THE PARABLE OF THE TARES.
AFTER explaining the parable of the sower, Jesus gives one about 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 wheat had grown up, and began to form heads, it was seen that there were tares among the wheat. "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? He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou, then, that we go and gather them up? But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest; and in time of the 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."
At last, when the people had become weary, Jesus sent them away, and went into a house. Then his disciples asked him to tell them the meaning of the parable about the tares. Then, "He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; 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 enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. As therefore the tares are gathered, and burned in the fire, so shall it be in the end of the world. 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; and shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father."
Among other parables spoken that day were two that were meant to teach that the kingdom of heaven is worth more than all things else, and that if we would gain it, we must be willing to give up everything else for it. They are as follows:
"Again: the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field."
"Again: the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchantman, seeking goodly pearls; who, when he hath found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it."