Parables of Jesus:WHEN WE CANNOT TELL THE DIFFERENCE
By Dr. Ernest D. Moore, PastorOutline
INTRODUCTION: In this lesson, we shall learn some important lessons on what we are able to know and what we are unable to know. There are some things which the Lord tells us to be about -- winning the lost, ministering to the sick, discipling the new converts, etc. There are some things which we are to leave absolutely to the Lord -- we are to mind our own business. The remarkable thing is that if we would only be truly busy about our own responsibilities, we would not be tempted to get involved with the work which is not ours to do. A number of years ago there was a man in our congregation who was forever telling me that "So-and-so isn't saved. THEY CAN'T BE!" I would patiently advise him that it is not for us to determine. The obvious backslider might very well be one who is saved and under conviction this very minute to get right with God. As likely is the fact that a mild, quiet-tempered person could be a "cultural Christian" -- one who thinks that just being in the congregation, using a Christian-like vocabulary, and not being a great sinner makes one a believer. We know that is false doctrine, but these folk are truly hard to distinguish. A "hard call" is the church member who is quiet, seemingly knowledgeable in Bible learning, but then makes their decisions in an unscriptural manner and excuses same with "logical" reasoning. Alas, it is impossible for the mind of man -- even the saved mind to distinguish who is who. THUS OUR LESSON FOR THIS WEEK! Texts: 1 John 2:18-19 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. [19] They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- LESSON PLAN I. OBJECTIVES A. General 1. To teach the parable of the devil's tares in with the true seed of the Lord. B. Specific 1. To draw the student's attention to the fact that there are some people who are truly saved and others who are only masquerading as Christians. 2. To show that it is not the work of the believer to sort out the true Christians from the fraudulent ones. 3. To show that there will certainly be a day of judgment. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- II. Presentation A. Teacher's presentation 1. Scriptural Basis a. EXPOSITORY: Mat 13:24 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: "The kingdom of heaven" - the society of believers. The fellowship that is made up of true believers, saved by faith in the grace of God through Christ Jesus. [25] But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. "tares" - thorns or thistles. The corruption of a seed crop. [26] But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. When I was a boy in Southern Illinois, we were often hired to "cut the corn out of the beans." A crop of soy beans would have thistles, "pop-weed" and actual corn stalks growing in the fields. When the beans were combined, the greater the amount of corrupt ingredients among the beans the less the buyers would pay for it. We walked the rows with sharp implements used to cut the weeds and corn stalks down before time to combine the beans. Otherwise, their seeds would be harvested with the good seed. [27] So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? Notice that the servants questioned the sower's work. Not so! He had done his work well. [28] He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? Here are the servants asking if they should go and "cut the corn from the beans." They were willing to do whatever the householder requested. [29] But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. The sower/householder made an interesting statement here. The destruction of the tares would result in harm to the good wheat also. (We