[Barry Korthuis] Well, good afternoon, everyone.

[Together] Good afternoon.

[Barry Korthuis] Good to see you here on this Sabbath day. I do appreciate the beautiful words that were just sung to us here, as well as the sermonette, as you'll find out here, God always finds a way to tie all this together in the messages of the day. But by way of introduction, my wife and I traveled through Kansas during the month of April for the first part of the spring holiday season. And as we're driving through, we were just reminded again of these absolutely vast wheat fields that grow in much of that state. And since then, we're also reminded of the annual wheat harvest that is very much a part of the spiritual symbolism of the Feast of Pentecost, which is just over a week away from now this year.

By way of further introduction, because we're going to talk about wheat here today and not so much about doughnuts, but we're going to talk about wheat. Wheat. This talks about some facts about wheat. Wheat is a member of the grass family, produces a cereal grain that is considered a staple food for actually most of the populations of the world. And it's the leading source of vegetable protein in human food. And it's an amazing plant that God made because wheat has the ability to grow from near Arctic regions, hopefully, to the equator and from sea level to the plains of Tibet, which are around 13,000 feet above sea level.

It grows in so many places all around the world. In the U.S., wheat is grown in 42 states, North Dakota being the top wheat-producing state, Kansas being number two, at least currently. And what they both grow was winter wheat, and they grow it on an annual cycle. And September would typically be the month when that winter wheat is planted. It will sprout, and it will grow some during the fall, but it goes dormant during the winter and then grows again in the spring of the following year. And these wheat harvests typically start this month, in June, and end around mid-July, depending on where they're being harvested.

But, you know, as with any crop, there's just so many things that can affect whether these farmers have success or not with their wheat harvest. And just among the challenges that a wheat farmer might face is keeping that soil condition. Many farmers, they invest considerably in fertilizers that mineralize nitrogen and phosphorus. Both are very important for the soil to even support a crop. Weather and rainfall are a big deal with crop yields. It's too dry, conditions of drought, which by the way, significant parts of Kansas is subject to at this time, that can inhibit crops or make it have a small yield.

If it's too wet even, that too can inhibit and damage crops. Even a lack of sunshine can affect a crop yield. Even the type of rainfall can be a factor. And if you get big droplets of rain or if you get hail, that stuff damages these crops, can damage them. And even irrigation, which is important, it too has its limitations. Again, it's helpful, but it doesn't take the place of needed rainfall. And on top of that, the farmer is also challenged with things like pests, such as insects, that can also take a toll on the production of the crop, crop yield, and not only with the damage they can do directly with that, but some also deliver various diseases or fungus that can also affect crop yield.

Just for example, the brown wheat mite can affect wheat crops in that way. Just one of the ones that they can face. And if that were not enough, there are other plants that can get into those wheat fields, things like weeds, thistles, and so on that can affect crop yields as well. Now, so there are challenges, if you will, that need to be overcome in order for a crop to come to a maximum yield. Or for that matter, any yield at all. And within all of these necessary elements that must come together at the right time, the human farmer, whether they know it or not, has a significant dependence on God in order for the crop to come to its yield, to have something to harvest.

And, you know, when it comes to this thing, and when it comes to spiritual farming, which a lot of this stuff is tying into, I would just like to reference some promises that are made that we find in Isaiah 55. And it's not only how much God is needed for any physical crop, but more importantly, just how good a farmer God is spiritually. I'm going to read verses 10 and 11 of Isaiah 55, probably words that are familiar to most of us here.

Isaiah 55:10-11 "For as the rain comes down and snow from heaven, and do not return there, but water the earth and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my Word be, that goes forth from my mouth. It shall not return to me void," or empty as expressed in some other Bible versions, "it shall not return to me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it."

You know, many biblical teachings include these analogies of farming, things like the kind of soil, sowing of seeds, raising of crops, harvesting of those crops, again the cycle, if you will, of farming. And, of course, God uses these physical examples to teach us something spiritually. And He teaches us that spiritual harvests are about those God the Father calls, and who answer that call to become part of his eternal family. Some part of a first harvest, something the feast of Pentecost definitely points to, and others at a later time.

