Trascrizione completa di 176: The Enemy Strikes Back (Walking with Jesus Series, #038: Matt. 13:24-30, 36-43)

will rule over heaven and earth, along with his chosen co-regents and bride. 00:05:32.160 --> 00:05:38.160 Now again, I've said this many times, but it's important to keep saying it so that we keep it reinforced in our minds. 00:05:38.240 --> 00:05:42.480 And sometimes people didn't get it the first time, so you want them to catch it. 00:05:42.720 --> 00:05:45.519 So I repeat things sometimes on purpose. 00:05:45.759 --> 00:05:59.279 While national Israel had already been promised rule over the Gentile nations in the coming earthly messianic kingdom, what Jesus is offering is something new in addition to that. 00:05:59.759 --> 00:06:08.160 He would offer them inclusion in his heavenly kingdom, New Jerusalem, to co-rule with him. 00:06:08.399 --> 00:06:10.879 But Jesus taught that it's not automatic. 00:06:11.120 --> 00:06:15.759 You can't just say, because I'm Abraham's descendant, I'll be there. 00:06:15.920 --> 00:06:17.680 No, Jesus said it's not automatic. 00:06:17.759 --> 00:06:21.279 Those who co-rule with Jesus have to qualify. 00:06:21.519 --> 00:06:36.480 And the qualifications are indicated all throughout the scriptures, but at least in part, in what Jesus has already said in the Sermon on the Mount, those who live in the manner described in the Sermon on the Mount will inherit the kingdom of the heavens, and that's the good news. 00:06:36.720 --> 00:06:41.759 For example, one of the things he said in the Sermon on the Mount is you're the salt of the earth. 00:06:42.000 --> 00:06:44.560 So live like salt, and you're the light of the world. 00:06:44.720 --> 00:06:46.480 Live like a light in the world. 00:06:46.560 --> 00:06:49.439 And the whole bunch of other things, the Beatitudes and so on. 00:06:49.759 --> 00:06:51.439 Are you living like that? 00:06:51.839 --> 00:06:57.600 Those are some of the qualifications for inheriting the heavenly realm of the kingdom. 00:06:57.839 --> 00:07:02.639 And we know all other believers will be relegated to the darkness outside. 00:07:02.800 --> 00:07:06.160 If they're found unfaithful, they'll be in the earthly realm of the kingdom. 00:07:06.240 --> 00:07:07.199 That's the bad news. 00:07:07.279 --> 00:07:09.600 So there's good news and bad news in the gospel. 00:07:10.160 --> 00:07:15.120 And this is the gospel of the kingdom, otherwise known as the word of the kingdom. 00:07:15.279 --> 00:07:19.439 And it has nothing to do with salvation in the initial sense of regeneration. 00:07:19.600 --> 00:07:21.519 That's the gospel of the grace of God. 00:07:21.759 --> 00:07:35.279 And so in this context, the word, Greek word logos, something that's said about something, the word of the kingdom is teaching about the kingdom of the heavens, kingdom inheritance. 00:07:35.360 --> 00:07:40.560 And that's made clear in Matthew 13, 19, which we covered last week. 00:07:40.800 --> 00:07:43.439 But it says, therefore, here the parable of the sower. 00:07:55.920 --> 00:08:01.360 So Jesus clearly defines the word as teaching about kingdom inheritance. 00:08:01.519 --> 00:08:09.680 Alright, I hope that review has helped to set us in order for today's unveiling of the next parable. 00:08:09.839 --> 00:08:16.160 But before we get there, I want to go back to Luke 8.12 and look at these key words that are used. 00:08:16.879 --> 00:08:20.319 We've looked at the first word, which is word. 00:08:26.879 --> 00:08:29.120 Now what about this word believe? 00:08:29.279 --> 00:08:35.600 Those who believe the word of the kingdom are those who bring forth the fruits of repentance. 00:08:35.840 --> 00:08:37.200 Luke 8, 15. 00:08:37.360 --> 00:08:45.919 But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who having heard the word with a noble and good heart keep it and bear fruit with patience. 00:08:46.159 --> 00:08:55.840 Now there's something that's transparent to us in the Greek grammar that helps us to understand this more fully, so I need to draw it out today. 00:08:56.080 --> 00:09:02.639 If we go back to our verse in Luke 8, 12, the last phrase says, lest they should believe and be saved. 00:09:02.720 --> 00:09:06.000 Now the word believe is not merely a verb, it's a participle. 00:09:06.159 --> 00:09:13.519 And Jung's literal translation provides a literal translation of this phrase. 00:09:13.919 --> 00:09:19.759 It should read like this, lest having believed they may be saved. 00:09:21.039 --> 00:09:30.320 Based on this wording, we know that Luke is not talking about initial salvation, regeneration, you know, what happened years ago when you believed on Jesus and you got eternal life. 00:09:30.480 --> 00:09:32.000 He's not talking about that. 00:09:32.320 --> 00:09:39.200 When a person believes on Jesus, they're instantly saved and instantly regenerated, and that's past tense. 00:09:39.360 --> 00:09:43.519 But the literal reading of this verse is saying something quite different. 00:09:43.919 --> 00:09:56.480 This is saying that having believed the gospel of the kingdom, the message, the offer that's before them right now by Jesus and John, the person then has the opportunity to be saved. 00:09:57.440 --> 00:09:58.799 Future tense. 00:09:59.440 --> 00:10:03.519 So he's not talking about past tense salvation when you believed you got eternal life. 00:10:03.759 --> 00:10:13.519 It's talking about this offer that Jesus was making to the Jews of his day, now to us, and the opportunity to be saved. 00:10:13.679 --> 00:10:21.360 And by the way, the word saved is in the subjunctive mood in the Greek, which simply means it's the mood of potentiality. 00:10:21.600 --> 00:10:24.159 It might happen, but it might not. 00:10:24.799 --> 00:10:30.240 Because the person might not believe this particular message of kingdom inheritance. 00:10:30.399 --> 00:10:33.039 If they do, they'll qualify and inherit. 00:10:33.120 --> 00:10:34.240 If they don't, they won't. 00:10:34.399 --> 00:10:46.480 So the word save, then, in this context, important to keep it in context, is not about the