will come back to this later.) [30] Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn. There will be a time of dealing with the tares - thorns and thistles. They will be burned. And the good seed -- the wheat -- will be harvested into the barn. NOW COMES THE EXPLANATION FROM THE LORD! b. Mat 13:36-43 Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field. NOTICE THE TEACHABLE HEARTS OF THE DISCIPLES! [37] He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; JESUS HIMSELF IS THE SOWER OF THE GOOD SEED! [38] The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; THE FIELD IS THE WORLD THE GOOD SEED ARE SAVED PEOPLE THE TARES ARE THE UNSAVED [39] The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. THE ENEMY THAT PLACED THE LOST IN WITH THE SAVED IS THE DEVIL! THE HARVEST IS THE END OF THE WORLD (JUDGMENT DAY!) THE REAPERS ARE THE ANGELS! (READ REVELATION) [40] As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. [41] The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; [42] And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. REV 20:11-15 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. [12] And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. [13] And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. [14] And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. [15] And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. [43] Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. REV 21:1-8 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. [2] And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. [3] And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. [4] And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. [5] And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. [6] And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. [7] He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. [8] But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. 2. Simple, Practical Basis a. There are a number of lessons to be learned from this parable: First is the fact that Jesus is the sower of the good seed. The Word of God gives us the means of how to be saved. We do not need a "new revelation" or another Gospel. The one we have is sufficient. Gal 3:1 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? Gal 1:6-10 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: [7] Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. [8] But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. [9] As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. [10] For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. Second is the lesson that there are certainly unsaved people posing as Christians. These frauds are placed in the congregations by Satan with the express purpose to hurt the bride of Christ. When we see destruction and harm come to the church, it is neither unkind nor unscriptural to believe that someone in the act of hurting the fellowship is unsaved and serving Satan. Even Satan himself can masquerade as an angel of the Lord. Third is the lesson that Jesus will deal with the tares Himself. It is interesting that the servants offered to undertake this task, but the Lord (sower) rejected the idea. "Their time will come." Why did He decide this? Most likely because the more important work for the good seed is to be reproducing itself (winning souls and discipling the converts). THESE THREE POINTS ARE VITAL FOR THE ADULT CLASSES TO MAKE AND DISCUSS IN SOME DEPTH! 