Tare theology and the devil’s envy

In Matthew 16, Jesus declares about his church that “the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” What this does not mean, though, is that they would not try, and with the devil no doubt within hearing distance, this must have been perceived as a dare. This is exactly the underlying theme of Jesus’ second kingdom of heaven parable of Chapter 13, in which he describes the continuing course Christianity would pursue after his ascension, the parable of the wheat and the tares.

In addition to this parable paralleling the second of the seven churches of Asia in Revelation 2 and 3, as we mentioned last week, it is also worth noting that this is the second and only other kingdom of heaven parable for which Jesus will supply direct interpretation for his disciples. The significance of both these accounts is that they represent the clash of two kingdoms, with violence erupting from the devil’s kingdom as a result of envy.

To understand this envy, we need to go back to the annals of the Old Testament where Isaiah speaks of “Lucifer, son of the morning” and Ezekiel speaks of the “king of Tyrus,” for it is here that God documents the devil’s pride. To think that pride has led to all the carnage this world has ever known, yet it is true. And it is from this pride that the devil’s envy has sprung. When in heaven, this pride brought forth the envy of God’s throne, and when this was denied, his envy turned toward God’s crown jewel – Man. Now here in Matthew 13, Jesus sees Satan envying Christianity.

However, to envy is one thing, but to obtain is another. How does an enemy obtain the kingdom of his superior? Outright violence downright failed. But out of this failure the devil found a gem. The great deceiver would plant bad seed together with the good, and so hope to destroy the harvest and frustrate the plans of even his creator. This, my friends, is tare theology, the mixing of the bad with the good in a bid for the destruction of the harvest.

It is notable that the tares sown were distinctly different from the wheat, for the servants offered to root out the tares before they did any further damage. However, that this was declined shows us that their resemblance was strong. In other words, they look like Christians on the outside, but they are not. They may love most of their neighbors, keep some of the Ten Commandments, even call themselves Christians, but they are not. Paul says of them in II Corinthians 11 that they “are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.” And then he adds, “and no marvel, for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.”

The greatest hoax ever perpetrated on Christianity is this false planting. But though they were false, yet Jesus’ answer to the dilemma was to let them grow till harvest. You see, while tares resemble wheat after sprouting, their differences are pronounced just prior to harvest. Take their heads, for example. As the wheat approaches maturation, its head becomes heavy, and so bows as if in prayer. Tares, on the other hand, produce a head that is light and airy, which speaks of pride and vanity.

When you really think about it, these characteristics match those of their masters. Remember, it was Jesus Christ who stooped under the load of a heavy cross, when the redemption of the souls of lost mankind was on his mind. And when he was on that cross, his prayer went upward, “Father, forgive them….” The cross is yet an offense today, and those who take it up will find it a heavy load as they walk in the footsteps of Jesus.

Likewise we must remember that pride began in the heart of him whose name was Lucifer. Jesus makes no mistake when he calls the tares “children of the wicked one,” for they bear his image.

In pride they lift their head and mock at those more righteous than they, hurling insults because of obedience to the word of God. And as vanity speaks of emptiness and worthlessness, even so they spend themselves on that which has no eternal merit.

But the day is coming. Though they grew together with the wheat, counterfeit Christianity will be separated from the true. Their judgment is sure and their penalty deserved: Counterfeiting is a crime punishable by death in the courts of heaven.

Ron Hamman is pastor of Independent Baptist Church of Wasilla. Contact him at 357-4229 or ron.hamman@gci.net.