salvation of one's spirit instantaneously when they believe on Jesus for eternal life or age-during life. 00:10:46.720 --> 00:10:55.440 It's about salvation of the soul, which is sanctification, which is a process that ultimately results in reward at the judgment seat of Christ. 00:10:56.000 --> 00:10:59.759 Do you see how important it is to look at verses in their context? 00:11:00.080 --> 00:11:03.840 So they need to believe the word and be saved. 00:11:04.240 --> 00:11:04.960 What word? 00:11:05.440 --> 00:11:10.000 The word of the kingdom, the offer of inheritance in that kingdom. 00:11:10.159 --> 00:11:11.840 They need to believe it. 00:11:12.480 --> 00:11:19.039 But having believed it, then they could be saved if they believe it. 00:11:19.279 --> 00:11:30.720 So if they don't believe this message, they're not going to be saved or delivered from the judgment that's coming or judgment seat of Christ, the verdict that we're going to face. 00:11:31.519 --> 00:11:43.519 Satan does not want those who are already saved in their spirit to hear the word of the kingdom, believe it, and go forward in progressive sanctification so that their soul becomes saved and they're ready to hear well done at the Bima. 00:11:43.919 --> 00:11:47.600 That's why this is such a big deal, that we interpret it correctly. 00:11:47.759 --> 00:11:52.080 And that's the idea of this verse, given the historical grammatical context. 00:11:52.240 --> 00:11:53.519 Now let's develop this further. 00:11:53.759 --> 00:11:56.240 Mark 1, 14 and 15. 00:11:56.559 --> 00:12:03.679 Jesus came to Galilee preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God and saying, Repent and believe in the gospel. 00:12:04.240 --> 00:12:14.159 Well, the mistake of modern Christianity is to make assumptions about the meanings of these words out of their context and then to superimpose assumptions onto this text. 00:12:14.320 --> 00:12:16.960 And frankly, that just results in misinterpretation. 00:12:17.200 --> 00:12:18.559 Happens all the time. 00:12:18.879 --> 00:12:23.360 Believing the gospel of the kingdom is not the same as believing the gospel of grace. 00:12:24.639 --> 00:12:29.039 Luke 8, 12 says that those who believe the gospel of the kingdom will be saved. 00:12:29.120 --> 00:12:34.960 In the context, this means they will be delivered from temporal judgment, destruction in AD 70. 00:12:35.360 --> 00:12:39.759 For Christians, as I said, it means we'll be delivered from negative reward at the judgment seat. 00:12:39.840 --> 00:12:41.600 It's so important to get this right. 00:12:41.840 --> 00:12:49.440 Satan's objective, then, as Luke 8, verse 12 makes clear, is to keep us as believers from understanding this message. 00:12:49.679 --> 00:12:52.320 The word of the kingdom, he wants to muddy the waters. 00:12:53.279 --> 00:12:55.039 Because we want to qualify. 00:12:55.279 --> 00:12:56.960 We want to hear well done. 00:12:57.360 --> 00:13:04.320 And Satan does not want believers to be rewarded at the judgment seat as sons to glory to co-rule with Christ in the next stage. 00:13:04.399 --> 00:13:11.840 And so his primary mission right now is keeping us as believers from hearing and believing this message, the word of the kingdom. 00:13:12.159 --> 00:13:21.360 What happens when believers do hear the message and believe it and are delivered, or on the path to be delivered at the judgment seat? 00:13:21.679 --> 00:13:22.799 What happens? 00:13:23.600 --> 00:13:27.120 Well, Satan resorts to plan B, so to speak. 00:13:27.440 --> 00:13:32.960 His plan A was to snatch the seed that's sown on the wayside. 00:13:34.000 --> 00:13:41.039 So that the person can't let it take root and really understand the message and believe it and be delivered. 00:13:41.279 --> 00:13:41.600 No. 00:13:41.840 --> 00:13:43.519 Satan snatches it away. 00:13:43.679 --> 00:13:46.399 Well, when that fails, then he goes to plan B. 00:13:46.799 --> 00:13:54.399 And that's what we're going to discover this morning in the second parable in the Mysteries of the Kingdom chapter, Matthew chapter 13. 00:13:54.559 --> 00:14:04.080 So let's now go to Matthew 13 and look at the second parable after that lengthy introduction, which I think was important about keeping these verses in their context. 00:14:04.320 --> 00:14:06.080 Let me read the parable again. 00:14:06.240 --> 00:14:09.279 We read it in our scripture reading time a moment ago. 00:14:09.519 --> 00:14:19.120 Matthew 13, 24 through 30, another parable he put forth to them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. 00:14:19.360 --> 00:14:24.720 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. 00:14:24.960 --> 00:14:30.000 But when the grain had sprouted and produced the crop, then the tares also appeared. 00:14:30.240 --> 00:14:35.840 So the servants of the owner came and said to him, Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? 00:14:36.080 --> 00:14:37.919 How then does it have tares? 00:14:38.799 --> 00:14:40.879 He said to them, An enemy has done this. 00:14:41.120 --> 00:14:44.559 The servant said to him, Do you want us to go and gather them up? 00:14:45.120 --> 00:14:50.960 But he said, No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. 00:14:51.360 --> 00:15:04.159 Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, first gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn. 00:15:04.320 --> 00:15:08.399 I have titled today's message The Enemy Strikes Back. 00:15:09.440 --> 00:15:10.799 What are tares? 00:15:11.759 --> 00:15:26.879 According to Easton's dictionary, Bible dictionary, tares are called bearded darnal, a species of ryegrass, the seeds of which are a strong saporific poison. 00:15:27.519 --> 00:15:35.519 It bears the closest resemblance to wheat until the ear appears, and only then the difference is discovered. 00:15:35.759

