The Poison Imposter - a Devotion for 29 October 2022, Anno Domini

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HE kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: 25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares[1] among the wheat, and went his way. 26 But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. 27 So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?  28 He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? 29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.  (Matt 13:24-30)

         

The overriding sin of pride has done more to cripple the church than any others. It is the Trojan Horse that has gotten into the church and has led to an over emphasis on buildings, false doctrine, love of prestige and money, and boastful of numbers. The old so-called ‘free-will’ mentality has led some worshippers to believe they can make demands of God in prayer which He cannot refuse. Of course, this is a direct refutation of the Sovereignty of God. Pride of the modern worshipper places the emphasis of worship on man and away from God in their man-centered music, false doctrine (leaven of the Pharisees) and entertainment styles. This is obviously irreverence in action.
         

The prideful worshippers of the modern church are much like the nine-out-of-ten lepers who refused to return to our Lord to offer thanks and worship for their healing and went away half-dead in their sins while the one returning Samaritan was blessed with life eternal in Christ. These are the tares sown among the good seed.

         

It is said to be the only grass which bears a poisonous seed, ‘a fitting symbol of the fruit of the devil's sowing.' It grows frequently with the wheat and so nearly resembles it as to be practically indistinguishable until the grain is headed out. 'There can be no mistake then. As once I heard it remarked in that country, 'the ears which God has blessed bow their heads, but these accursed tares stick theirs above the whole field! ' For the tare then carries a tall, light head of small, dark grains which in every respect contrasts with the weighty, golden ear of the good seed." But how to separate?

         

            Wiser would it be to accept the simple thought of the Syrian peasants, who to this day believe that tares can best be kept down by nourishing to the utmost the life of the good seed.

~  Dr. W. H. Thomson.

         

The tares cannot be distinguished from the wheat until it is too late in the growing season. The seed appears to be identical, but one contains actual poison. As harvest time approaches, the grain-laden heads of good grains bow themselves before Heaven while the poisoned grains lift their pods pridefully in denial of the God of Heaven.  Even the fruits of the poison seed are also poisonous. The same is true of the church. Poison fruit of false professors has resulted from poison seed.

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[1] The bearded darnel, mentioned only in Matthew 13:24-30. It is the Lolium temulentum, a species of rye-grass, the seeds of which are a strong soporific poison. It bears the closest resemblance to wheat till the ear appears, and only then the difference is discovered. It grows plentifully in Syria and Palestine.   Easton’s Bible Dictionary