intertwined with the bad; their roots are so entwined with the tares, their lives so soiled and entangled with the wicked that uprooting the wicked from them would destroy them. What do I mean? Simple, I mean some people are so saturated with the world and its wickedness that they will never let go and fully belong to God until he himself takes them out of it.

You have met them I know. Maybe you are one? Christian men who think as much, if not more, of the world than of heaven. They speak more of worldliness than of Christ. Likewise, some Christian women, although they profess to belong to Christ, dress in the same worldly garment, too tight, too high, too revealing. Some people I have known, if you made them put up a tent, they would find a way to make it look inappropriate.

Now all of us, says Isaiah, have failed, we have gone astray, like sheep we have strayed from God. None of us are good. None of us are right. We have all failed. Yet despite this, let us try to be clear about who we are, who we belong to. That we are wheat NOT weeds. As famed Texas preacher Lester Roloff said, “Those who have been saved by grace should not live in disgrace.” In our text, the Master of the House said, “Lest while you gather the weeds you also uproot the wheat with them.

The time comes in verse 30 that the tares will be packed up and burnt, but the wheat is gathered in the barn. Until the gathering, we Christians should, as much as possible, prepare to be gathered. We should want the tares to see the difference between the wheat and the tares, and we should try to convert the tares to wheat before the time of harvest comes.

Friend, if you are looking for a church, Calvary Baptist Church is a place for you to discover the difference between religion and Christianity. Calvary is on the loop in front of Pizza Hut. 903-729-5924. Visit us on the Internet at http: www.Calvarybcpalestine.com. Listen to this message and others on our website.