The Year of our Lord, Jesus Christ
Matthew 13:25
But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.
In the parable of the tares the Lord Jesus makes a clarifying statement. …While men slept… Don’t let this one fact pass by; the owner of the field sowed good seed, but the men who were supposed to safeguard the field slept.
Now, we do not know if they slept because it was time to sleep, or if they slept during the time they should have been working. Let’s give them the benefit of the doubt that they were sleeping at night, when hardworking men are supposed to sleep. The fact that they slept is not the issue, the fact that they did not have a plan to make the field safe is the issue. One could keep watch while others slept, or they could take turns on this watch. There is a myriad of ways to protect the good seed.
Before this becomes textbook boring let this be pointed out. The Lord is not speaking here about a real field, and real seed, not at all. He is speaking about the good seed of the Word of God being cast into the hearts (souls) of humans. Unfortunately, this occurs too often today, people who should safeguard the seed in the field are often caught asleep.
While they are sleeping the enemy is at work. Perhaps 1 Thessalonians 5:6 can help. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. Tares there may be, but let us not be the ones sleeping while we should be watching and working.
Until Next Time,
William T. Howe, Ph.D.
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