Known When Grown

Known When Grown

Matthew 13:24-30;36-43

Illus. We’ll see.

Last we started in Matthew 13, where Jesus began speaking in parables. A parable is a spiritual or moral truth that is expressed by “laying it alongside”
a physical example that could be easily understood. Jesus noted that in His parables, He was giving mysteries into the kingdom of heaven…For those who were willing to hear and receive.

Many were understanding the Kingdom Message, but needed insight regarding Kingdom methods. They expected the coming of the Messiah to commence with cataclysmic
events, everything wrong would immediately be made right, and all His people would be saved from their plight.

With that, Jesus points to another parable associated with being His followers in the world. He points to a present reality and a future promise. Last
week, we looked at seed sown onto four soils, and the soil that receives, likened to a heart that receives His Word. Today, Jesus likens the good seed
being sown to His people, who are sown in a field where other seed, bad seed, is also sown, and the two are grown together.

A reality today, good and bad growing together, sharing the same lane, but result would not be fully known, until those in the world were fully grown.
So, rather than uproot them all, we are pointed toward running the race to win the prize, while trusting that those who are His, He will recognize
at the finish line. Pursue being known when grown, like a good seed sown!

Read: Matthew 13:24-30;36-43

Here Jesus directs our attention to two types of seed, growing side by side. The good and the bad, the happy and sad…The servants want to rip out
the weeds, but Jesus says, for now you’re going to stay together…But it won’t be forever.

There are those who are not yet know, but will be known when grown…There are others who are known and need to be sown into this world to reflect
His light. Whatever your position, place, posture this morning, I encourage you to make the orientation of your life to be known when grown. That means
His today and until the end…

I.Recognize the Purpose in Your Planting

Matthew 13:36-38, Then He left the crowds and went into the house. And His disciples came to Him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the tares of the field.”

• After leaving the crowds, His disciples came to Jesus and asked if He could explain to them the parable of the tares.

• Jesus had previously told the disciples when they asked why He was speaking in these parables, that they were to reveal truth about the Kingdom for
  those who had an ear to hear.

• Upon giving this parable, it seems the disciples understood in part, but not in full…So they went and asked Jesus!

• They did not want to leave it up to their own interpretation or, assumptions.

Illus. Who are you going to?

Proverbs 16:25, There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.

1 Corinthians 3:19, The wisdom of this world is foolishness before God. 

Matthew 13:37-39 

• In this parable the sower is Jesus, the field is now the world (38), the good seeds are the children of the Kingdom, the tares are the children of
  the evil one.

• He gives two seed types and two sowers, good see sown by the Son of Man and bad sown by the enemy; these are sown alongside each other in the world.

• The good seed is wheat and is fruitful, the tares are not.

• The fact that the good seed is sown into the world by Jesus speaks to an intentionality of the Sower.

• The seed that has been sown in this parable…is you! Children of God. If you are here today and you are in Christ, trusting in Jesus, accepting
  Him as Lord and Savior, filled with the Holy Spirit…Jesus has planted you in this world.

• This means that those in Christ are not here in the world by accident, but rather, positioned and placed by the Lord Himself for a purpose.

Psalm 1:1-3, How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers.

• You have been planted, positioned, and placed in this world for a purpose.

• I would also argue that you are placed not just in the world, but in your situation, neighborhood, job, school, daycare…Wherever you find yourself…For
  a purpose! To be fruitful.

• Being planted, and fruitful has great significance and through lines in Scripture.

• God is the master gardener…There is purpose in what He plans.

Illus. I’m not sure where that should go.

Illus. Who is next to you?

Matthew 18:2-4, Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

• Jesus also explained that the enemy, the devil, sows tares into the world.

• As Jesus sends out His children into the world, the enemy sows tares.

• The enemy knows that the wheat is going to bear fruit, therefore, the enemy plants tares.

• Just as Jesus sends out His children, so does the enemy send out his.

Illus. Many Plans.

John 10:10, The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

1 Peter 5:8-9, Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world.

• The distinction being drawn, is the difference between wheat (good grain), and tares (a poisonous weed).

• Be a whole grain Christian

Matthew 13:26-30

• The difference between the wheat and the tares becomes apparent…when the wheat bears grain.

• The tares in the parable are likely darnel, because that weed, until mature, appears as wheat.

• Because of their resemblance, sowing tares among the wheat was sometimes done in ancient times out of spite or revenge by an enemy who wanted to disrupt
  or destroy someone’s crop.

Illus. Picture.

• In response to the tares in the field, the servants ask the farmer, do you want us to rip them out? The farmer answered, “no,” because you might uproot
  the good grain.

• Let them grow together, and it will all be sorted out at the harvest.

• In other words, don’t look around and try to decipher “who’s in and who’s out” go and bear good grain (fruit), help turn tares into true followers.

Illus. Let’s make a list.

John 3:17, For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

• Certainly, there are those who would have been taken out at that point if the disciples had their way.

• But Jesus says, let them grow together. They will be known when they are fully grown and separated at harvest time.

• For some, they have not received Jesus, but I pray their day of salvation is coming…

• I want to see their salvation day, not their judgement day.

• So as wheat in the field I want to bear good fruit in order to turn a tare into a follower.

• Perhaps there was a point in your life where it was not clear what you were growing to become. But the Lord in His wisdom knew that your course had
  not been fully run.

Illus. Cut on current condition.

• There are those who are still in a process, and have yet to complete their transformation into wheat.

• But as for those who have ears to hear, He is drawing them near, to ensure that they are informed and transformed, whole grain Christians.

1. Let your light shine bright

Matthew 13:40-43

• What Jesus is talking about here, at the end of the age there is a separation.

• There are two different paths and eternal destinies.

Matthew 13:26, When the wheat sprouted up and bore grain, the tares became evident also. 

• Jesus is drawing the distinction between eternal realities. Known and unknown, the good and the bad seed sown, those who reject Him and those who reflect
  Him.

• At the end of the age, final judgement, there will be the final fates of those who belong to Jesus and those who do not.

John 10:27, My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.

• Whatever the ambiguities there on earth, there will be no such uncertainty at the end of the age.

• Why does Jesus point toward this? Because it is reality.

• What should I do about this? Realize the reality in your life, point people toward following Jesus, bear good grain and fruit for Jesus in your life,
  endeavor to be known by Jesus, and let your light shine bright.

• He has called you to witness, not condemn, to love rather than hate, and give mercy rather than judgement…There is a day that is coming where
  He will determine the divide…Today, for those in Christ, abide.

Philippians 2:15, Prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world.

Matthew 5:14-16, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.