But what Scripture proves is that God continues this pattern of spiritual farming. He has done it, and he continues to do it. And just as we read in Isaiah 55, God's Word will accomplish all that He wants it to, and that it will ultimately prosper everywhere He sends it. This is part of what God is doing, continues to do, as He continues to plant spiritual wheat for a spiritual harvest. And Jesus also teaches us about this, in particular, through some of His parables, as He explains what God is doing, how He goes about it, and why God does it in the way that He does.

So the title of the sermon today is "God's Wheat." And there are two parables that will be the central focus of our time today that speak to this, that speak to the planting of seeds, the production of wheat. And they are the parable of the sower and the parable of the wheat and the tares. And as we go through these parables, we're going to do that with a purpose in mind of taking a closer look at the realities, the realities of the environment in which God sows seed, and the environment in which that wheat will grow, in which it will grow, all the while keeping the promises that we just read about in Isaiah 55. God's going to water those seeds, the grain will grow, just as it is with God's Word, He sends it out, and He does so with a purpose that it will not fail, and it will ultimately accomplish all that He wants it to do, and will ultimately prosper everywhere He sends it, ultimately.

So go ahead and turn to Matthew 13. Matthew 13, Jesus teaches His disciples here in this particular part about the parable of the sower or the parable of the soils, as some versions of the Bible refer to it, as it also helps to further explain the parable of the wheat that follows in this same chapter. And as we read this, though, imagine a sower sowing seed, as described here. Let's go ahead and pick it up in verse 3 of Matthew 13.

Matthew 13:3-9 "Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying, 'Behold, a sower went out to sow, and as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside, and the birds came, devoured them. Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth, and they immediately sprang up, because they had no depth of earth. But when the sun was up, they were scorched, and because they had no root, they withered away, and some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them. But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop. Some a hundredfold, some 60, some 30. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.'"

Let's go ahead now, skip down to verse 18, where Jesus then explains the parable.

Matthew 13:18-23 "'Therefore, hear the parable of the sower. When anyone hears the Word of the kingdom, does not understand it, then the wicked one comes, snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. But he who received seed on stony ground, this is he who hears the Word and immediately receives it with joy. Yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while, for when tribulation or persecution arises because of the Word, immediately he stumbles. Now, he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the Word, and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, choke the Word, and he becomes unfruitful. But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the Word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces some a hundredfold, some 60, some 30.'"

So the parable of the sower is about a sower who scatters seed. And that seed that's being sowed falls on four different types of soil, four different types. And Jesus explains the parable of the sower by highlighting four different responses to the gospel. The seed being the Word of the kingdom. This is the reality of the environment in which God sows seed. The gospel continues to be preached to the world, and there are four different responses to it. Four different ones. The hard ground, described in the parable as being by the wayside, basically prevents that seed from sprouting at all. This liken to the seed falling on someone who has kind of a hardened heart, might be described that way. They hear the Word, they don't understand it though. And so it gets dismissed, and Satan is there to snatch away what little or any impact it might otherwise have had on their heart.

The stony ground though, it provides enough soil for the seed to germinate and begin to grow. But because there's no depth of earth, as the parable refers to it, that plant does not fully take root. And it soon withers, as described here, in the sun. They receive this Word with joy, but the heart has not changed, not in this one. And when trouble arises, whatever challenge, or difficulty that comes about, their faith, that is what faith they had, it quickly disappears. And then there's this thorny ground, allows the seed to grow, but the competing thorns, they then choke the life out of this plant. They receive the Word, but the heart's preoccupied. As it mentions here, with riches, pleasures, and other things. They are distracted. Perhaps have the wrong priorities in life, but there are things in their life that take time and attention away from this, so it cannot grow. Can't grow. And so what these thorns do is they choke out, they choke out that plant.

But the fourth one, this is the good ground. The good ground. They not only receive the Word, the gospel of the kingdom of God, they truly hear it. They come to understand it. And when they come to understand it, they then act on it. The seed takes root, and the plant grows. They allow the Word to accomplish its result with the growth of that plant, and they continue to grow. They're faithful. They make the right kind of changes in their life, such that they will ultimately come to maturity. Now, while keeping the parable of the sower in our minds, let's, now, look at this parable of the wheat and the tares. It's found in the same chapter, Matthew 13. Jesus teaches His disciples about the planting of wheat, while He also teaches them about the realities of the environment that wheat will need to grow in. They are to grow among tares, as shown here. Let's go ahead and pick it up in verse 24 of Matthew 13.

