Sunday, September 19: Don’t let the weeds ‘tare’ you up!

Many people argue about the meaning of each passage in the Bible, including Christians. Some interpret very literally, while others spiritualize each statement. One example is the belief in the rapture, the return of Jesus Christ to take His church to heaven. There are large groups of believers using Scripture to “prove” their personal viewpoint, but those diversely include a pre-tribulation rapture, a mid-tribulation rapture, a post-tribulation rapture, no rapture at all, and even the belief that the rapture already has occurred. It all can be very confusing, yet we know:


For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.
1 Corinthians 14:33


The Bible tells us what God wants us to know, but that doesn’t mean that He tells us everything! For example, we don’t know the time and day of our Savior’s return. When Jesus came to earth as a man, even He didn’t know! (Matthew 24:36) As believers, we are meant to know and hear our Savior’s voice, and to understand His words. Why did Jesus teach in parables?


`10 And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?”
11 He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 12 For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. 13 Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.
Matthew 13:10-13


Have you ever felt like people were picking apart every word that you speak? Certainly, the enemies of Jesus had that intent, but the parables confused them. Yet our Lord desires for us to understand His Word. Through the Holy Spirit, He reveals to us what the Bible says, though when we make our minds up what a passage means before we read it in context, we aren’t listening! The best interpretation of the Bible comes from other places in the Bible, as it is an integrated message woven together with the scarlet thread of the blood of Jesus. Each author was inspired by the Holy Spirit to write exactly what he wrote. Be careful not to use the Bible to prove your point, but instead, to read with an open mind. Jesus is the Great Teacher, who will lead you when reading His Word.


Sadly, there are many false teachers leading believers astray. If those believers were opening the Bible to ensure the teaching was accurate, that would not happen. Jesus told us that there were tares growing with the wheat. Instead of destroying the healthy plants when uprooting the weeds, the Lord will separate those plants in His harvest.


24 Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; 25 but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. 26 But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. 27 So the servants of the owner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’ 28 He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The servants said to him, ‘Do you want us then to go and gather them up?’ 29 But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of 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.” ’ ”
Matthew 13:24-30

We are not responsible for uprooting the tares, destroying the false teachers who are sowing discord in God’s harvest. As believers, our responsibility is to check the Scripture daily to ensure that our teachers are sharing the full counsel of God. That takes time and effort to study, but when we remember that the Bible is God’s voice, speaking to us, what is there that is more important? If we allow the tares to choke the wheat away, it has to do with our apathy. Be aware of the tares among you, and don’t let them ‘tare’ you up!


“Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There!’ do not believe it. 24 For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you beforehand.
Matthew 24:23