1. The kingdom of heaven is compared to a man who did what?

2. What happened while he was asleep?

3. What is the significance of scattering the seeds of tares among the seeds of wheat?

4. When did it become evident that the tares were growing among the wheat?

5. What did the slaves ask the owner?

6. What was the owner's response?

7. What solution did the slaves suggest?

8. Why did the owner reject their solution?

9. What was the owner's solution?

10. Who do you think the owner represents? the slaves?

11. In our perception, who would be the tares within the kingdom?

12. When we see "tares," what course of action do we want to take?

13. What do you think Jesus would recommend that we do?

Things to note in regard to the kingdom:

1. When God plants, Satan plants. In the "early growing stages" it is extremely difficult to distinguish between the plants God planted and the plants Satan planted.

2. Satan does this as the act of an enemy. It is deliberately intended to cause harm.

3. Servants of Christ are confused by the evil growing beside the good.

4. Servants of Christ want to correct the situation immediately.

5. Correcting real problems at the wrong time will be destructive to God's purposes and His concern for those who belong to Him.

6. God will address the situation at the right time; Satan will not succeed.

7. It is possible for servants of Christ to do more damage than Satan does by addressing real situations and problems in ways that destroy God's work.

8. Note the contrast in the parable of the sower and this parable. In the parable of the sower, some seed fell in the wrong places. In this parable, Satan deliberately planted "evil seed" in previously sown, productive ground. Some hearts are controlled by Satan. Others are not. Satan attempts to disrupt those hearts that are not under his control by placing them in close proximity to evil hearts within the same "field." Being a person that has a "good ground" heart does not place that person outside the influence, activity, and assaults of Satan.

Jesus' explanation of the Parable of the Good and Bad Seed:
Matthew 13:37,38

1. The one who sowed the good seed was ________________________.

2. The field is ________________________.

3. The good seed is ________________________.

4. The tares are ________________________.

5. The enemy who sowed the tares is ________________________.

6. The harvest is ________________________.

7. The reapers are ________________________.

8. What will the angels gather out of Jesus' kingdom?

9. What shall happen to the people?

10. What shall happen to the righteous? Where?

Note: This parable does not teach about what will happen to those who belong to the world when the judgment comes. It teaches about what will happen to those who do not belong to Christ in the kingdom when the final judgment comes.

David Chadwell

Jesus' Kingdom Parables Study Guide (part 3)
Wednesday evening Bible class, 10 June - 18 November 1998
West-Ark Church of Christ, Fort Smith, AR

Copyright © 1998
Permission is granted to freely copy and distribute with text unchanged, including author's name.

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