Matthew 13:24-30 He says, "Another parable He put forth to them, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. So the servants of the owners came and said to him, 'Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?' He said to them, 'An enemy has done this.' The servant said to him, 'Do you want us to then to go and gather them up?' He said, 'No, lest while you gather up the tares, you also uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of the harvest, I will say to the reapers, 'First gather together the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.''"

Let's, now, go down to verse 37, where Jesus explains this parable.

Matthew 13:37-40 "He answered and said to them, 'He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world. The good seeds are the sons of the kingdom. But the tares are the sons of the wicked one. The enemy that sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels. Therefore, as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age.'"

So this parable reveals a different aspect of what is taught in the parable of the sower. Remember the parable of the sower, again, it depicts four kinds of soil. But in the parable of the wheat and the tares, the field, which Christ says, "Represents the world," contain all the soils scattered throughout the world. And in that field, again in the world, there are two sowers each with a different kind of seed. The seeds that represent the truth of the kingdom of God are sown, just as we have this command that the gospel is to be preached to the world, you find that in places like Mark 16:15.

So we have that going on, while the seeds of deception though, as shown here, are also being sown. False seeds, given that way. So the parable is also about two sowers. Two sowers of very different character, very different intent. First, there is Jesus, now, He is described as, the owner, representative in verse 27. He is described as the Son of Man in verse 37. The other sower is called His enemy in verse 25. An enemy in verse 28, the wicked one in verse 38, and the devil in verse 39. So there is no doubt who is being referred to here, talking about Satan. But what is happening in that field, in the world? What is happening in the field? Again, there is the good seed, sons of the kingdom. Seed that is spread around the world, to the ones whom the Father calls and who answer that call.

Yet there is another seed. There is another seed, it is also spread. The enemy sowed a different kind. A different kind of seed, instead of the truth of the kingdom of God, sower is sowing something different, something counterfeit, something false, and not only that, the enemy has a particular interest in sowing those tares among God's wheat. Amongst the good soil. And he did it while men slept, as we read in verse 25. The wording sort of implies that this happened at night or symbolic of darkness. That Satan is sly, we have heard a lot about that in the sermonette. He chooses to do this in a way and at a time that is not perceived, not perceived by the servants.

So just to recap a few highlights of what we have talked about so far. The message of the gospel of the kingdom of God goes out, and it is sown to the world. And among those seeds are those that take root on good ground. Upon those that not only receive the Word, again the gospel of the kingdom of God, they truly hear it. They come to understand it. They act on it. And the plant takes root and grows. But among that wheat, something else is planted. Something that also affects the environment in which that wheat grows. And as we will get to shortly, when we look at literal tares, they actually represent a particular harmful species of ryegrass, very different. Very different from the wheat that God plants. And we will get to that in just a little bit.

Let's go ahead and turn to James 3. God allows Satan to sow tares among the wheat. And as we will read here, Satan has a desire for problems to erupt, to bring confusion, to disrupt, that brings some form of evil into the equation. And he promotes a different kind of mindset, a different wisdom to influence bringing this about. And verse 16 of James 3 describes that kind of wisdom, before, we then are describing God's wisdom in verse 17. So James 3, let's begin in verse 16. Again, this is his wisdom, Satan's wisdom.

James 3:17-18 "For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion, disruption, and every evil thing are there." And verse 17, "This is, now, the wisdom that's from above," Godly wisdom, "is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. Now, the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace."

Verses 17 and 18 were part of the special music today. Part of that theme, what godly music does. I wish I could say what godly wisdom does. And what it is that we would do or say as a result of it. But what we have here is two entirely different kinds of wisdom. And two different ways of doing things. And if we were to spend some time in Isaiah 14, this Isaiah 14 includes a description, if you will, of Lucifer's fall. And what's described there is that he was the son of the morning, which describes light. He was an angel serving at the very throne of God. He was a representative of light. But he came filled with envy and self-seeking. He wanted to be God. And so in rebellion, he became Satan, the prince of darkness. So, again, what was a representation of light is now the representation of darkness. And verse 16 of James 3 shows what happens when his envious and self-seeking mindset becomes involved. Confusion and every evil thing are there, every evil thing are there.

