Matthew 13:37-39 - Separated At Harvest

Step 1: Pray. Select.

Today, as I entered my prayer time, the parable of the wheat and tare came to mind. I felt called to examine the difference between wheat and tare and the relationship between the two.

As I read through Matthew 13, I pondered the explanation of the wheat and tare Jesus gave to his disciples in private once the crowds left. In this exchange, Matthew 13: 37-39 stood out amongst the rest of the text.

Let's begin, friends!

Step 2: Write. Read. Circle

After reading the scripture three times, the following words stood out amongst the others:

Matthew 13:37-39 -  He answered and said to them: “He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one. The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels.

Step 3: Re-Write

With a focus on the words I circled that stood out, here is the personalized sentence that came alive in my heart.

• Jennifer, He who sows is the son, the field is the kingdom, the harvest, and the reapers are the angels.

If you are doing this alongside me today, make sure you add your name in front of your unique sentence so the Lord can speak directly to you.

Step 4: Visualize

As I meditate on the words the Holy Spirit has gifted me today, I see the verse differently than before. I realize that when we were planted on this Earth, amongst the tare, there was so much purpose in that alone. I never really viewed us as the seed before reading this today, even though I have read this verse in the past.

The question I have is when the seeds are bad or, as this verse insinuates, when the tare is planted by the devil, why did God allow it?

As I ask this question, the Holy Spirit tells me it all boils down to free will. There would be no tare if it weren’t for the fall. Once sin entered the world, the tare or bad poisonous seeds could multiply.

I am prompted to research a little more about the tare. I found it is known as the Darnel plant. The most interesting point I found in my study was that it imitates the wheat and has a very short one-year life cycle. It is limited and can only torment the wheat for so long.

This is how I picture us living in the world. Eventually, as we get closer and closer to understanding and studying the ways of Jesus, we begin to separate from the tare, preparing us to be harvested and returned to our Father, to which we rightfully always belonged.

When I sit and think about how our Father provided a way to have eternity and ascend to be with him in Heaven through Jesus, I realize that as I came from tare, and now know I am wheat, worthy of harvest through the love and sacrifice of Jesus, I want to run out and share the good news to other wheat or souls that are maybe living amongst overgrown tare strangling the field.

I have a question for the Holy Spirit, so I move to Step 5.

Step 5: Ask. Seek

The question that came to mind is:

• Holy Spirit, if we separate the wheat from the tare before the harvest, we kill the wheat. Why do you choose to allow the tare or bad thing to happen? Why do you even plant us on Earth at all? Why can’t we just have stayed with you in Heaven?

Step 6: Hear. Write. Receive

Here is the answer I received:

“You have been asking this question your whole life - Why do you have to separate from your Father at all? You may never understand His ways fully, but since you are seeking, the answer is you don’t and never have to be apart from Him. It is your choice. After the fall, there are and continue to be so many born in sin who may never have a chance to know me since they may not be in a place that teaches about me and the ways of my son. This is where discipleship comes in. Notice that the tare attaches to the wheat. This is the job of the seed that bears fruit. It is to go out and let other seeds know there is a way through Jesus. To show those being strangled that since you are attached to Jesus, he will provide a way to be separated and plucked out, fulfilling God’s promises to bless, anoint you, and keep you safe. It is the message to those being strangled by the tare that there is a way to eternal life. Not a life of poison to kill you and keep you in bondage. Jesus came and was the example of His expectations and was the wheat for you. At one point, when you were lost in sin, or even now when you sin daily, you must understand and acknowledge He is the way, the truth, and the light. He is your harvester to get you into eternity. His pure ways are the ways to show you how to separate from the tare while still in the ground. You are then commanded to let your brothers and sisters know the good news through spreading His word and being an example of what it looks like to go from a seed to spouted golden wheat at harvest time. This is a heavy burden, but that is precisely why Jesus is carrying the yolk alongside you and saving you over and over every day. Give thanks to Jesus, praise him for His suffering on your behalf, and know he is with you and is the staple or guarantee of your Father’s promise to bring you home where you belong for others to see.”

Step 7: Pray. Confirm

I pray as I journey on this path and seek more and more from the LORD that he continually protects me from the strangulation of the tare. I thank you, LORD, for planting me in a safe place to know you and for rescuing me from my enemy. I pray to never get ahead of you and always seek more of you since your knowledge is infinite, and you know what is best for my purpose in serving you in this life.

In Jesus' holy name, I seal this prayer with the blood of Jesus - Amen!

If you used the scripture of the day and need prayer or someone to pray with you, connect Here. Remember, you are not alone.

Step 8: Share. Testify

If you used the 8-Step Prayer Practice today, we want to see how God is working in your life! You can comment below or share your miracle or testimony HERE.

Conclusion:

Friends, the good news of being planted and saved by the Son of God is enough for me today!

I am so grateful that God showed me he didn’t just drop me off and leave me on Earth to fight my enemies. He is with me and has prepared me through my relationship with Jesus to be plucked out and separated from anything that is not planted by Him over my life.

Today, I just want to glorify Jesus for being my example of perfect wheat, so when I may have had tare attached through fleshy things or the things of this world, he made way for me to be born again and planted in the kingdom to be harvested by my Father in due time.

God bless you all today! See you soon.