--> 00:15:39.519 It grows plentifully in Syria and Palestine. 00:15:41.360 --> 00:15:53.840 So in other words, bearded darnol, or tares, as they're called here, is a noxious weed and a toxic plant if the seeds are ingested, both for humans and animals. 00:15:53.919 --> 00:15:55.519 I did a little research on this. 00:15:55.759 --> 00:16:07.200 If a person ingests the heads, you know, the seeds like they would a wheat seed or the wheat heads, it can cause dizziness, nausea, vomiting, paralysis, and even death. 00:16:08.000 --> 00:16:13.360 That's how serious it is to consume the tares, the weeds called bearded darnal. 00:16:13.840 --> 00:16:22.080 They do look very similar, especially while they're growing until the very end, and then when the heads are ripe, you can finally tell the difference. 00:16:22.879 --> 00:16:27.279 Now, are you aware how this parable is typically misinterpreted? 00:16:28.320 --> 00:16:33.039 Many preachers and Bible teachers say that the kingdom of heaven is heaven. 00:16:33.279 --> 00:16:37.840 The good seed, they say, is the gospel of salvation by grace through faith. 00:16:38.159 --> 00:16:43.279 The wheat are true believers, and the tares are unbelievers who profess to be saved. 00:16:43.440 --> 00:16:46.480 They might even be sitting in the pews in church today. 00:16:47.279 --> 00:16:52.879 Those who hold to this position say this is a picture of the kingdom in mystery. 00:16:53.200 --> 00:16:59.759 That is the kingdom's existence in this present age and spiritual form in the hearts of believers. 00:16:59.919 --> 00:17:10.640 In other words, there are both believers and unbelievers in the visible church, but God knows who truly belonged to his kingdom and who doesn't. 00:17:11.279 --> 00:17:20.480 And that's the common interpretation, which I believe is completely wrong and fraught with problems, because it doesn't understand the context of the book of Matthew. 00:17:21.839 --> 00:17:30.960 Matthew 13, 36 through 39, we read on, his disciples came to him saying, Explain to us the parable of the tares of the field. 00:17:31.759 --> 00:17:35.519 He answered and said to them, He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. 00:17:36.880 --> 00:17:46.079 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. 00:17:46.400 --> 00:17:48.319 So what's the correct interpretation? 00:17:48.480 --> 00:17:49.680 Let's work through this. 00:17:50.480 --> 00:17:54.079 Both wheat and tares are believers. 00:17:54.640 --> 00:17:56.160 They're both regenerated. 00:17:56.319 --> 00:17:58.960 There are no unbelievers here in this text. 00:17:59.359 --> 00:18:00.720 How do we know this? 00:18:01.039 --> 00:18:13.440 Well, first, consider that in verses 28 and 29, the servants are told not to gather up the tares before the harvest lest they uproot the wheat also. 00:18:14.079 --> 00:18:19.200 Now, if this is a picture of salvation, then there's a major problem with this view. 00:18:19.440 --> 00:18:27.200 If the wheat are saved and the tares are unsaved, then how could removing the unsaved uproot the saved? 00:18:27.839 --> 00:18:29.200 The saved are secure. 00:18:29.359 --> 00:18:33.839 Nothing can uproot them, no one can pluck them out of my father's hand. 00:18:34.960 --> 00:18:42.240 It goes against the teaching of Scripture that once you're part of God's family, you're always part of God's family. 00:18:42.559 --> 00:18:44.000 You're a child of God. 00:18:44.240 --> 00:18:49.440 Now you may not inherit a place in his heavenly kingdom, but that's a different issue. 00:18:49.599 --> 00:18:52.319 If you're a child of God, you're a basic heir of God. 00:18:52.559 --> 00:18:56.880 You will be in one of the realms of the kingdom. 00:18:57.759 --> 00:19:03.759 So the imagery of uprooting makes no sense if the wheat are believers and the tares are unbelievers. 00:19:04.480 --> 00:19:06.319 Let's ask the question again. 00:19:06.480 --> 00:19:09.920 How do we know that both wheat and tares are believers? 00:19:10.079 --> 00:19:13.119 Number two, by understanding the purpose of the parable. 00:19:13.680 --> 00:19:17.440 He tells us right at the beginning, the kingdom of heaven is like. 00:19:18.000 --> 00:19:22.559 Now we know from past studies that the kingdom of heaven is not referring to heaven. 00:19:23.279 --> 00:19:28.400 It's referring to the heavenly ruling realm of the messianic kingdom. 00:19:28.480 --> 00:19:30.960 As I've already said, even in this message. 00:19:31.279 --> 00:19:39.440 Jesus is describing Satan's opposition to those who have believed the gospel of the kingdom, this new message he's preaching. 00:19:39.599 --> 00:19:41.599 That was a mystery in the Old Testament. 00:19:41.839 --> 00:19:45.039 Those who've believed it and they're progressing in sanctification. 00:19:45.119 --> 00:19:46.880 They're on track to hear, well done. 00:19:47.039 --> 00:19:48.640 And could be several of you in this room. 00:19:48.720 --> 00:19:51.440 I hope all of you who are on that track. 00:19:51.680 --> 00:19:52.559 I hope you stay on it. 00:19:52.720 --> 00:19:56.880 The narrow way that leads to life, not the wide path that leads to destruction. 00:19:57.359 --> 00:19:59.839 Well, Satan's watching all this too. 00:20:00.880 --> 00:20:07.680 I recall to your attention, Matthew 13, 19, when anyone hears the word of the kingdom. 00:20:07.839 --> 00:20:10.799 That's the context of this entire passage. 00:20:11.599 --> 00:20:20.160 And verse 52 indicates every scribe instructed concerning the kingdom of heaven is like, and the verse goes on. 00:20:20.319 --> 00:20:25.519 But the point is, these are the two bookends on Matthew 13, verse 19 and verse 52. 00:20:25.839 --> 00:20:33.039 Jesus is not talking about the gospel of grace by faith, he's talking about the gospel of kingdom inheritance. 00:20:33.200 --> 00:20:34.559 That's the whole text. 00:20:34.880 --> 00:20:36.960 All

these parables in this chapter. 00:20:37.279 --> 00:20:48.000 Incidentally, the word mysteries is used in verse 11, but that word means that which was previously hidden, but is now revealed. 00:20:48.319 --> 00:20:54.640 And so you know these truths were concealed in Old Testament times, but they're now being revealed by Jesus in the New Testament. 00:20:54.960 --> 00:20:58.960 Truths about the heavenly realm of the kingdom, the reward Jesus offers. 00:20:59.200 --> 00:21:01.599 And that's evident in Matthew 13, 24. 00:21:01.680 --> 00:21:05.440 Another parable he put forth to them saying, The kingdom of heaven is like. 00:21:05.599 --> 00:21:16.960 So it's as if to say, here's how the word of the kingdom that is teaching regarding qualifying to rule with Christ in the heavenly realm of his kingdom will fare during the church age. 00:21:17.039 --> 00:21:18.880 That's what this whole chapter is about. 