So the point being is that these two sowers, they bring not only different kinds of wisdom, one bringing wisdom that's from above, again, pure, gentle, peaceable, and so on, producing the fruits of righteousness sown in peace, while the other does something entirely different, brings instability, confusion, disorder, commotion. All these evil things that are part of bringing confusion into the mix. So once again, we have two different plants from two different seeds from two different sowers, as shown in these parables. And they bring very different elements and behaviors into the environment in which they grow, very different ones. So, again, as we just read in James 3:16, there's confusion when Satan is involved. Confusion. And as we dig further into what a tare is, there's a reason for that. There's a reason for that confusion.

You know, tares, described here, are commonly known as the bearded darnel. A particular type of ryegrass that's known by the Latin term, Lolium temulentum. And when looking at the seed, if you were to literally look at a seed, it's hardly identifiable from a wheat seed. They look very similar. Though, if one looks really carefully, it's common for there to be some darker coloration on at least one end of the tare seeds. But, again, they look very similar, the seeds do. But more than that, the immature plants, the immature wheat and darnel, they look a lot alike. The similarity between these plants, between the wheat and darnel, is so great that in some regions of the world, darnel has been mistaken as true wheat. And the reason is that its appearance is very similar to wheat, that is until the ear appears.

In particular, it's hard to distinguish the two when they are co-mingled together in a field. It's hard to distinguish them. But when they come to maturity, at that time they are easily distinguishable. The ears of the real wheat, which according to the Kansas Farm Bureau, would have, you know, add about 50 seeds on that stalk. Well, they're so heavy that it makes the entire plant droop downward. But darnel, whose ears are light, they'll stand straight up. So if you're looking at a field ready for harvest, you look out at it, you'd see the wheat, again, heavy with this grain, flopped over while you see those tares standing straight up. And also, wheat ripens to a golden brown color, whereas darnel turns just a bit dark on the sides or the ends of the grain. And, again, it's at this maturity point that it then becomes apparent as to which is which.

You know, the wheat will produce wheat berries, kernels, grains, and they're good, they're healthy. Whereas darnel, guess what? Produces something that, as it turns out, is rather toxic. And there's a reason why the bearded darnel is called Lolium temulentum. In the Latin lexicon, lolium means darnel, cockle, tare. So that's easy enough. Temulentum, though, means drunk, or drunken, or intoxicated. And according to "The British Flora Medica," this is a history of medicinal plants from Great Britain, this was written by Benjamin Barton and Thomas Castle around the middle of the 1800s is when they published this, but Lolium temulentum, again, typically known as the bearded darnel or poison darnel, is an annual plant that usually grows in the same production area as wheat. In addressing the similarity between these two plants, darnel is simply referred to as false wheat.

But herein lies the danger. What happens if darnel is consumed, this kind of darnel? Well, bearded darnel has a poison. It's called temuline. Even capable of taking life in some cases, whether that be human or livestock, its effects can be quite severe. But it produces what appears to be drunkenness. Symptoms specifically include staggering, impaired speech, trembling, vomiting, vision defects, and confusion. Its seeds are actually considered a narcotic poison. And the spiritual analogy is that if we take in what this seed is offering, well, it could make one sick spiritually. But at a minimum, it causes disorientation. Again, our vision impairment, causes confusion, spiritual confusion, as the symbolism plays out here. So Satan has a purpose for planting the tares. And not only try to keep that person in the dark but also in an attempt to inhibit, even thwart, the growth of the spiritual wheat. And, again, how does he do that? He causes confusion as a means to spread evil. He's going to confuse things in some way, to do this.

Yet God instructs us in verse 30, Matthew 13, that these two different seeds with two different plants are to what? Grow together until the harvest. And in verse 29, He shares a key reason as to why.

