The master of deceit, the devil, attempts the greatest of all imitations, counterfeit Christians. In the process, he fools at least three persons: the one who delivers a false message, the one who believes the false message, and the one whom he fools.

These imitators look like the real thing and fool many. Jesus addressed the problem of counterfeit Christians thousands of years ago. He defined the differences between the false and true Christ-followers in a parable on wheat and weeds (Matthew 13.24-30, 36-43).

Jesus contrasts the results of 2 different sowers. One, the Son of Man (Jesus), sowed good seed, people of His kingdom. The other sower, the devil, sowed tares, weeds, children of the wicked one. Notice Jesus identifies only 2 groups of people: children of His kingdom and children of the wicked one.

We classify people into many categories: believers, unbelievers, almost believers, sincere people in other religions, and followers of a “Christ” in different cultures, to name just a few. However, Jesus named only 2: children of His kingdom and children of the wicked one, the devil.

Jesus distinguished between the 2 groups in His picture. He called the children of His kingdom “wheat” and the children of the devil “tares” (darnel). In their early growth, they look alike, undistinguishable between each other.

However, as they mature and begin to produce fruit, the life of their seeds, they become distinctly different.

• The darnel grows into a stiff stalk with 12 clusters of seeds along the sides of the shaft at its tip. The wheat develops a flexible stalk with all of its clusters of seeds at the tip of the shaft, all in one cluster.
• The cluster of seeds of wheat matures to at least twice the size of the darnel.
• The darnel produces a maximum of 36 seeds/stalk; the wheat grows 30-100 seeds/shaft.

These distinctions in their fruit make it easy to discern the wheat from the darnel, even prior to harvest. The presence of fruit in its initial stages of development and its continued progress confirm the differences.

Similarly, the differences between the children of the kingdom of Christ and those of the devil become apparent in the fruit they develop. The seed of the kingdom of Christ always produces good fruit, never bad fruit. In like manner, the seed of the devil always produces bad fruit never good fruit.

In this parable of His kingdom, Jesus described the wheat and darnel growing together. This feature confounded the Jewish religious leaders of His day. They expected an entirely different kingdom which would expulse all evil and establish a religious, political kingdom with their Messiah as king.

Jesus taught an entirely different kingdom. He announced the arrival of the kingdom that Old Testament prophets predicted. Jesus told of the kingdom within people, not a typical earthly one.

Until the consummation of all things, Christ rules over the world (the field), permitting good and evil to grow together. The presence of evil does not rule out the presence of the kingdom. It does not reveal a toleration of evil or a lack of judgment for evil. The parable also discloses that the existence of evil cannot, does not destroy nor restrict good.

It does, however, show that only 2 groups of people exist, believers in Christ and His kingdom and unbelievers.

This parable discloses authentic features of Christ's kingdom and His rule as King. Evil exists, not from His hand, but from the hand of the devil. Apparent success will one day meet with reality. The consummation of all things will distinguish between the false and the true. The false, the imitation, the counterfeit will experience the King’s eternal judgment. The true children of God will enjoy His presence for eternity.

Until that day, Jesus shows patience, longsuffering, and mercy. He grants time for sinners to realize their need of His saving power. Only God by His Holy Spirit can turn darnel into wheat. At the proper time, Jesus will acknowledge His own. He will prove once and for all that He rules over a kingdom of the heart.

Therefore, you and I must examine ourselves and reject our human tendency to self-effort and self-righteousness. We must heed Christ's announcement of the good news of His kingdom. He fulfills His Father’s promises for a Savior who would crush satan’s head, providing salvation to all who trust Him exclusively.

He stated it this way: “…repent and believe the gospel…” (Mark 1.15). He frequently spoke of the need for sinners like you and me to turn from our sins and trust Him. To all who do, He promises eternal life with Him.