00:21:19.440 --> 00:21:30.160 Seven parables in this chapter about how the kingdom of the heavens message or offer will fare during the church age. 00:21:30.480 --> 00:21:39.359 Thus, the first parable, the four soil types, illustrates four ways that believers will respond to the kingdom message. 00:21:39.680 --> 00:21:49.440 And in this parable, we learn that the kingdom inheritance message will be counterfeited tares alongside the wheat. 00:21:49.920 --> 00:21:53.519 According to verse 37, Jesus himself is the sower. 00:21:54.160 --> 00:21:59.759 Verse 38 says, The field is the world, or we could say the inhabited earth, and then it goes on to say in verse 37. 00:22:00.480 --> 00:22:02.960 The good seeds are the sons of the kingdom. 00:22:03.200 --> 00:22:05.680 Jesus is cultivating sons of the kingdom. 00:22:05.759 --> 00:22:08.559 They're called sons to glory in Hebrews 2.10. 00:22:08.880 --> 00:22:13.599 Those who believe this gospel of the kingdom message, they're preparing for the kingdom reward. 00:22:13.759 --> 00:22:16.400 They are the good seed in this parable. 00:22:16.559 --> 00:22:20.640 They are the good ground responders in the previous parable. 00:22:21.680 --> 00:22:25.839 They are believers who've received the word of the kingdom and they're bearing fruit. 00:22:26.079 --> 00:22:26.400 Okay? 00:22:26.640 --> 00:22:29.039 We understand what the wheat is all about. 00:22:29.920 --> 00:22:32.720 It's not people merely who are saved. 00:22:33.039 --> 00:22:39.440 It's people who are saved and are moving on the path of sanctification and cooperation with God. 00:22:40.079 --> 00:22:45.519 The tares, we're told, verse 38, are the sons of the wicked one. 00:22:47.440 --> 00:22:59.519 Satan strikes back at the good ground responders in the first parable by planting tares, as we saw, noxious weeds that look like wheat and they have toxic seeds. 00:23:00.319 --> 00:23:05.440 These are believers who have identified themselves with the evil one through their lawless behavior. 00:23:05.599 --> 00:23:10.640 And you say, well, believers can't identify with Satan by their behavior. 00:23:10.799 --> 00:23:13.680 Well, didn't Peter do that on the eve of his crucifixion? 00:23:13.920 --> 00:23:15.279 Christ's crucifixion? 00:23:15.599 --> 00:23:20.400 He denied Jesus on the eve of his crucifixion. 00:23:20.559 --> 00:23:20.960 Three times. 00:23:21.039 --> 00:23:22.400 He said, I don't know him. 00:23:22.640 --> 00:23:25.200 And Jesus had told him just before that? 00:23:25.519 --> 00:23:30.400 Satan has desired to have you that he may sift you like wheat. 00:23:30.960 --> 00:23:31.359 Hmm. 00:23:31.519 --> 00:23:33.759 Satan got a hold of Peter that night. 00:23:34.079 --> 00:23:36.319 In fact, it messed Peter up for a while. 00:23:36.480 --> 00:23:39.359 For several days, he wasn't living for the Lord at all. 00:23:39.680 --> 00:23:43.279 You remember what he concluded before Jesus got to him? 00:23:43.519 --> 00:23:45.519 He threw up his hands in frustration. 00:23:45.680 --> 00:23:47.680 He said, I go fishing. 00:23:48.000 --> 00:23:49.839 And he wasn't talking about recreation. 00:23:50.079 --> 00:23:52.319 You know, some of you like to fish, that's great. 00:23:52.559 --> 00:23:54.400 For Peter was an occupation. 00:23:54.640 --> 00:23:58.480 So what he was saying is, I'm quitting being a disciple of Jesus. 00:23:58.640 --> 00:23:59.359 I can't do it. 00:23:59.519 --> 00:24:01.359 I denied him at the cross. 00:24:01.680 --> 00:24:07.200 Satan got a hold of me, and I yielded, and I acted like a son of the evil one. 00:24:07.839 --> 00:24:10.079 And I'm going back to my old occupation. 00:24:10.160 --> 00:24:13.759 I can't succeed at being a disciple of Jesus. 00:24:14.079 --> 00:24:18.799 Jesus turned that all around when he met Peter at the Sea of Galilee. 00:24:20.000 --> 00:24:25.599 And he lovingly asked Peter, he said, Peter, do you love me? 00:24:26.160 --> 00:24:31.680 Ah, the whole episode broke Peter, and he got right with Jesus and got back on track. 00:24:31.759 --> 00:24:34.960 You know, Jesus is out looking for us when we get off track. 00:24:35.599 --> 00:24:40.079 Parable of the lost sheep, the lost coin, the lost son, Luke 15. 00:24:40.799 --> 00:24:49.200 Peter got right with God, and just days later, on the day of Pentecost, preached a message with great power. 00:24:49.440 --> 00:24:52.000 3,000 Jews got right with God that day. 00:24:53.039 --> 00:24:54.480 You've messed up, you say? 00:24:54.880 --> 00:24:56.880 Yeah, well, ask God to forgive you. 00:24:56.960 --> 00:24:57.359 He will. 00:24:57.599 --> 00:25:00.240 If you're serious about it, confess your sins, he'll forgive you. 00:25:00.400 --> 00:25:07.279 He's faithful and just to do so, and cleanse you from all unrighteousness, and you can get right back on track serving the Lord, just as Peter did. 00:25:07.519 --> 00:25:12.079 But you can live as, act as a son of the evil one. 00:25:12.799 --> 00:25:14.640 Yes, you can by your behavior. 00:25:15.359 --> 00:25:19.039 That's how Satan is sowing tares in the

church today. 00:25:19.279 --> 00:25:22.559 Tares are not unbelievers, they're noxious believers. 00:25:22.799 --> 00:25:24.559 But there's a big difference. 00:25:24.880 --> 00:25:26.400 Wheat bears fruit. 00:25:26.720 --> 00:25:28.000 Tares do not. 00:25:28.480 --> 00:25:31.759 The wheat are the sons of the kingdom growing unto maturity. 00:25:31.920 --> 00:25:38.160 The tares are unfruitful believers who are being used of Satan to trip us up and cause us to stumble. 00:25:38.480 --> 00:25:53.200 Whenever a child of God is deceived and being used as a tool of Satan to live lawlessly or to spread error, particularly error about this matter of kingdom inheritance, then that one is functioning as a son of the wicked one. 00:25:53.519 --> 00:25:59.359 You remember on another occasion in Matthew 16, Jesus said to Peter, Get behind me, Satan. 00:25:59.599 --> 00:26:04.400 Yeah, it's possible to live and behave as a son of the devil. 00:26:04.960 --> 00:26:16.559 Jesus said to disobedient believers of his day, you could look at that whole text in John 8, but it climaxes in verse 44, you are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. 00:26:16.799 --> 00:26:19.519 And he said that to Old Testament believers. 