February 16, 2022

The Year of our Lord, Jesus Christ

Matthew 13:24

Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:

The Lord’s second parable in this discourse is the parable of the tares. In it the Lord teaches a truth that no child of God can afford to overlook. It is astounding! In it there are faithful servants, an enemy, and of course the tares. We’ll look at them all over the next few days.

But first! Notice, the Lord makes clear that this man sowed good seed in his field. The good seed is sort of a follow up to the parable of the Seed and the Sower. The good seed is the Word of God, meaning that the Word of God has something very important to do with the kingdom of heaven. Over the next few days one thing will be made clear, in the Lord’s description of that kingdom there is: the wheat, the tares, the servants, and the enemy. On this basis of truth, the kingdom of heaven cannot be the eternal Heaven. This kingdom the Lord describes herein is on earth. It is now.

Today, here and now, we abide in the kingdom of heaven. One day in the eternal Heaven there will be no enemy or tares. To this preacher, this is the one overall purpose of this parable, to instruct His children how to live in this world while also living in light of the next.

But back to the good seed. It must be sowed in this earthly realm. How did this good seed come to be? 2 Peter 1:21 tells us: For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. The prophecy is scripture as related in 2 Peter 1:20. The Scripture was given to the human race through the work of the Holy Spirit moving (inspiring) holy men of old to record it. It has been copied faithfully, printed effectively, translated properly, preached extensively, and received by many faithfully. But not all. Make no doubt the good seed is in the world today being sown by Almighty God into the soil of human hearts. Some of the good seed falls upon good ground which brings forth good fruit.

This is the hustle and bustle of the kingdom of heaven, sowing the seed, receiving the seed, and bringing forth fruit. None of which the tares do.

It’s going to be an interesting study. Stay tuned.

Until Next Time,

William T. Howe, Ph.D.