Can tares become wheat?

[Teacup]

I thought with all the threads about free will vs. God's election this might help us study together. I don't know the answer fully, so my motive is not to prove all you free will guys wrong:hug

I do see a principle in scripture that may carry over to this question, but I'm not sure: Reap what you sow. You plant an apple seed, you get an apple tree....you plant corn, you get corn, ect...

Maybe we can start be looking at the examples where tares are being discussed in the Bible? I'll start with some verses from a parable. I hope we can look at this together with an open spirit to find the truth. We are brothers and sisters in Christ our Lord, so remember to show love and patience with each other, me included....I'm very aware that I know mostly nothing, especially when I think I know something!

24 ¶ Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:
25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.
26 But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.
27 So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?
28 He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?
29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.
30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.
(New Testament Matthew 13:24 - 30)

[Ladybug]

I suppose you're asking if a person is a 'tare', can God transform them to 'wheat'? :scratch I would have to say yes, because God is in the business of working miracles on hearts, even people we humans have given up on.

[Galoutofdixie]

I see this as a parable of the Body of Christ. I think it speaks about rooting out tares within the Church. I think Christ is saying not to do that, because in doing so it will cause some of the New Christians, (new wheat) to be damaged.

I've seen this happen in Church before. Someone decides that someone is not a believer, so they try and get them out of the Church, sometimes causing much division among the believers. In doing so, many new baby christians, whose roots are not yet stong and established end up being hurt by the discord. You end up by pulling up the good along with the bad. It's better to let Christ do the judging at the harvest. This is just my opinion, and I may be totally off base. :idunno

As far as someone falling away... yes, I think the Lord can bring them back into the fold, as told in the parable of the Good Sheppard.:nod Thank goodness, because the Lord had to come looking for me after I strayed. :)

[Saved by Grace_06]

A tare cant become a wheat because goats dont become sheep. Each are what they are from the foundations of the world.

[Teacup]

To the mods: After thinking about this thread and the other related threads, I think maybe its too similar....so you can close this one if you want to..anyway only the Lord can convince any of us of anything.

ysic, DLee

[Ladybug]

Hmmm....I don't see any problem with it (I might have missed the other aforementioned threads, though :lol2). We can keep it open until fighting starts, if you like. Then you can report it. :) Or we can go ahead and close it.

[Teacup]

We can keep it open until fighting starts, if you like.:lol2

[CelticMist]

We all were tares at one point in our lives... so therefore the answer is yes a "tare" can become a "wheat".

[larry_boy_44]

I don't think this parable works if you look at it as tares become wheat and wheat becomes tares (since that isn't possible)...

I think its point is that we can't tell the difference, and that in the end God will know the difference...

[RefinedbyFire]

This is a good question. Looking more into that "Wheat & Tares" parable, and Jesus's explanation of that parable, through study in the Bible, and online, I see it this way:

1) The field is the world. People in the world are "wheat" (good trees) or "tares" (bad trees) spiritually. The church exists in the world, and holds both "wheat" and "tares" in the pews. The "wheat" are Christ's chosen, the "tares" are of the devil. In church, they can be extremely hard to tell apart.

2) When Christ transforms a person, we all know that they go from a "bad tree" to a "good tree", from a "tare" to "wheat." We can see that with Paul. Thus, since we are all born sinful at birth (Psalm 51), I believe we all start sprouting up a "tare" or "bad tree" from birth, and if chosen by Christ in His grace & mercy, we miracously become "wheat" or a "good tree."

3) From a Christian's limited view, we can't tell if a "tare" will become "wheat." That is why we share the Gospel, love and pray for people. And, in church, we don't want to uproot baby "wheat" by trying to get rid of the "tares." And, I don't believe if somebody is truly saved as "wheat", they can become a "tare." As Christ sanctifies them, and changes that imperfect person, they might still display "tare" traits a bit (i.e. authentic Christian couples that occasionally bicker & fight behind closed doors), but that doesn't mean they aren't ultimately "wheat."

4) As a Christian, I can't imagine saying to somebody within the church who has repented of their sin: "Sorry...you're always going to be a tare. You have no chance to become wheat. You're heading for the fiery furnace!" Ya know? (What about the "Lost Sheep" parable? What about 'Jezebel' in the church in Revelation? What about the immoral brother that was expelled from the church? Doesn't the Scripture show to hand him over to satan, so he is filled wih anguish, his flesh is destroyed, and he repents and is saved? Did he not look like a "tare" in a period in his life?)

By balancing all of Scripture, I don't see how anybody who is aware of this trembling parable, and calls out to the Lord with a true heart to save them from being a "tare" or a "bad tree" is going to be left a "tare" or "bad tree" to be burned. Look at the theif on the cross...

5) The enemy can sow "tares" within the "wheat" (in the church). I'm sure the enemy can use the watered-down gospel, Christian events that are compromising with the world, and unregenerate people who claim they are Christians to plant "tares" within the "wheat." It is really serious...

6) I think the "Wheat & Tares" parable (and "Good/Bad Fish" parable) is effective to cause the Christian to always examine themselves daily, and make their election sure. The emphasis seems to be on the harvest at the end of the age, when the sickles hit the field. At that point, people are either going to be harvested as the unregenerate "tare" (or bad tree) they were since birth, or they are going to harvested as a "new creation" in Christ: "wheat" (a good tree).

"I'm very aware that I know mostly nothing, especially when I think I know something!"

I have to learn to keep that at the forefront of my mind, too. One of my personal weaknesses is that I desire, and am challenged by, in-depth discussion, and I can tend to get tunnel-focused on making my point, feel like I know something, and have something important to share, and start to sound too strong and dogmatic on a point (even with my own parents). I have to remember to be slow to speak, and quick to listen, or sin will be present. Proverbs 10:19