KEY SCRIPTURE: Matthew 13 (KJV)”-Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.”

In our last study we looked at the parable of the tares among the good plants considering the literal meaning as the Lord stated it. We would now consider the parable making special inferences, or deductions this time.

The scripture said after the good seed s had been sown, an enemy came and sowed tares, ‘whiles men slept’. What does whiles men slept tell us? 

Sleeping Is primarily an activity of the night. The night also symbolizes darkness. Figuratively sleeping can mean activity of darkness. What are the activities of darkness? “The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.” – Romans 13:12 (KJV) The works of darkness are sinful ways. All forms of neglect of spiritual activities is sleeping in a form. If the child of God neglects his prayer times, Bible study moments and absent himself from fellowships. All these can be described as sleeping. The worse part of this is when the person does things contrary to God’s word. If he lives a sinful life of any kind then he is not only sleeping but courting with death. The enemy will freely sow any kind of seed in such a one’s life. There are certain diseases that some brethren have just come to realize in their life. Some have been awakened to some fatal calamities, because they were ‘sleeping’

Another type of sleeping that allows the enemy to sow trouble in some believers’ life is physically sleeping without rising up to pray. The night time is a moment when the wicked execute their plans and programs. One must be awake at certain nights to pray. Apostle Paul states in 2nd Corinth. 11:27,”……in watchings often…….” This meant he spent time praying throughout certain nights. There are certain periods in one’s life that calls for keeping a prayer watch, less the enemy would take an advantage of you.

In 1 kings 3:16-27, two women brought a child to king Solomon, whiles both women, claimed the baby was theirs. One said she slept and her baby was snatched away. Spiritual destinies, people’s ‘babies’ of any kind have been exchanged at the hour of sleep. This study calls for spiritual alertness in every form. One must be very diligent with the word of God in every way. Our best way to be alert and not to be ‘sleeping’ is to respond positively to God’s word always. Any moment you enter into ‘sleep’ an enemy would sow tares. Make sure your response to God’s word is intact. Give no place to fear or unbelieve, they are all forms of sleeping. Faith in God’s word, is the surest way to keep awake all the time

CONFESSION

I am not ignorant of the devices of the enemy. I stay awake through my diligence in prayer, obedience to God, and finally my total trust in Him. I give no place to the enemy to have an advantage of me.

FURTHER STUDIES

1 Peter 5:8 KJV” Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour, whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world”.:

1 Thess 5:17 KJV” Pray without ceasing.”