00:26:20.480 --> 00:26:24.640 The Israelites were Old Testament believers when Jesus came the first time. 00:26:24.799 --> 00:26:27.279 They weren't right with God, they needed to repent. 00:26:28.079 --> 00:26:44.319 And because they were living wickedly, especially the Pharisees, full of their legalism, but also the sinners in Israel, like Zacchaeus, the tax collector, who was robbing people blind, because of that, Jesus said, You're of your father the devil. 00:26:44.960 --> 00:26:51.440 Satan is desperate to stop children of God from becoming sons of the kingdom, sons to glory. 00:26:52.079 --> 00:26:57.359 His mission is to stop us from progressing to maturity and discipleship. 00:26:57.519 --> 00:26:57.920 How? 00:26:58.079 --> 00:27:09.599 Well, he starts with plan A, snatching away the seed as seen in the parable of the four soils, so that we as believers will not understand the word of the kingdom, the gospel of the kingdom. 00:27:10.000 --> 00:27:20.720 When that fails, he goes to plan B, seeking to stop those who believe the word of the kingdom from progressing in discipleship and going all the way to becoming sons to glory. 00:27:20.880 --> 00:27:30.240 And he does that by planting a counterforce of believers who oppose the kingdom inheritance message, and they tempt others to live lawlessly. 00:27:32.079 --> 00:27:35.759 Now let's get down to the nuts and bolts of this because this is very important. 00:27:35.920 --> 00:27:39.440 How does Satan oppose kingdom inheritance truth? 00:27:39.599 --> 00:27:41.920 Number one, he counterfeits the message. 00:27:42.000 --> 00:27:43.039 How does he do that? 00:27:43.279 --> 00:27:46.000 First, by diluting the doctrine of rewards. 00:27:47.680 --> 00:27:53.119 Convincing believers they have nothing to worry about because, well, you have the imputed righteousness of Christ. 00:27:53.200 --> 00:27:54.960 You're going to stand to inherit everything. 00:27:55.440 --> 00:27:56.160 That's not correct. 00:27:56.240 --> 00:27:57.759 It's not what the scripture teaches. 00:27:59.119 --> 00:28:11.680 They teach that, these teachers of error, who are believers, they teach that because all your sins have been forgiven at Calvary, nothing of a sinful or serious nature will need to be judged at the Bima. 00:28:12.240 --> 00:28:13.599 The judgment seat of Christ. 00:28:13.839 --> 00:28:17.680 That is a reformation doctrine, not a biblical doctrine. 00:28:18.400 --> 00:28:25.519 Furthermore, they tend to describe the judgment seat of Christ like an award ceremony where everyone gets a participation trophy. 00:28:25.839 --> 00:28:27.200 That irks me today. 00:28:28.240 --> 00:28:29.920 Participation trophies. 00:28:30.960 --> 00:28:33.519 Whether the kid really participated or not. 00:28:33.839 --> 00:28:35.759 He was on the team, so he got a trophy. 00:28:36.079 --> 00:28:37.920 Well, that's the way they view the judgment seat. 00:28:38.079 --> 00:28:40.720 You're going to get rewarded just because you're an heir of God. 00:28:41.359 --> 00:28:45.440 And they certainly see nothing negative at all at the beam a seat of Christ. 00:28:45.920 --> 00:28:56.160 Well, this kind of teaching is rife in evangelical Christianity, even amongst dispensationalists who are fundamental believers. 00:28:56.240 --> 00:29:00.880 And it's quite dreadful for it implicitly condones licentious living. 00:29:01.039 --> 00:29:03.119 I say that all the time, but think about it. 00:29:03.359 --> 00:29:11.759 If it really doesn't matter how I live right now because I'm going to get the participation trophy regardless, then who cares how I live now? 00:29:12.319 --> 00:29:15.920 Now they don't put it that way, but that's the logic of it. 00:29:16.720 --> 00:29:27.119 When you think that you're okay because you're a saved child of God and that's all you need, then you're not real concerned about your daily living and qualifying. 00:29:27.359 --> 00:29:28.640 Because everyone qualifies. 00:29:28.799 --> 00:29:30.000 That's the way you think. 00:29:30.480 --> 00:29:33.759 So how does Satan oppose kingdom inheritance truth? 00:29:34.079 --> 00:29:37.440 Counterfeits the message by diluting the doctrine of rewards? 00:29:37.599 --> 00:29:42.960 Secondly, by convincing believers that all will rule and reign with Jesus unconditionally. 00:29:43.440 --> 00:29:44.480 Already spoke to that. 00:29:44.640 --> 00:29:53.119 Number three, by interpreting the parables and other key scripture texts as evangelistic, though they're intended as sanctification passages for believers. 00:29:53.440 --> 00:29:54.319 Think about it. 00:29:54.559 --> 00:30:12.000 If you think these parables are talking about true believers and professing believers who really aren't true

believers, then you're thinking this parable has nothing to do with me, because I'm a true believer, I'm one of the wheat, I sit in church every Sunday, but I'm one of the true blue. 00:30:12.160 --> 00:30:14.079 Then you're thinking you dismiss it. 00:30:14.240 --> 00:30:25.519 The four soil types, if you think the first three are unbelievers and the last one, the good fruit, is a believer, you're thinking I'm the fruit-bearing plant, the good soil, because I'm a believer. 00:30:25.680 --> 00:30:29.039 Then you think that parable has nothing to do with me, I'm already saved. 00:30:29.279 --> 00:30:35.519 And so really they relegate all the parables, well, many of them, to matters of salvation. 00:30:35.680 --> 00:30:39.200 And then you just check out and think, eh, it doesn't apply to me. 00:30:39.440 --> 00:30:40.880 Yes, it does. 00:30:41.200 --> 00:30:43.759 It's been misinterpreted, beware. 00:30:44.400 --> 00:31:06.079 And tragically, those who have been used as tools of Satan to corrupt the kingdom inheritance message tend to preach gospel messages in their church services all the time, and I mean initial salvation by grace through faith to the believers sitting in the pews, and thereby they keep their congregation in spiritual infancy. 00:31:06.559 --> 00:31:14.000 You say, why would they preach salvation messages, you know, regeneration messages, to believers sitting in their pews? 00:31:14.160 --> 00:31:16.960 Because you never know, there might be some tears out there. 00:31:17.440 --> 00:31:18.720 You see the point? 