In this parable of the tares our Savior reveals a most important truth concerning His church here on earth. He tells us that along with the sincere and pious Christians there will always be found unconverted, godless people. We shall do well to remember this, important fact. It was so from the beginning of days and will remain so to the end of time: Wherever God builds a church, there the devil, as Luther says, is bound to build his chapel also, there impenitent sinners, hypocrites, and false prophets will be found who "steal the livery of heaven to serve the devil in."

Small wonder, then, if we see the same conditions prevailing in the church of our day. We must beware of judging the kingdom of Christ by the false standards which so many apply who expect their church, or congregation, to be composed of none but good and holy people and, when they see the contrary, take offense and forsake the assembly of their fellow Christians. Not the piety and holiness of church members, but only the infallible Word of our Savior can be, and dare be, the hope of our salvation.

Where we see the Word of God taught in its purity and the holy Sacraments administered according to the institution of Christ, there is Christ's true church, to which we must adhere if we would follow the command of Christ. It is not owing to any inefficiency in the Gospel that so many noxious tares are to be found in the church's field nowadays; it is because "men slept" and the devil is working overtime to destroy men's souls, knowing that he has but a short time left.

May God in His mercy help us to be and remain true members of His invisible church by sincere faith in our Lord Jesus Christ! Then, when the tares are gathered and bound into bundles (to be burned), we shall be among the wheat that is gathered into the barn, among the righteous who shall shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of our Father.

[devotion text by Rev. F. W. Herzberger (1920) -
from the Family Altar - CPH (1957 edition)]
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