Matthew 13:29 "To try to remove the tares," He says, "would mean destroying at least some of the wheat."

And separating one from the other without destroying the wheat would be beyond the ability of his servants. Only when the wheat is matured can the tares be detected. And given that, taking on the character of Christ and displaying the evidence that that takes time, servants also have to be aware that God's working with His people. He's working with them through that process, in His timeline, and in His way for their growth. And part of the context here is there is a natural growth process for spiritual wheat. Growth process that may very well include working through some confusion of their own, as they grow to a place of spiritual clarity and maturity. It was brought up in the sermonette as well.

So it's at God's appointed harvest. He says, "It's then when the tares will be identified, and the time when the wheat will be identified in this way." So there are dynamics going on in the environment that's being described here. You know, God's Holy Spirit is working with His people. It's doing that thing, but that doesn't produce envy or something that's self-seeking. God's Spirit doesn't do that. Doesn't produce confusion. You know, that's not how God's Spirit operates. You read about that in places like 1 Corinthians 14:33.

1 Corinthians 14:33 "God is not the author of confusion."

But the adversary is. He's at the center of it. Center of envy, self-seeking, confusion, every kind of evil. And, again, it's such a different wisdom than what God's wisdom asks us to employ. And, of course, we know it comes from a very different spirit too, very different. And the reality is that if someone's heart and mind is dominated by God's Holy Spirit, they, though imperfect, will employ godly wisdom, they will do that. And God will give them the power to do that.

And someone who's dominated in some way by the spirit of our adversary, well, they'll employ a different kind of wisdom. That doesn't mean they can't look like and act like true Christians. You know, the parable here exposes the realities and the challenges of there being genuine and counterfeit wheat together. Spiritual church, again, will have members with the Holy Spirit. They're dedicated, they're loyal, yet have personal defects they're overcoming, while at the same time, they're continuing to strive to be Christ-like. And there'll be others that are, that are terror-like, maybe a little bit more on the acting side of what a true Christian is because the adversary has some measure of dominance in their life, whatever that measure is.

But with that in mind, now, let's turn to 2 Timothy 2. I'm going to read a portion of a letter from Paul to Timothy, including a section of scriptures here that not only reinforces this teaching of us not to gather up the tares and uproot the wheat in the process but also addresses accountability within the Church when terror-like things become apparent. You know, if there is confusion, there's division, there's envy, strife, these sorts of things. Let's go ahead and pick up verse 14 of 2 Timothy 2. Ultimately, we will be reading through verse 26 of this chapter.

2 Timothy 2:14-18 He says, "Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more in godliness, and their message will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of the sort, who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection has already passed, and they overthrow the faith of some."

Well, let's just take a little closer look at what does that work here. So something's come up, and we now have confusion. Perhaps it's about words, meaning of words, maybe it's a particular threat of a teaching, maybe somebody that has a private interpretation or something, and maybe something twiggy, but whatever it is, it's inconsistent with the teachings of God. It chaseth the truth, and as we just read, it's not profitable for those to hear it. It creates strife, and it can even overthrow the faith of some who are not careful about this. It needs to be dealt with properly. So God tells us what? Hold fast, hold tightly, the word of truth, and rightly divide it. Further told to shun this kind of thing. Why? Why do we avoid this? Verse 16 references that they will increase to more in godliness. Well, this particular phrase can also be rendered going out to pasture or going to pasture. Part of the meaning here is that if it isn't shunned, if it isn't dealt with in an appropriate way, it will find a way to spread into the entire pasture, so to speak. Unlike the cancer that is mentioned here in verse 17.

And by the way, the word cancer here, the technical term is gangrene for that word, which if not treated, what does it do? Well, it will continue to spread and destroy the whole body. So confusion and division is not to go unchecked, and we still all need to rightly divide the word of truth. But let's also clarify something here. The parable of the wheat and the tares is not intended to create doubt in our minds and hearts about our relationship with God and with one another. And I'm not here to imply that anyone in this room or anybody listening in is a tare, nor is it, "A look at me, I'm wheat. Look over there, I'll be careful what I look at, there might go a tare." I'm not looking at anyone. You know, not to focus on that. This is not about some kind of a tare hunt. But to emphasize that, God does ask us to rightly divide the word of truth and appropriately address the issues that confusion brings as they arise. But we're also asked to have a particular perspective. Let's go ahead and continue, now, in verse 19.