3. TIPS FOR THE YOUNGER CLASSES THE YOUNGER CLASSES MUST CONCENTRATE ON THE IDEA THAT THERE IS INDEED GOOD AND BAD IN THIS WORLD, EVEN IN THE CHURCH. WE SHALL DO THAT WITH THREE DIFFERENT IDEAS: FIRST IDEA: EVEN THOUGH MUCH OF MODERN PSYCHOLOGY TELLS US THAT NOTHING IS BAD IN AND OF ITSELF, WE MUST REVERSE THAT TEACHING. OF COURSE THERE ARE BAD THINGS AND GOOD THINGS. LYING IS BAD, AND TELLING THE TRUTH IS GOOD. STEALING IS BAD AND HONESTY IS GOOD. CURSING IS BAD AND POLITENESS IS GOOD. IMMORALITY IS BAD AND PURITY IS GOOD. CHEATING IS BAD AND PLAYING FAIR IS GOOD. ( CONTINUE THE LIST ON YOUR OWN, AND WITH CLASS'S SUGGESTIONS) SECOND IDEA: SOME PEOPLE MAKE BAD COMPANIONS AND SOME PEOPLE MAKE GOOD COMPANIONS: BEING WITH THIEVES IS BAD BEING WITH THOSE WHO SMOKE, DRINK, TAKE DRUGS AND OTHERWISE ABUSE THEIR BODIES IS WRONG BEING WITH PEOPLE WHO GOSSIP IS BAD BEING WITH PEOPLE WHO REJECT THOSE IN AUTHORITY IS BAD BEING WITH IMMORAL PEOPLE OR LAW-BREAKERS IS BAD BEING WITH HONEST PEOPLE IS GOOD BEING WITH CHRISTIANS WHO OBEY THE BIBLE IS GOOD GOING TO CHURCH IS GOOD GOING SOULWINNING, OR TO MINISTER IS GOOD GOING TO THE MISSION FIELD IS GOOD. ((( GET THE IDEA HERE? -- CONTINUE WITH YOUR CLASS))) THIRD IDEA: THERE IS A BAD CROWD EVEN IN A GOOD PLACE!!! WHEN OUR SON WENT AWAY TO COLLEGE I TOLD HIM THAT EVEN IN A GOOD COLLEGE, THERE WOULD BE A BAD CROWD. HE COULD RECOGNIZE THEM BY THEIR ATTITUDE, THEIR ACTIONS AND THEIR SPEECH. THEIR ATTITUDE WOULD ALWAYS BE CYNICAL AND NEGATIVE. THEIR ACTIONS WOULD ALWAYS BE LESS THAN THEIR BEST THEIR SPEECH WOULD ALWAYS BE CRITICAL OF THEIR LEADERS. TEACH YOUR CLASS THESE IDEAS, THEN PROVIDE THEM THE LAST IDEA -- THAT IT IS THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO: 1. STAY IN THE RIGHT CROWD AND ACT THE GOOD WAY 2. NOT TRY TO STRAIGHTEN UP THE OTHERS BY TATTLING OR GOSSIPING THEMSELVES. THEIR WORK WAS TO WORK THE GOOD WORKS. THE SOWER WILL TAKE CARE OF THE BAD ONES! 4. DEMONSTRATIONS / ILLUSTRATIONS / SONGS / QUOTES (see Footnote 1) a. DEMONSTRATION: (USE AFTER THE TEACHING ON THE TEXT.) SEPARATING THE WHEAT FROM THE TARES: ON A SHEET OF PAPER PLACE BBs, GRAINS OF WHEAT AND STIR WELL. ASK THE STUDENTS IF THEY CAN SEPARATE THESE TWO INTO THEIR ORIGINAL GROUPS BY PASSING THEIR HANDS OVER THE MIXTURE. THE ANSWER IS OBVIOUSLY "NO!" EXPLAIN THAT THE PROBLEM OF SEPARATING THE TWO IS SIMILAR TO THE DIFFICULTY THE SAVED HAVE IN KNOWING WHO IS SAVED AND WHO IS NOT IN THE MODERN DAY CHURCH. BUT GOD HAS HIS OWN MEANS OF SORTING, JUST AS THE SCRIPTURES TOLD US. NOW TAKE THE MAGNET AND PASS IT OVER THE MIXTURE. WOW! THE BBs CLING TO THE MAGNET AND THE WHEAT IS LEFT. JUST AS GOD REMOVES THE UNSAVED FROM THE CONGREGATION, SO THE MAGNET PULLS THE INEDIBLE BBs FROM THE GOOD SEED! 5. QUESTIONS YOU CAN ASK TO BRING OUT YOUR STUDENT'S MINDS AND LEVELS OF LEARNING: a. WHAT IS THE DANGER OF KNOWING THAT THERE ARE BOTH GOOD AND BAD, EVEN AMONG THE GOOD CROWD?! ONE DANGER IS THAT THOSE WHO KNOW IN THEIR HEARTS THAT THEY ARE SAVED WILL BEGIN TO BECOME "HEAD-HUNTERS" IN THE SENSE THAT THEY WILL START JUDGING EVERYONE ELSE'S SALVATION EXPERIENCE. A SECOND DANGER IS THAT THE VERY INSECURE MAY EVEN START TO DOUBT THEIR GENUINE SALVATION EXPERIENCE. b. ISN'T IT SETTING OURSELVES UP TO BE THE ONE WITH THE "MOAT IN OUR OWN EYE" TO BE LOOKING FOR THE BAD EVEN IN THE GOOD CROWD? YES IT IS. THE BIBLE DOESN'T TELL US THAT WE MUST DO MORE THAN BE AWARE OF THE TARES AMONG THE WHEAT. IT IS NOT FOR US TO BE ROOTING OUT THE UNSAVED FROM AMONG US. WE ARE TO BE ABOUT OUR FATHER'S WORK. c. HOW CAN THE TRUE CHURCH BE PROTECTED AGAINST THE TERRIBLE INFLUENCE OF THE TARES THEN? FIRST! IF CHURCHES WOULD OPERATE STRICTLY AS THE BIBLE TEACHES - WHERE IT IS SPECIFIC OR GIVES PATTERNS - THERE WOULD BE LITTLE THE TARES COULD DO TO DISRUPT OR CONFUSE THE CONGREGATION. IT IS ONLY WHEN TRADITIONS AND PERSONAL OPINIONS INTERVENE AND GAIN DOMINANCE THAT CHURCHES LEAVE THE PERFECT PATH THE LORD INTENDED. SECOND! PEOPLE SHOULD NOT BE CAUGHT UP IN "A SPIRITUAL ACT" BUT