“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? He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. 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.” (Matthew 13:27-30 KJV)
“[H]is disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field. He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. (Matthew 13:36-40 KJV)
First the reapers/angels cut down the field. Next they separate the tares from the wheat, gather them up, and bind them in bundles to burn. Finally they gather up the wheat and put it in the barn, where at some point it will be winnowed to separate the chaff from it.
According to the parable, the harvest is at the end of the world or Judgment Day. If Jesus planted the good seed or wheat which is a metaphor for the children of the kingdom, and the Devil planted tares, a metaphor for the children of the wicked one, then people are what they are based on who planted them.
If God planted His people in the world, and the Devil planted his people in the world, then people can’t be anything other than what they were put here to be?
So much for free will.
I.M. Kane
THE MILLSTONE DIARIES 