2 Timothy 2:19-20 He says, "Nevertheless, the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal, 'The Lord knows those who are His.'" God knows His wheat. "'The Lord knows those who are His, and let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.'" And then he says this in verse 20, "But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honor, some for dishonor."

And this points to, again, our relationship with God, to know God and for God to know us. Of course, if anybody strays from that relationship to repent, to change, to overcome, that the relationship be stored, yet how is this house described? This great house. How is the environment of the Church described? We're told there are vessels, people, that represent honor. And other vessels, people, that represent dishonor, including those who may display some kind of a tare-like characteristic.

But with that in mind, let's, now, read some additional details about how we are to act and deal with that, whether dishonor has come from someone who maybe made a poor choice in their life, and we have examples of that, parable of the prodigal son, perhaps someone just doesn't understand and they're maturing, and they just haven't gotten to a point of understanding truly what it is they need to do, they haven't overcome, maybe there's a point there, or if dishonor comes from having a tare-like quality. But let's continue in verse 21, he says.

2 Timothy 2:21-26 "Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from the latter..." If anyone cleanses himself, again, from dishonor, "If anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work." And then he says, "Flee also youthful lusts but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart," with those that do who that. "But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition." Listen carefully now, "If God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will."

This is talking about being cleansed from dishonor. Okay, maybe you have one too, I have an elephant-in-the-room question here. Spiritually speaking, can a tare change? We know from Matthew 7:19 that a good tree cannot bear bad fruit nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. But is it once a tare, always a tare? Can God grant them repentance? Can they come to know the truth? Verse 25 says, "Yes, that's possible." Can they come to their senses? Escape the snare? The devil? Can they be delivered from him? Having been captive to his will. Verse 26 says, "Yes." It says, "Yes. All things are possible with God. All things are possible."

In the meantime, God asks us, though, in humility to correct those that are in opposition, not by identifying someone as a terror but to treat everyone as He instructs with wisdom, patience, discernment, and the hope that all come to repentance, while at the same time acting faithfully to do our part to not let confusion take over the pasture, so to speak. Let's go ahead and turn down to John 6. You know, in addition to the parable, the wheat and the tares, Jesus just provides a powerful example of how to treat and interact with anyone who may be under the influence by or have been taken to do the will of our adversary. Let's go ahead and read verses 70 and 71 of John 6.

John 6:70-71 It says, "Jesus answers them, 'Did I not choose you, the 12, and one of you is a devil?' He spoke of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, for it was he who would betray Him, being one of the 12."

How Jesus dealt with Judas, incredible example, and tone for how we ought to deal with this. He chose 12 disciples. He allowed 12 to be part of the group. Yet one of them was under the influence of the adversary. He knew Judas. Knew his character. Knew his heart. The perceptions of Jesus are way beyond ours. Yet He was around Judas and Judas was around Him. Throughout his three-and-a-half-year ministry, Judas had duties. He had responsibilities, and involvement, just as the other disciples did. Judas worked. Judas prayed at least at some level. He seemed to be like the other 11. But Judas was only like them in appearance not in character. And the disciples spent time with him as well. The other disciples did.

You know, I recall at the Passover, they didn't know who was going to betray the Master. Each of them began to ask Jesus, "Lord is it I?" Find that in Matthew 26. If he had revealed Judas' nature to them, or if the disciples had been wise enough to perceive, this might have played out differently. Perhaps this would have been different, if the disciples had the gift of the Holy Spirit at the time, perhaps different to some degree. But nevertheless, it wasn't apparent to them. But regardless that doesn't change what they were to do or what we're supposed to do, we're not in the terror identification and removal business, are we? Instead of singling out Judas, treating him poorly or what have you, what did Jesus do? He showed love and kindness to him. His own disciple, who would betray Him to His death, and what did He do? He showed his enemy courtesy, respect, humility, and even in a position of servitude, He washed Judas' feet. Well, at the same time, He was still openly teaching, openly correcting the disciples. And He never stopped preaching accountability.

