THE PARABLE OF THE TARES: A PATTERN FOR INTERPRETATION
(Message by Tanny Keng)
1. The Parable Of The Tares
a) One of the longer parables in Matthew 13 is the parable of the tares. It is considerably more complex than the several shorter parables in that chapter.
b) It is uncertain just what plant is referred to. The Greek word is zizania, which is used in the Bible only in the parable of the tares (Matthew 13:24-30). However the parable is clearly referring to a tare that looks very like wheat when it is young, but becomes evident when the true wheat sets a fruiting head.
c) The Parable of the Tares is mainly concerned with the fact that the kingdom of God is in the world where there is much evil, and will remain so until the end of the world when the good and the evil will be forever separated (Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43).
2. A Pattern For Interpretation
a) The parable of the tares is different not only in its length, but also in another way. Our Lord was asked to explain this parable. Thus we have the benefit of an explanation in detail by the Master of parables himself.
b) When we are benefited with the Lord's own explanation of a parable, we have more than just the correct interpretation of that particular parable. We have a paradigm or pattern for correctly interpreting his parables in general.
c) Our Master’s manner of interpretation is the pattern for our interpretations, so that we do not twist his words to make them mean something he never intended.
The End ...
1. The Parable Of The Taresa) One of the longer parables in Matthew 13 is the parable of the tares. It is considerably more complex than the several shorter parables in that chapter.
b) It is uncertain just what plant is referred to. The Greek word is zizania, which is used in the Bible only in the parable of the tares (Matthew 13:24-30). However the parable is clearly referring to a tare that looks very like wheat when it is young, but becomes evident when the true wheat sets a fruiting head.
c) The Parable of the Tares is mainly concerned with the fact that the kingdom of God is in the world where there is much evil, and will remain so until the end of the world when the good and the evil will be forever separated (Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43).
2. A Pattern For Interpretation
a) The parable of the tares is different not only in its length, but also in another way. Our Lord was asked to explain this parable. Thus we have the benefit of an explanation in detail by the Master of parables himself.
b) When we are benefited with the Lord's own explanation of a parable, we have more than just the correct interpretation of that particular parable. We have a paradigm or pattern for correctly interpreting his parables in general.
c) Our Master’s manner of interpretation is the pattern for our interpretations, so that we do not twist his words to make them mean something he never intended.
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