[b]SHOCKING FACTS on "TARES"[/b][i]by Andrew Strom[/i]Of course, we all know Jesus' parable of the Wheat and the Tares.Tares are plants that look just like wheat until Harvest time -when it turns out that they were counterfeit. Awhile ago I learntsome facts about Tares that truly shocked and surprised me.When you look up the word "Tares" on Wikipedia, it comes backwith the equivalent plant named "Darnel." This is exactly correctaccording to most Biblical authorities. The Tares are almost alwaysconsidered to be the weed Darnel - also known as "false wheat"which grows plentifully in the whole region around Israel. Here iswhat Wikipedia says about it:"It bears a close resemblance to wheat until the ear appears
Itparasitizes wheat fields. The French word for darnel is "ivraie"
which expresses that weed's characteristic of making one feelpoisoned with drunkenness, and can cause death. Thischaracteristic is also alluded to in the scientific name (Latintemulentus = drunk)
The plant is mentioned in
the Parableof the Tares in the Gospel of Matthew."So is this identification of Tares with "drunkenness" notedelsewhere? Yes - many Bible dictionaries and encyclopedias sayexactly the same thing. In fact, the Faussett Bible Cyclopediastates that "when mixed with wheat flour [it] causes dizziness,intoxication, and paralysis" and says that bearded darnel isknown as "the only deleterious grain" among all the grasses.On the giant website "Botanical.com" we read: "It is recorded tohave produced all the symptoms of drunkenness: a generaltrembling, followed by inability to walk, hindered speech andvomiting. For this reason the French call Darnel: 'Ivraie,' from Ivre(drunkenness)."Out of all the weed-type grasses, Tares are seemingly the onlyones that produce this deadly "drunken" effect. Isn't that amazing?In the parable of the Wheat and the Tares in Matt 13, Jesus statesthat his "enemy" sows tares amongst the true wheat. Then He says:"Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I willsay to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them inbundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn" (Mt 13:30).I guess I don't need to point out the possible parallels with today's"Drunkenness"/ River movement. What an alarming insight - if itdoes have relevance to what we have seen in those circles!!
_________________SI Moderator - Greg
. . .bearded darnel is known as "the only deleterious grain" among all the grasses.
The most damaging opponent to the body of Christ is not the world but deceptive tares. Some great thoughts in this article.
It would be the "tares" that crucified Christ.It has been the tares that have been trying to do me in ever since the Lord got a hold on me. The world cares not what I do, as long as I do not get in the way of their fun.It is interesting that darnel is the only deleterious grain - those that are not His, but are trying to appear to be, would love to be able to hit the delete button and have us to disappear.