But in this process what did He do? He allowed Judas to expose his own character through his own actions. Why? Why does God allow an environment of false wheat to grow with the spiritual wheat? Why is this part of God's spiritual farming of growing God's wheat? I have to say, is it not a test of love as Jesus demonstrated for us? Does it not compel growth, to be mature, to rightly divide the word of truth, including the correction of those who are in opposition, and to do so in humility, and with the hope that God will grant repentance, again, so that they might know the truth, if it's a situation such as that, that they escape the snare of the adversary?

You know, in the middle of this, whatever challenge is coming about and any form of confusion that comes to bear or whatever evil there is, does it not refocus the wheat back on God and remind them that God gives the wheat everything that is needed for its growth, even while being surrounded by the difficulties that are being described here? Because when you think about it, in many ways, God is turning Satan's ploys upside down with this. Because in the end, the tare does not inhibit the growth of the wheat, the tare actually helps the wheat overcome and produce more. And as we mentioned earlier, it very well may be that the tare escapes the snare and repents. It very well may be.

Let's turn to John 12. Here Jesus is described as the fruitful grain of wheat. And in terms of how His death is the means by which He seed a wheat grain, can and will transform into mature wheat ready for harvest. Let's go ahead and read verses 23 through 26 of John 12.

John 12:23-26 "But Jesus answered them, saying, 'The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified. Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone, but if it dies, it produces much grain. He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me, and where I am, there my servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him, my Father will honor.'"

You know, as we read today, you know, the parable of the sower, parable of the wheat and the tares, it's built on something even bigger. Jesus came to serve, give His life as a ransom. And He is the grain of wheat that has fallen to the ground, has died so that something else could grow, and He did that willingly. It was part of God's plan, part of growing God's wheat, in order, that the cycle of planting spiritual wheat is possible, and that there is an eternal harvest to come. His sacrifice made that possible.

And in the introduction, we were reminded of this promise, or the promises, in a particular, section of Isaiah 55, that's 11 and 12, again, about just how good a farmer God is both physically and most important spiritually. I'm going to go ahead and refer to it again here. Isaiah 55...excuse me not 11 and 12, 10 and 11 of Isaiah 55.

Isaiah 55:10-11 "For as the rain comes down, snow from heaven, and do not return there but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be, that goes forth from my mouth, it shall not return to me void, but it shall accomplish what I please. And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it."

This is part of the plan of God. This is part of what God has done. This is part of what God continues to do.

And today, we focus on these two parables that speak to the planting of seeds, production of wheat, again, the parable of the sower and the parable of the wheat and the tares. And they do speak to the realities of the environment in which God sows those seeds and the environment in which that spiritual wheat will grow. The gospel is still being preached to the world. There are still four different responses to it, still happening. And there are still two sowers out there. A very different character. Very different kinds of wisdom. They sow two different kinds of seed. And those seeds produce two different plants that may look similar as they grow, but they are very different, very different, as they mature. And one plant is the wheat that will be harvested as part of God's eternal family.

How He does that is part of what we just read in Isaiah 55. That God will water these seeds, and the grain will grow, just as it is with God's Word. He sends it out. He does so with a purpose. And the purpose will not fail. And it will ultimately accomplish all He wants it to. And it will ultimately prosper everywhere, He sends it. While, again, we have a different sower, who is allowed to sow a different seed, produce a different plant, a tare. And that tare, as we read today, under the influence of our adversary, again, the one who planted it, well, Satan wants to bring confusion. He wants to open the door to every evil thing.

But, again, God has allowed and continues to allow that tare to grow with the wheat until the harvest, and He hasn't done that to keep the wheat from growing. The wheat shall thrive no matter what obstacles may be faced. And, again, these things help set the reality of the environment in which His wheats to grow. Well, let's continue to learn from these parables. Perhaps have a deeper appreciation for what it is God has been and continues to do, to plant, and grow His spiritual wheat. And certainly, in anticipation of the Feast of Pentecost, which is just a little over a week away, that it too points to what it is that He's doing here, as the Feast of Pentecost looks to the first harvest of His spiritual wheat.