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NASB | Matthew 13:24 ¶ Jesus presented another parable to them, saying, "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Matthew 13:24 ¶ Jesus gave them another parable [to consider], saying, "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. |
Subject: Can tares become Christians? |
Bible Note: Hi iktoose, The answer to your question is an unequivocal maybe! There are no tares in The Church, the body of Christ; but there are many tares in a church, an assembly of people, of numerous denominations. You stated, “From the parable I sense that we cannot do a whole lot about the tares except being aware of them (being harmful).” The only way the weeds are harmful is if they absorb all of the nourishment that is there for the wheat. If the wheat has a good root structure the weeds can grow up right next to the wheat and the wheat isn’t bothered. One of the big problems come when those outside of Christ fix there eyes on the darnel, or weeds and assume that they are the wheat. There is a definite visual difference in the seeds or fruit that comes forth and true believers are told how to spot them. Matthew 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. I have always tried to encourage personal testimony when ever there is a group gathering and as a result the weeds are usually pretty easy to spot. There is a missing ingredient in the testimony of the weeds, and true believers don’t have to ask what it is. From the point of finding out, what appeared to be wheat but is actually darnel, the only thing that can fix it is the Lord and the gospel message. 1 Cor. 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. The previous verse, coupled with the next verse, gives the answer to your question. Matthew 16:17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. The tares or weeds need to be a new creation in order to become wheat; they won’t make it as tares. Galatians 6:15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. The tares can play wheat all they want but it won’t make them wheat; it’s only when the Lord starts them over as a new creature that they can become wheat or Christians, as it were. 2 Cor. 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. The last part of your question, “Is it possible that perhaps the tares are not aware of themselves of what they are? These folks might have been hypnotized or brainwashed and think they are serving the true living God.” 2 Cor. 4:3-4 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: [4] In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. Those that are tares don’t have the “assured confidence” of eternal, which is in Christ Jesus. 1 John 5:10-11 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. [11] And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Have a great day, knowing that the best is yet to come, CDBJ |