00:31:20.160 --> 00:31:21.839 It affects what we do. 00:31:22.240 --> 00:31:26.799 Second big answer to the question: how does Satan oppose kingdom inheritance truth? 00:31:26.960 --> 00:31:31.680 He derails sons of the kingdom from bearing fruit. 00:31:32.000 --> 00:31:33.039 How does he do that? 00:31:33.200 --> 00:31:36.160 By getting believers focused on fleshly living. 00:31:36.559 --> 00:31:41.200 Satan wants you to cater to your flesh, to live for the here and now, to stumble in sinfulness. 00:31:41.359 --> 00:31:44.079 Hey, do you ever get tempted by Satan? 00:31:44.319 --> 00:31:46.400 Yeah, I think we all do. 00:31:46.960 --> 00:31:50.240 He's working double overtime to cause you to stumble. 00:31:50.960 --> 00:32:01.359 He also does this by getting churches focused exclusively on soul winning, as they call it, but not on preparing sons to glory, which is the high cost of discipleship. 00:32:01.599 --> 00:32:07.279 If they don't believe that you have to qualify for reward at the judgment seat, then they won't teach this. 00:32:07.519 --> 00:32:12.400 And that's what's happening in the overwhelming majority of Christian churches today. 00:32:12.480 --> 00:32:14.400 They're not teaching this doctrine at all. 00:32:14.640 --> 00:32:16.640 The high cost of discipleship. 00:32:16.960 --> 00:32:28.559 I personally do not think Satan is greatly intimidated by the salvation of unbelievers as much as he is, with believers

moving on to maturity. 00:32:28.960 --> 00:32:39.359 If you're on the pathway of maturity, the narrow path that leads to life, Satan is seething and trying to do everything he can to get you off the path. 00:32:40.480 --> 00:32:46.000 The word of the kingdom, what we're talking about today, is a great threat to Satan. 00:32:46.240 --> 00:33:02.480 For those sons to glory that make it all the way through to hearing Well done at the Pima Seat will replace Satan and will replace his hosts and his minions as rulers in the age to come when he's locked up for a thousand years. 00:33:02.720 --> 00:33:04.880 Guess who the new rulers are going to be? 00:33:05.119 --> 00:33:07.279 In the heavens, over the earth. 00:33:07.440 --> 00:33:14.960 Not Satan and his echelon, but the believers that Christ chooses as his faithful bride and co-regents. 00:33:15.440 --> 00:33:17.359 There's a lot at stake in this. 00:33:17.599 --> 00:33:20.559 That's why I'm so animated about it. 00:33:22.319 --> 00:33:32.480 If this is correct, then what does this imply about those church ministries who make as their primary number one objective reaching unbelievers? 00:33:32.799 --> 00:33:34.480 Not important, reach unbelievers. 00:33:34.640 --> 00:33:35.839 Don't misunderstand me. 00:33:36.000 --> 00:33:43.519 But if that's your primary number one objective, then all your energies are going to be channeled into evangelism, not discipleship. 00:33:43.759 --> 00:33:58.240 In fact, I have discovered in my years of life on this earth that many church ministries consider discipleship a booklet that they use in their Sunday school class to train new believers about the basic concepts of the Christian life. 00:33:58.400 --> 00:34:03.599 Things like the importance of baptism and Bible reading and prayer and tithing. 00:34:04.079 --> 00:34:12.239 It's not about the importance of denying yourself and taking up your cross and following Jesus because that'll determine your reward at the judgment seat. 00:34:12.320 --> 00:34:14.880 You never hear that in the discipleship booklets. 00:34:15.119 --> 00:34:18.559 Believe me, I've read through a lot of discipleship booklets. 00:34:18.800 --> 00:34:23.840 And I'm not saying they're bad, they can be helpful, but they're only helpful to a degree. 00:34:24.000 --> 00:34:25.519 They don't go far enough. 00:34:25.920 --> 00:34:38.079 By diluting the doctrine of kingdom inheritance and teaching that all believers are going to rule with Jesus, churches are not fulfilling the ultimate objective that Christ has for his church. 00:34:38.320 --> 00:34:44.960 And you can read that in Ephesians 4, 11 through 13, which is bringing believers all the way through to maturity. 00:34:45.119 --> 00:34:46.639 That's my goal here. 00:34:47.360 --> 00:34:52.320 And so if they're not focused on that, they're missing the great purpose for which we were created. 00:34:52.480 --> 00:34:55.679 The end result, they're not glorifying God, and what a tragedy. 00:34:55.840 --> 00:34:57.920 Well, that's what the taras are all about. 00:34:58.239 --> 00:35:15.280 Satan's tools within Christianity using believers and churches to counterfeit the word of the kingdom teaching, and thereby stopping sons of the kingdom from going all the way to becoming conformed to the image of Christ and becoming fruitbearing. 00:35:15.519 --> 00:35:20.639 Now we come to the important end of the text, which speaks of judgment at the end of the age. 00:35:20.719 --> 00:35:21.920 Look at verse 39. 00:35:22.079 --> 00:35:25.199 The harvest is the end of the age. 00:35:25.599 --> 00:35:33.519 The King James Version confuses this, for it refers to judgment at the end of the world. 00:35:33.920 --> 00:35:35.360 Now I'm going to tell you something. 00:35:35.519 --> 00:35:40.400 There's a big difference between the end of the age and the end of the world. 00:35:41.199 --> 00:35:43.679 Two completely different time frames. 00:35:43.920 --> 00:35:46.239 The end of the age is very near. 00:35:46.800 --> 00:35:49.920 Shortly after the rapture of the church, the tribulation will begin. 00:35:50.000 --> 00:35:56.400 It'll run for seven years, then Jesus will come the second time, and then the end of the age. 00:35:56.559 --> 00:35:57.920 Then we go into a new age. 00:35:58.000 --> 00:35:59.519 It's called the Millennial Age. 00:35:59.760 --> 00:36:06.400 Whereas, if you take the King James translation, which says the end of the world, well, that's not until after the millennium. 00:36:07.440 --> 00:36:11.920 After Satan and his hosts are destroyed, his rebellion is put down. 00:36:12.159 --> 00:36:15.119 Then God creates a new heaven and a new earth. 00:36:15.280 --> 00:36:18.480 That's the end of this present world and the start of a new one. 00:36:18.719 --> 00:36:22.159 Thus, I believe the King James is incorrectly translated. 