Ellen Chat Conversation

Ellen White identifies the tares specifically as those who make a profession of faith and are found within the church, rather than those who are openly "of the world." She describes them as "sinners who make false pretensions of piety" who "mingle together for a time with the true followers of Christ" (2SP 249.1). In her explanation of the parable, Ellen White emphasizes that the tares are found "in our churches, that claim to believe advanced truth" (TM 45.2). These individuals are not necessarily those who have never heard the gospel; rather, they are often those who but have . Because they maintain an "external semblance of Christianity," they are "calculated to deceive many" and are often indistinguishable from the wheat during the early stages of growth (2SP 249.1). The distinction between the tares and the wheat becomes clear only as they mature. Ellen White noted that but when the harvest arrives, the "worthless weeds bore no resemblance to the wheat" (2SP 249.1). This means that while they are "commingled" now, the tares are specifically those within the "kingdom"—the professed church—who will eventually be "gathered out of His kingdom" because they "do iniquity" (COL 75.1; 9MR 137.4). Practically, this counsel suggests that we should not be surprised to find "faulty and erring" individuals within the church (TM 45.2). However, it also serves as a warning that a mere profession of faith or "mingling" with the righteous does not change one's character. True growth is revealed by the "character when ripened," which eventually distinguishes the true follower from the one who merely claims the name of Christ (TM 45.2). In summary, while the "world" represents those outside the faith, the tares represent a specific group of people who claim to be Christians but whose hearts and actions are not in harmony with God's laws. --- 💡 **You might also want to explore:** • Why did Ellen White say the tares should not be pulled up immediately? • What did Ellen White say about how to treat those who are "faulty and erring" in the church? • How does the "harvest" reveal the true character of the wheat and the tares? --- 📚 **hundreds of passages found** containing these search terms — [Explore in Full-Text Search](/advanced-search?q=%22tares%22+%22wheat)