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Christ’s Object Lessons
Christ’s servants are grieved as they see true and false believers
mingled in the church. They long to do something to cleanse the
church. Like the servants of the householder, they are ready to uproot
the tares. But Christ says to them, “Nay; lest while ye gather up the
tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. Let both grow together
until the harvest.”
Christ has plainly taught that those who persist in open sin must
be separated from the church, but He has not committed to us the
work of judging character and motive. He knows our nature too well
to entrust this work to us. Should we try to uproot from the church
those whom we suppose to be spurious Christians, we should be sure
to make mistakes. Often we regard as hopeless subjects the very ones
whom Christ is drawing to Himself. Were we to deal with these souls
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according to our imperfect judgment, it would perhaps extinguish their
last hope. Many who think themselves Christians will at last be found
wanting. Many will be in heaven who their neighbors supposed would
never enter there. Man judges from appearance, but God judges the
heart. The tares and the wheat are to grow together until the harvest;
and the harvest is the end of probationary time.
There is in the Saviour’s words another lesson, a lesson of wonder-
ful forbearance and tender love. As the tares have their roots closely
intertwined with those of the good grain, so false brethren in the church
may be closely linked with true disciples. The real character of these
pretended believers is not fully manifested. Were they to be separated
from the church, others might be caused to stumble, who but for this
would have remained steadfast.
The teaching of this parable is illustrated in God’s own dealing
with men and angels. Satan is a deceiver. When he sinned in heaven,
even the loyal angels did not fully discern his character. This was
why God did not at once destroy Satan. Had He done so, the holy
angels would not have perceived the justice and love of God. A doubt
of God’s goodness would have been as evil seed that would yield the
bitter fruit of sin and woe. Therefore the author of evil was spared,
fully to develop his character. Through long ages God has borne the
anguish of beholding the work of evil, He has given the infinite Gift of
Calvary, rather than leave any to be deceived by the misrepresentations
of the wicked one; for the tares could not be plucked up without danger