00:36:22.239 --> 00:36:24.400 It should be translated, end of the age. 00:36:24.559 --> 00:36:25.599 That's what the Greek says. 00:36:25.679 --> 00:36:27.360 Now, something more critical. 00:36:27.679 --> 00:36:32.639 The judgment for both wheat and tares occurs at the same time. 00:36:32.880 --> 00:36:34.880 Did you notice that in the text? 00:36:36.000 --> 00:36:37.920 It occurs at the end of this age. 00:36:38.000 --> 00:36:38.559 That's what it says. 00:36:38.719 --> 00:36:42.000 Verse 40, so shall it be at the end of this age. 00:36:42.480 --> 00:36:46.480 Well, at the end of this age is the judgment seat of Christ for believers. 00:36:46.719 --> 00:36:52.639 However, we know that unbelievers are not going to be judged until after the millennium, a thousand years later. 00:36:53.199 --> 00:36:57.599 Thus, unbelievers are not being judged in this parable. 00:36:57.760 --> 00:37:00.000 They're all believers being judged. 00:37:00.320 --> 00:37:04.079 You have to conclude that if you understand dispensational theology. 00:37:04.960 --> 00:37:06.800 What will happen to the tares? 00:37:07.360 --> 00:37:09.440 Ooh, this doesn't

sound good. 00:37:09.760 --> 00:37:11.840 Look at verses 40 through 42. 00:37:12.079 --> 00:37:17.920 Therefore, as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. 00:37:18.480 --> 00:37:20.320 The end of this age. 00:37:20.639 --> 00:37:34.880 The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire, there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 00:37:35.039 --> 00:37:35.599 Ooh. 00:37:36.239 --> 00:37:38.079 What's this talking about? 00:37:38.480 --> 00:37:47.679 Well, the tares, those used unwittingly by Satan to counterfeit truth, are going to be cast into a furnace of fire, but this is not hell. 00:37:47.920 --> 00:37:50.079 Now I remind you, this is a parable. 00:37:50.559 --> 00:37:54.239 So parabolic language is being used, metaphoric language and so on. 00:37:54.480 --> 00:37:59.440 The furnace of fire is the same imagery we find elsewhere in the scriptures. 00:37:59.679 --> 00:38:01.519 John 15, verse 6. 00:38:01.760 --> 00:38:05.840 If anyone does not abide in me, Jesus is talking to believers. 00:38:06.000 --> 00:38:13.039 In fact, this is when he's in the upper room with his twelve disciples on the eve of his crucifixion. 00:38:13.280 --> 00:38:19.519 And he says, If anyone does not abide in me, continue remaining in me, in fellowship with me. 00:38:19.679 --> 00:38:25.519 He is cast out as a branch and is withered, and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 00:38:26.079 --> 00:38:30.400 But you know, this burning fire language is also used in the judgment seat text. 00:38:30.480 --> 00:38:32.480 1 Corinthians 3 13 and 15. 00:38:32.719 --> 00:38:40.800 Each one's work, talking about believers, each believer's work will become clear, for the day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire. 00:38:41.119 --> 00:38:42.159 What's that? 00:38:42.559 --> 00:38:45.360 The fire will test each one's work of what sort it is. 00:38:45.519 --> 00:38:52.719 If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss, but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. 00:38:53.920 --> 00:39:00.480 Contextually, this is the consuming fire of the judgment seat that will test our works. 00:39:00.960 --> 00:39:03.360 Now, believers are not going to remain in the fire. 00:39:03.519 --> 00:39:09.119 We somehow pass through it, and we don't know all the details, but I wonder, could this be like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego? 00:39:10.000 --> 00:39:13.599 They were in the fire for a time, when they came out, they were unscathed. 00:39:13.840 --> 00:39:18.079 The fire somehow reveals the true nature of our works. 00:39:18.800 --> 00:39:25.440 Works of enduring spiritual quality will survive, all other works will be consumed. 00:39:26.559 --> 00:39:31.599 That's what the judgment seat text says explicitly, 1 Corinthians 3. 00:39:31.760 --> 00:39:35.440 There is fire

and burning at the judgment seat of Christ. 00:39:35.679 --> 00:39:43.199 Now it's not physical bodies burning, it's God's using the fire to test the works. 00:39:44.400 --> 00:39:54.159 Wailing and gnashing of teeth in this text is an oriental idiom for conscious regret for those who receive a negative verdict. 00:39:55.519 --> 00:40:07.920 Those believers who live disobediently in this life, those who reject kingdom inheritance, truth, are tares sowed by Satan in the church to cause the sons of glory to stumble, to become derailed from being rewarded. 00:40:08.159 --> 00:40:11.519 The works of these tares will burn up in the furnace of fire. 00:40:11.679 --> 00:40:15.840 That's a metaphor for judgment seat fire, and they will not be rewarded. 00:40:16.159 --> 00:40:26.320 I think especially of those Christian leaders today who are especially vocal about and criticize kingdom inheritance teaching. 00:40:26.480 --> 00:40:28.159 And believe me, they're out there. 00:40:28.400 --> 00:40:30.800 Now, some people never ever talk about it. 00:40:31.039 --> 00:40:38.880 I think if they live for Jesus, whether they understand the theology or not, if they live for Jesus, they'll be rewarded. 00:40:39.119 --> 00:40:43.440 But there are those who don't understand this and they teach against it. 00:40:43.679 --> 00:40:45.920 I have been taught against specifically. 00:40:46.079 --> 00:40:49.679 On many occasions, and so have many other kingdom inheritance teachers. 00:40:49.840 --> 00:40:55.760 We've been taught against by people who vehemently work against what we're trying to teach. 00:40:55.920 --> 00:40:57.599 Believe me, they're out there, plenty of them. 00:40:57.679 --> 00:40:59.599 I could give you names, but I won't do that. 00:40:59.840 --> 00:41:04.320 They persecute those who teach the word of the kingdom by separating from them. 00:41:04.480 --> 00:41:11.679 They write about them on their blogs, they blacklist them, they kick them off of areas of responsibility and boards and so on. 00:41:11.760 --> 00:41:13.440 They pull back in friendship with them. 00:41:13.599 --> 00:41:15.119 I've lost a lot of friends. 00:41:15.280 --> 00:41:17.840 They won't even talk to me, some of them anymore. 00:41:18.159 --> 00:41:26.800 Ironically, they do so because they're convinced that this system of theology is incorrect and their system of theology is correct. 