Menno Simons and Martin Luther discussed "the tares among the grain" in an
interesting exchange of letters. Luther, like Augustine, held that the field
referred to the church; Simons held that it referred to the world, or
society at large. This difference interpretation led to the state church
under Luther and the believer's church under Simons. So I find it amusing,
as a Mennonite, that I'm sending this email to a Lutheran on the same
parable, 450+ years later!
"The tares among the grain" is sandwiched between "the parable of the sower"
and "the parable of the mustard seed", which is followed by "the parable of
the leaven". These other parables talk about reaching out to others who are
not believers. Also, at the time Jesus spoke the parable, there was no church.
Jonathan
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Jonathan Robie jwrobie@mindspring.com http://www.mindspring.com/~jwrobie
POET Software, 3207 Gibson Road, Durham, N.C., 27703 http://www.poet.com
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