Parable of Wheat and Tares

“How are we to apply the parable of wheat and tares today?” WA.. Canada

The parable referred to is found only in Matthew 13:24-30, with the interpretation in verses 36-43. Tares are a poisonous grass which at first look like wheat, until they reach a point of relative maturity. By that time, their roots have intertwined with the surrounding wheat and any attempt to remove the tares will result in pulling up several stalks of good wheat plants (Westminster Bible Dictionary). It should be noted not all weeds have the same characteristics as tares; some weeds could be safely removed as the crop began to sprout.

Christ says the parable describes the necessity of leaving some unfaithful among the righteous until the end of this age. At that time, they will be separated by the angels to their respective destinies.

One interpretation would apply the wheat to the household and tares to the apostate Christian denominations. If Christ eliminated the latter now, some harm might come to the household. With this understanding, the parable has little application to ourselves.

A second understanding would narrow the scope and apply wheat and tares to faithful and unfaithful within the ecclesial community. The lesson would be that, while there are some situations when a person can be rightly disfellowshipped without disrupting the ecclesia, there are others when dis­fellowship action will do more harm than good.

We favor the second interpretation, especially since the very point is made by Paul when he says: “Some men’s sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after” (I Tim. 5:24). That is, some unfaithful among the household openly declare themselves by doctrine or wanton iniquity as deserving disfel­lowship. In other cases, the matter is not clear and must be left to Christ’s return.

The guideline for us is evident: when in doubt about a case of disfel­lowship, wait until certain!

This is vital guidance for today’s ecclesias. We do not have the advantage of spirit-guided apostles in our midst. On one occasion, for instance, they were able to read the hearts of Ananias and Sapphira. We do not possess that power and must therefore proceed with great care before removing anyone from the community.

As the parable warns, great harm can be done with inappropriate action. For example, the majority of an eccle­sia may favor disfellowshipping a brother or sister while a minority is opposed. Unless the reason for disfel­lowship is clear-cut perversion of scripture or unrepentant immorality, the majority should not take action. The danger is far too great that some of Christ’s little ones will be lost in the process of removing the alleged offending party. Furthermore, the opinion of the minority may well signal that reasons for action are inconclusive and therefore premature. In such doubtful circumstances, the parable guides us to let the matter rest for the present until Christ comes, when he “will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts” (I Cor. 4:5).