Matthew 13:26 But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared.
There is a deeper layer in this parable that moves beyond simply identifying the difference between wheat and tares. Yeshua (Jesus) is not only revealing that the tare looks like wheat — He is warning that what it produces has the power to affect those who partake of it. The issue is not just imitation; it is ingestion. It is not only what is growing in the field, but what is being received into the heart.
In the natural world, darnel — the tare — was dangerous not merely because it resembled wheat, but because of what happened when it was harvested and consumed. Its seeds were often infected with a toxic fungus, and when mixed with real grain and ground into flour, it could cause dizziness, disorientation, and even a loss of mental clarity. In some cases, it produced effects similar to intoxication. What appeared harmless in the field became harmful in the body. This is the sobering picture Yeshua is painting.
The danger, then, is not always immediately visible. A tare can grow unnoticed for a season, but its true nature is revealed through its effect. In the same way, there are influences, teachings, and voices that may appear sound on the surface, yet when received, they do not produce life. Instead, they introduce confusion, weaken conviction, and subtly distort truth. The question is not only what something looks like, but what it imparts when embraced.
This is where discernment becomes deeply personal. The parable is not just about identifying what is false in the field — it is about guarding what is allowed into our own lives. Because deception is not merely something to observe from a distance, it is something that can be absorbed if we are not watchful. What we consistently take in will shape our thinking, influence our convictions, and ultimately affect how clearly we see.
In this hour, the field is full, and the voices are many. Access to teaching, influence, and information is constant. But not everything that is available is life-giving. Some things carry mixture. Some things carry subtle distortion. And, like the tare, their effects are often gradual. They do not immediately destroy; they slowly dull spiritual sensitivity, weaken discernment, and make compromise feel acceptable.
Yeshua’s warning, then, is not only about recognizing deception — it is about refusing to consume it. Discernment requires more than observation; it requires intentionality. It calls us to test what we hear, to weigh what we receive, and to remain anchored in what is true. Because what we feed on will determine what we become. If we feed on truth, we grow in clarity. If we feed on mixture, we begin to tolerate compromise. And if we feed on deception, even in subtle ways, it will affect our ability to discern.
This is why the battle in this parable is not just in the field — it is in the heart. The Lord is calling His people to maturity, to move beyond passive reception into active discernment. To no longer accept something simply because it is presented, but to examine its source, its substance, and its fruit.
This is a call to guard your spiritual appetite. Not everything that appears acceptable is beneficial, and not everything that resembles truth carries life. The Spirit of God is leading His people into a place of clarity — where we are no longer easily swayed, but firmly rooted in truth.
Do not feed on what dulls your spirit or weakens your conviction. Instead, return again and again to what is pure, what is true, and what produces life. Because in this hour, what you receive will determine how clearly you see. Those who guard their hearts and remain anchored in truth will not be overcome by deception. They will walk in clarity, stand in strength, and be prepared for what is ahead. This is the hour to be watchful, to be discerning, and to be rooted deeply in truth. For the difference between wheat and tares is no longer hidden — and those who are awake will not be deceived.
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[worthy_plugins_devotion_single_body]While Chanukah is not a Biblical feast mentioned in the Old Testament, it is an important one. Chanukah commemorates the story of small group of men with much courage — enough courage to defeat even the greatest of the world’s empires.
As we mentioned a couple of days ago, Chanukah commemorates of the desecration of the holy temple of old, (just another attempt of the enemy to wipe out the Jewish people and the things of God), God’s great grace and the rededication of the temple to Him.
As the world celebrates the end of 2024 and enters into 2025 tonight, it looks toward the conclusion of yet another year. However, God has not been working on his plan according to the Gregorian calendar- rather, according to His own calendar. For example, when Yeshua (Jesus) was crucified and became the Lamb of God slain for the world, it was on the Biblical feast of Passover (Pesach in Hebrew). When He rose again from the dead, His resurrection was on the feast of first fruits. Fifty days later, the Holy Spirit was poured out during the Hebrew Feast of Shavuot or better known as Pentecost. This marked the beginning of the harvest season, and we’ve been in the midst of the great harvest for the past 2000 years. The fall feasts have yet to be fulfilled prophetically, however we as believers are groaning for the world’s redemption!
This parable in Matthew 25 is a warning to the entire body — be ready with your oil! Each of these virgins was anticipating the Lord’s return; none were atheists, or non-believers. They were all virgins who claimed to be awaiting the Bridegroom’s arrival. But notice carefully that only half of them were truly ready.
In the year 1920, young Oswald Smith stood before the examining board for the selection of missionaries. He had wanted to be a missionary for as long as he could remember, and for all that time had been crying out to God that He might open a door for him to do so. Finally, his time had come. There he stood awaiting his destiny. His long-awaited was about to come…”No.”
When God called Gideon to lead Israel against their enemies, He wanted to show that a small army empowered by God was more effective than the largest armies. But notice how they fought – without weapons that an army would normally use. They fought with shofars and lamps! They fought with weapons that the world would consider ineffective, yet triumphed mightily over their enemies. They shouted as loud as they could, sounded the shofar, and broke the vessels that held the fire so that their lamps burst through with brightness.
Let me tell you a funny little story. An old mountaineer and his wife were sitting by the fireplace one evening, passing the time in silence. After a while, the wife broke the stillness and said, “Jed, I think it’s raining. Go outside and check, will ya?”