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Wheats and Tares

 “As He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up to Him and knelt before Him, and asked Him, ‘Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone’” Mark 10:17-18.

I absolutely love the parable of the Wheat and the Tares. Here is the point of the story. You can’t tell the difference between a wheat plant or a tare (weed) when they start to grow. The distinction happens when they become mature. A mature tare stands proud out in the field with tiny black seeds on it. If you were to eat the seeds, it would cause you harm or death. The mature wheat plant bows its head in the field because it is heavy with life giving fruit. This earthly story with a heavenly meaning cuts to the core of how a Christ-follower should represent God. We must have a humble heart, which means we are teachable. If you are starting any sentence with “I am a good Christian,” please stop immediately and ask yourself. “Are the next few words going to bring encouragement to the listeners, or are my words going to cause harm?” The fact you called yourself “good” in Jesus’s own words means you are wrong. Our words and our actions should always declare, “Before the grace of God go I.” “Knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies” 1 Corinthians 8:1b. May we always walk in love and reject the hate the world is encouraging.



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