00:41:27.039 --> 00:41:42.159 But I believe one day they're going to regret having an unteachable spirit and speaking out against this clearly biblical theology, despite being given opportunities to consider truth about the kingdom. 00:41:42.960 --> 00:41:52.000 Matthew 13, 41, the Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness. 00:41:52.239 --> 00:41:55.920 Matthew 7, 23, and then I will declare to them, I never knew you. 00:41:56.079 --> 00:41:58.159 Depart from me, you who practice lawlessness. 00:41:58.320 --> 00:41:59.679 That's referring to believers. 00:41:59.840 --> 00:42:09.920 And when Jesus says, I never knew you, that phrase literally translates, I was never in a proving connection with you, your life, your ministry, the way you lived. 00:42:10.719 --> 00:42:11.679 So depart from me. 00:42:11.840 --> 00:42:13.760 You can't live in New Jerusalem. 00:42:14.400 --> 00:42:16.719 In Matthew 7, he says, depart from me. 00:42:16.880 --> 00:42:19.760 In Matthew 13, he says, cast them into the furnace of fire. 00:42:19.920 --> 00:42:24.000 In Matthew 25, he says, cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. 00:42:24.079 --> 00:42:25.599 That's the darkness outside. 00:42:25.760 --> 00:42:28.639 These are all ways of describing the same thing. 00:42:28.880 --> 00:42:33.920 Believers being disqualified from ruling with Jesus as his bride in the heavenly New Jerusalem. 00:42:34.079 --> 00:42:39.679 And all this is sorted out at the judgment seat where there will be fires and burning. 00:42:39.920 --> 00:42:41.039 God says so. 00:42:41.199 --> 00:42:43.519 Now I don't know all the details of how it works. 00:42:43.760 --> 00:42:45.440 God doesn't tell us that. 00:42:45.760 --> 00:42:49.920 But somehow we're going to pass through some kind of fire. 00:42:50.239 --> 00:42:53.280 I have some theories about it, but I can't be dogmatic about anything. 00:42:53.360 --> 00:42:54.480 We won't go into that today. 00:42:54.639 --> 00:43:00.320 The point being that it'll burn away everything you've done that's useless and bad. 00:43:01.199 --> 00:43:04.880 And all that will survive is the fruit that you bear for Christ. 00:43:06.559 --> 00:43:11.519 In contrast to this awful judgment, what happens to the wheat? 00:43:12.159 --> 00:43:14.719 The fruit bearing, sons of the kingdom? 00:43:14.960 --> 00:43:16.480 Well, they're rewarded. 00:43:16.719 --> 00:43:18.079 I love verse 43. 00:43:18.159 --> 00:43:22.000 Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their father. 00:43:23.280 --> 00:43:25.920 What should be our response to this parable? 00:43:26.559 --> 00:43:28.400 Well, first, take heed. 00:43:28.639 --> 00:43:34.239 Matthew 13, 43, right there in the parable, Jesus says, He who has ears to hear, let him hear. 00:43:34.480 --> 00:43:36.079 In other words, could I put it this way? 00:43:36.320 --> 00:43:40.639 Pay attention! Church members, pay attention. 00:43:40.960 --> 00:43:43.039 Church leaders, pay attention. 00:43:43.199 --> 00:43:44.800 You better teach this right. 00:43:45.199 --> 00:43:46.559 I take this seriously. 00:43:46.719 --> 00:43:50.480 Our second response, leave the tares alone. 00:43:51.360 --> 00:43:54.880 The servant said to him, Do you want us then to go and gather them up? 00:43:55.039 --> 00:43:59.920 But he said, No, lest while you gather up the tares, you also uproot the wheat with them. 00:44:00.159 --> 00:44:03.280 Let both grow together until the harvest. 00:44:05.119 --> 00:44:14.559 So how should we respond to the tares, those who resist kingdom inheritance truth, and perhaps even criticize it and persecute those who hold to it? 00:44:14.719 --> 00:44:17.039 Leave them alone, ignore them. 00:44:17.920 --> 00:44:20.480 It's not your duty to change them. 00:44:21.519 --> 00:44:26.320 You're called to be faithful in your lifestyle and proclaim the truth. 00:44:26.480 --> 00:44:36.800 Beyond that, don't single them out, don't criticize them, don't argue with them, don't write about them on your blog, don't pester them, just leave them in God's hands. 00:44:36.960 --> 00:44:43.280 When I first started understanding Kingdom Inheritance Truth, I argued with a few people on the internet about it. 00:44:44.079 --> 00:44:48.400 And I learned very quickly, that goes nowhere. 00:44:49.280 --> 00:44:52.000 It's just like arguing with Calvinists on the internet. 00:44:52.320 --> 00:44:54.320 It goes absolutely nowhere. 00:44:54.480 --> 00:44:56.000 Don't waste your time. 00:44:56.400 --> 00:44:57.679 Leave them alone. 00:44:57.920 --> 00:44:59.599 Leave them in God's hands. 00:44:59.840 --> 00:45:01.840 He'll deal with them at the judgment seat. 00:45:02.719 --> 00:45:07.360 And then Jesus says, lest you uproot some wheat. 00:45:08.000 --> 00:45:20.800 Now remember, the wheat are those who are on the path of sanctification to becoming rewarded as sons to glory at the judgment seat, but they can become uprooted and stop following the Lord as a disciple. 00:45:21.519 --> 00:45:22.960 And I've thought about that. 00:45:23.119 --> 00:45:32.159 Perhaps one way they can become uprooted is by our refusal to leave alone those who resist the word of the kingdom. 00:45:32.239 --> 00:45:33.280 You say, how so? 00:45:33.440 --> 00:45:52.880 Well, if we get ugly in our back and forth arguments with those who resist this truth, and believe me, that happens out there, weaker sons of the kingdom might get caught in the crossfire and sickened by it and leave off their belief in this truth because of our ugliness. 00:45:53.599 --> 00:45:54.239 Hmm. 00:45:55.199 --> 00:45:57.519 So leave them alone until the day of the harvest. 00:45:57.599 --> 00:45:59.840 Let God deal with it with his angels. 00:46:00.719 --> 00:46:05.199 Folks, the enemy will strike back with a vengeance. 00:46:06.079 --> 00:46:07.760 He's already doing it. 00:46:08.400 --> 00:46:10.960 Don't fall prey to his tactics. 00:46:11.119 --> 00:46:14.480 Listen to this teaching of Jesus from the parables. 00:46:14.719 --> 00:46:16.880 Obey Him, come what may. 00:46:17.280 --> 00:46:22.960 He or she who has ears to hear, let him or her hear. 00:46:23.280 --> 00:46:24.639 Pay attention. 00:46:25.360 --> 00:46:26.000 Let's pray.