JESUS, THE MASTER TEACHER Parable of the Tares I. Introduction. A. Several descriptive terms used of Jesus in N. T. 1. Jesus: 973 times(KJ) 2. Lord: 711 times(KJ) 3. Christ: 555 times(KJ) 4. Saviour: 24 times(KJ) 5. My Master: Rabbi(Rabbei--a term of respectful address): 8 times(KJ). B. One interesting term: Master. 1. Found 72 times in KJ; 58 refer to Christ. 2. Literally: Teacher(didaskolos). C. Jesus use of parables. 1. Meaning of the word. 2. Spoke the language of people--illustrations they could understand. 3. A number of parables spoken: only two that he explained: sower and tares. 4. Note: John 3:2. II. Body. A. The parable of the tares: Matthew 13:24-30. 1. An illustration the people knew well. 2. Tares: Degenerate wheat(darnel). Plants can be separated from wheat--but only effective at harvest. a. The wheat & tares are fanned, then passed through a sieve. Smaller seeds(tares) pass thru, leaving the wheat behind. b. The tares are host to a fungus that produces sleepiness, nausea, convulsions, and even death. c. I am told that fungus produces the illicit drug LSD. B. The explanation of the parable: Matthew 13:36-43. 1. Field is the world. 2. Good seed are the children of the kingdom. 3. Tares are the children of the wicked one. 4. Enemy: Devil. 5. Harvest: End of world. 6. Reapers are angels. 7. Parable explains why evil people are permitted to continue in evil(a problem many people concern themselves with understanding). 8. Is not a discussion of church discipline. C. Lessons from Jesus gained from this parable. 1. Christ responded to a learner's request for an explanation: verses 36-37. 2. Jesus provided explanations when necessary. 3. Christ used illustrations understood by the multitude({{{spoke to). 4. Appropriate applications were made by the Lord. 5. Failure to understand Lord's teachings was the fault of the listener--not the teacher. III. Conclusion. A. Evil people will be identified. B. The longer one is in evil--the more evident the path they follow. C. Tares would grow to a place where they were found out--so with evildoers.