Jesus spoke about the kingdom of heaven through parables. The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field. The kingdom of heaven is like a sower who sowed seed on four types of soil. The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. Through these familiar parables, He enabled people to understand the truth. However, while it is important for the speaker to communicate well, the receiver is also important. When one understands and accepts it well, a good effect can appear. Today's message gives us a lesson about the kingdom of God through the parable of the wheat and the tares.

1. In the present, before the kingdom of God is completed, they exist mixed together.

Before completion, everything is in disarray. Unexpected situations can also occur in life. It was the same for me in 2017 when I left Los Angeles, where I had lived for 13 years, and moved to Illinois. My plan was to send most of my belongings with a moving and packing service, load the remaining small items into the car, and travel light. However, the remaining items kept piling up. In the end, I had no choice but to load the car with every inch of space filled, leaving no room to spare. As such, before everything is completed, there are bound to be messy parts. In the parable of the Lord's word today, it would have been good if there were only wheat in the field, but tares also became mixed in. It is an uncomfortable and confusing situation. Since it is a field where good seed was sown, it would be absolutely wonderful if an environment could be created where only the wheat could grow well, but that is not the case. Tares were sown among the wheat, and they grew up together. The working servants try to pull out and remove only the tares so they don't steal the nutrients from the wheat, but the master tells them to leave them be. He tells them to let both grow together until the harvest. This shows how precious and valuable the wheat is, so He wants to protect it. There is the mercy and patience of the master, who is considerate, worried that if the tares are pulled up hastily, the wheat might be uprooted along with them.

At the seminar I recently attended, ministry workers who pastor students gathered to learn and share together. One of their concerns was that among the university and graduate school students coming to church these days, it is increasingly difficult to find those who have a good influence as senior believers or leaders. Perhaps due to the nature of the ministry where people leave after graduation, their concern is that more and more students attend church but only show up physically. Sometimes, they say we must become a 'ministry that pours out everything' or a 'giving tree.' If we followed principles of efficiency, selection, and concentration, it would be much easier to separate the wheat from the tares. But the Lord says, 'Let them be,' 'Let both grow together.' The words 'let it be' might be uncomfortable for the wheat. Living together with tares can seem unnecessary, and it might feel like good nutrients and grace are being stolen. The grace that the tares enjoy might feel uncomfortably like grace received undeservedly. But the Lord tells us to leave them alone. He tells us to let them grow together. This is not because the Lord lacks decisiveness or is indecisive. The Lord's character is love and mercy. The Lord accepts us. He is patient with us. He is gracious and slow to anger. He is a God abounding in lovingkindness. He is the Father who, like a farmer waiting for the harvest, does not act impatiently but waits for sinners to return. Before the kingdom of God is fully completed, He permits the wheat and the tares to grow mixed together. But this is the Lord's mercy, determined to protect the wheat until the end and to save more lives.

2. How to Live as Wheat

There is a way to live as wheat, and a way to live as tares. Those who desire to be wheat must become good seed, growing and bearing fruit as wheat in the kingdom of God. There are several things to resolve here. First, it is to live always remembering that we are the ‘sons of the kingdom’ and ‘daughters of the kingdom’ who belong to the kingdom of God. (13:38) We must know that the ‘blessed man’ spoken of in Psalm 1 is us, and walk in the path of the righteous.

With the identity of faith, we must become good seed within the Word, bearing the fruit of faith, righteousness, and love. Furthermore, we should not expect special treatment or rewards in this world just because we are wheat. Even if such things are not given on this earth, we must not be disappointed. We must not blame others or become entangled only in conflicts and problems. There is no need to feel hurt by comparing ourselves to the tares or other wheat. There is also no need to regret the past. We must simply become good seeds in our given place, silently growing and maturing. Even if there are no rewards or praise like "Well done" along the way, we must continue on that path. This is because we will receive everything later.

The Lord knows, but we do not. We do not know who is wheat and who is a tare, because they coexist and grow together. However, at the harvest time, they will be finally separated. The tares, thinking they were also wheat, will be revealed as tares. They will be gathered first, bound in bundles to be burned, and ultimately face judgment. But the wheat will be separated from the tares at the harvest and will enjoy glory, shining like the sun in the kingdom of God. The reason the Lord gave this parable is to teach how important it is to keep true faith in a world where good and evil coexist.

Conclusion

The true path of a saint is not the path of tares, but living as wheat. God, who says, "Let them be," "Let both grow together until the harvest," and "Gather the wheat into my barn," is neither unfair nor indifferent. Rather, the Lord is faithful. Therefore, we can be thankful and enjoy the Lord's deep grace and mercy. What must we do to live as wheat? It is to practice in small things. It is to live confessing gratitude and grace through the works God does. It is to live a life that moves from complaint and dissatisfaction to a place of gratitude and grace. Instead of comparing and feeling hurt, it is to benefit others through silent service in our own place. This is the life that bears fruit: the fruit of words, the fruit of actions, and the fruit of faith. Let us become people who bear the fruit of the Spirit, living as those who shine like the sun in the kingdom of God.