JUDGE THE TREES AMONG THEM BY THEIR FRUIT. THEN THEY WOULD NOT TEND TO FOLLOW THE PERSON WHO "TALKS A GOOD TALK" BUT FAILS TO WALK A GOOD WALK. MOST FOLKS WHO ARE LED ASTRAY BY THE TARES ARE WILLING VICTIMS. THEY ARE REPEATEDLY FLATTERED AND TOLD HOW UNJUST THEIR LOT IS UNTIL THEY BEGIN TO FOLLOW THE FLATTERER INTO SIN. OTHERS ARE NAIVE AND INNOCENT AND FOLLOW THE TARES RATHER THAN RESIST AND FIND THEMSELVES THE NEXT TARGET FOR ANGER. KNOW THE BIBLE WELL; FOLLOW ITS PATTERN; STICK WITH AUTHORITY; BE AWARE THE TARES ARE AROUND; DO THE WORK OF THE MINISTRY IN WHICH GOD HAS PLACED YOU AND TRUST HIM TO DEAL WITH THE TARES. d. WHY DOES GOD WAIT UNTIL THE END TIMES TO REMOVE THE TARES? AS THE PARABLE SAYS GOD WILL WAIT UNTIL THE END TO SEPARATE THE GOOD SEED FROM THE TARES. THAT IS NO DOUBT BECAUSE TO DO SO SOONER WOULD DISRUPT THE CHURCH TOO MUCH. 6. APPLICATIONS a. IN WHAT WAYS CAN A SERIOUS CHRISTIAN KNOW WHEN THE "TARES" ARE ABOUT THEIR WORK AND WHAT MUST THEY DO WHEN IT BECOMES OBVIOUS? 1. We cannot always know whether wrong is being done by a backslidden believer or by an unsaved person in the church. With that in mind, we must not attempt to determine anyone's salvation as genuine or not. 2. What we can do however is first of all reprove them for unspiritual behaviour personally. If that fails, then a firmer rebuke is in order. Finally, we ought to "mark them which cause division among us" and avoid them. Literally that means to break away from social contact with them. This is not being unloving, nor rude, nor un-Christian. It is the obedient thing to do. (Rom 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.) b. I FEEL THAT SOME OF MY FRIENDS MAY BE TARES. WHAT CAN I DO? First of all, don't try to DO anything about the tares situation. Share your concerns with your friends on an individual and private basis. Ask them about their salvation experience and ask them if they are certain of their redemption. Next, if they assure you that they are indeed saved, then discuss their specific behaviour that troubles you. Be fair, but honest and tell them that you love them and are worried about them. The next step is up to them. Perhaps they need to confess their behavior and replace it with good action. Maybe they need to counsel with Pastor. If they do not alter their ways, see the point just before this one. c. WHAT IF IT IS ME WHO IS A TARE?! (IT IS ENTIRELY POSSIBLE THAT SOMEONE IN THIS CLASS MAY NOT BE SAVED. IT COULD BE THAT THEY WERE RAISED IN A GOOD CHURCH AND GREW UP BELIEVING THAT THERE WAS A JESUS, THE SON OF GOD, DIED ON A CROSS, RAISED FROM THE DEAD -- BUT THEY NEVER PERSONALLY ASKED HIM INTO THEIR HEART. NOW IS THE PERFECT TIME TO DISCUSS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A PERSONAL SALVATION AND AN INTELLECTUAL OR MIND KNOWLEDGE OF JESUS. ALLOW THE CLASS AN OPPORTUNITY TO PRAY AND ASK THE LORD TO SAVE THEM IF NECESSARY.) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- HOW I WOULD TEACH THIS LESSON READ THE LESSON DAILY ALL WEEK BEFORE YOU TEACH IT! 1. READ THE TEXT VERSES AND COVER THEM IN AN EXPOSITORY MANNER. 2. DEMONSTRATE THE PARABLE WITH THE BARLEY AND BBs AND MAGNET. 3. COVER THE LESSON OUTLINE MAKING SUCH POINTS AS THE HOLY SPIRIT LEADS YOU TO COVER. 4. DISCUSS QUESTIONS AND APPLICATIONS. 5. ALLOW SUFFICIENT TIME FOR STUDENTS TO PRAY IF THEY NEED TO. (ALL BOWING THEIR HEADS AND CLOSING THEIR EYES, ETC.) Footnote 1: Please note that the use of a quote or a reference to a person does not indicate that we hold them in high esteem; only that the item can be used in some way in a lesson. In fact, you will find some statements actually oppose or disagree with Bible-believing philosophies in some outlines so that you can use them as arguing points.