Matthew 13:28

An enemy hath done this.

The enemy has already been identified as the devil. He began the tare sowing in Eden, sowed seeds in the hearts of Adam and Eve that led them astray, and has continued his quiet, active sowing of tares in the field ever since. Whence came the tares? Whence came evil? Christ answers that they came from the devil. Man was made. free agent, with the power to choose the right or the wrong, and the devil led him to choose the wrong. Whence came the devil? He is. fallen angel; an angel that was created upright, but in the exercise of free choice, chose to rebel against God. See Jude, verse 6.

Wilt thou that we go and gather them up?

It has been assumed by one class of interpreters that this, in its application, is. question whether discipline shall be administered upon recreant church members. If the field in which the tares are growing with the wheat is "the world," then it refers to some thing quite different. To comprehend the idea we must consider the views held by the Jews, and even by the disciples, concerning the kingdom. The Jews sought to exterminate the Canaanites, and even as good. man as David prayed for the utter destruction of those who did not worship Jehovah. It was the general expectation that when Christ came his kingdom would cast out and destroy all who did not bow to his authority. Hence the apostles asked the Lord to send fire upon the Samaritan village, and all expected his kingdom would wage conquering and exterminating war of the sword on evil doers. It was needful that Christ's disciples should be taught otherwise, and it has been hard for them to learn the lesson. Romanists and even Protestants have persecuted unto death all whom they regarded tares, and myriads were slain, in his name, by those who believed themselves the servants of Christ. They could not understand how, if Christ is the rightful Lord of the earth, rebels to his authority should be allowed to live in disobedience to his will.