Maybe you’ve noticed it too. I keep seeing people comment things like, “Well, that’s just the wheat and the tares,” or “We’d better make sure there’s oil in our lamps.”
And if you’re like a lot of people, you might be thinking—what in the world does that mean? Is everyone talking in code? Maybe you know it’s from the Bible but you can’t quite remember the significance. Or maybe you’re completely clueless and wondering why everyone keeps referencing wheat, tares, and oil.
If your soul has been troubled by the things happening on the world stage—wars, confusion, government control, digital ID conversations, misinformation and AI-driven delusion—it’s natural to want to understand the language people are using, especially when it comes straight from Scripture. So today, let’s take a few minutes to slow down and review what these references actually are, because they’re not hidden messages—they’re both coming from parables that Jesus taught.
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The Wheat and the Tares
Let’s start with the wheat and the tares. You’ll find this parable in Matthew chapter 13. Here’s the story Jesus tells:
A man sowed good seed in his field; but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. When the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. So the servants of the owner came and said to him, “Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?” He said to them, “An enemy has done this.” The servants said to him, “Do you want us then to go and gather them up?” But he said, “No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, ‘First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.’” -- Matthew 13:24-30 (NKJV)
Now, here’s the part I love—Jesus doesn’t leave us guessing at what this means. A few verses later, His disciples ask Him to explain, and He does. The good seed represents the people of the kingdom. The weeds are people influenced by the evil one. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels.
So what’s the significance? Jesus is saying that in this world, good and evil are going to grow right alongside each other. True followers of Christ and false followers, righteousness and wickedness, will coexist until the end. And we’re not to go around trying to do the final separating, because we’d mess it up—we can’t see hearts the way God can. The judgment and separation belong to Him alone.
I think this parable resonates today because we feel the tension of living in a world where evil and deception are flourishing alongside goodness and truth. Sometimes it seems like the tares are overtaking the field, doesn’t it? But Jesus reminds us—this is expected, and God has a plan. At the appointed time, He Himself will do the separating. Until then, our job is to stay faithful, rooted, and growing in Him.
The Oil in the Lamps
The second reference floating around online is about oil in the lamps. This comes from another parable Jesus told in Matthew 25, often called the parable of the ten virgins.
In that story, there are ten bridesmaids waiting for the bridegroom to arrive for the wedding feast. Five of them are called wise and five are called foolish. The wise ones bring extra oil for their lamps. The foolish ones don’t. When the bridegroom is delayed and then finally shows up at midnight, the foolish ones realize their lamps are going out and they have no oil. They scramble to borrow some from the wise, but it doesn’t work that way. While they’re off trying to buy oil, the bridegroom comes, the doors are shut, and only those who were ready go into the wedding feast.
And Jesus ends the parable with the instruction: “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.”
The imagery here is about being spiritually prepared for Christ’s return. Oil often symbolizes the Holy Spirit, intimacy with God, readiness of the soul. And the point is, no one else can give you their oil. You can’t borrow someone else’s faith, someone else’s intimacy with God, someone else’s readiness. It’s something you cultivate in your own relationship with Him.
That’s a sobering truth. It means we can’t rely on the fact that our parents or spouse or church community is faithful. Each of us is responsible to tend to our own lamp—to stay connected to Jesus, to keep our faith alive and our hearts watchful.
Why These Parables Matter Right Now
So why are people quoting these stories so much right now? Probably because when we look around at the world, we see exactly what Jesus described. We see the wheat and tares growing together—goodness and evil tangled side by side. And we feel the urgency of the midnight hour—wondering if our lamps are full, if we’re ready for whatever comes.
These parables speak into times of confusion, deception, and waiting. They remind us of two key truths:
- God is in control of the ultimate outcome. We don’t have to panic when evil seems to be thriving. The separation will happen at the harvest, and that’s God’s work, not ours.
- Our responsibility is to stay spiritually awake and prepared. To keep our oil lamps filled, to nurture intimacy with God, so that no matter what comes—whether it’s global chaos, personal trials, or the return of Christ—we’re ready.
Living This Out
So let’s get practical. What does it look like to live as wheat in the field and as wise bridesmaids with oil in our lamps?
- Stay rooted in the Word. The Bible is not just ancient text—it’s living and active. It anchors us when deception swirls. If you feel tossed around by misinformation or fear, return to Scripture daily.
- Tend to your intimacy with God. Oil represents that personal relationship—prayer, worship, listening for His voice. You can’t outsource this. Make space for Him every day, even in small, simple ways.
- Don’t waste energy trying to do God’s job. It’s not your role to identify every tare or uproot every evil. That doesn’t mean we ignore sin, but it does mean we recognize our limits. Rest in the fact that God sees perfectly and will judge rightly.
- Keep watch with hope, not fear. Watching doesn’t mean panicking at every headline. It means staying spiritually alert while trusting God’s timing. He has not abandoned us to chaos; He is working all things toward His plan.
Closing Encouragement
Friend, if your soul has been anxious scrolling through the news or social media, let these parables steady you. Jesus told them for our benefit—so that when we see wheat and tares, or when we feel the lateness of the hour, we won’t be shaken. We’ll remember: God is patient, purposeful, and perfectly just. And He calls us not to fear, but to faithfulness.
So today, ask yourself: Is my lamp filled with oil? Am I nurturing my own walk with God, or am I hoping to borrow from someone else’s faith? And am I willing to trust that God sees the field clearly, even when I don’t?
As we wait and watch, may we be people of steady hope, people who shine light in dark times, people who keep our eyes on the Bridegroom who is surely coming.
Thanks for spending this time with me today. If this episode brought you peace or clarity, I’d love for you to share it with a friend who might also be feeling troubled by all the noise out there. And remember—your soul matters to God. Stay close to Him, and keep your lamp burning bright.
Until next time, take care of your soul and keep the faith.
Gratefully,
Sherry
Resources Mentioned:
Faith & Soul Care Foundations Cohort: sherryelaine.com/cohorts
Cohort Expanded Upgrade Option: sherryelaine.com/thankyou
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