The Wheat and the Tares

Text: Matthew 13:24–30, Matthew 13:36–43 “Then Jesus sent the multitude away and went into the house. And His disciples came to Him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the tares of the field.” He answered and said to them: “He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one. The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels. Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” (NKJV)

Introduction

In Matthew 13, Jesus gives us a series of parables that reveal the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven. They are not random stories, but a progression of truth. The parable of the sower (vv.1–23) shows us how the gospel is received in different hearts. The parable of the wheat and tares (vv.24–30) shows us how good and evil grow together in the world until the end of the age. The mustard seed and leaven (vv.31–33) reveal how the Kingdom spreads, and the treasure, pearl, and dragnet (vv.44–50) remind us of the priceless value of the gospel and the certainty of final judgment.

Today we focus on the wheat and tares. Jesus shows us that the gospel is being sown in the world, but Satan is also sowing counterfeit seed. At the end of the age, the Lord Himself will separate the true from the false.

Point 1: The Field is the World (vv. 24, 38a)

Jesus makes it clear in His own explanation: “The field is the world” (v.38). The field is the world, and the good seeds are the son’s of the kingdom.

God’s plan of redemption is not limited to Israel, not confined to the church building, but extends to the whole world (John 3:16).

We are to view the whole world as the field ready to plant — which is why we must, as sons and daughters of the kingdom, go to the world.

The parable of the mustard seed (vv.31–32) illustrates this: though the Kingdom starts small, it grows to a great tree where all nations (the birds) can come and rest. From a tiny seed comes forth greatness.

This reminds us of Daniel 2:35, where the stone cut without hands grows into a great mountain and fills the whole earth.

Illustration: A farmer does not buy land just to farm one tiny corner. He intends the entire field to produce a harvest. Likewise, God claims the whole world as His field, and Christ is Lord over all nations.

Point 2: The Seed is the Gospel (vv.24, 37–38)

Jesus says, “He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man” (v.37). Christ Himself plants the gospel.

The “good seed” are those who believe the gospel and become “sons of the Kingdom” (v.38).

As we abide in Christ and Christ in us, we become the hands and feet, the ones who spread the seed of the gospel to the world.

Just like the hidden treasure and pearl of great price (vv.44–46), the gospel is the most valuable possession anyone could ever receive.

There is nothing more valuable than an eternal life with God. No earthly treasure is so great that it can give you eternal life, not gold, silver or pearls, only the gospel.

Paul reminds us in Romans 1:16 that the gospel “is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes.”

Illustration: Farmers are very careful about the seed they use. If the seed is poor quality, the harvest will be poor. Christ plants perfect seed—His gospel. Every believer is the result of that good seed taking root. But we are not alone in the fields.

Point 3: The Devil is Also Sowing “Bad” Seed (vv.25–26, 38–39)

Jesus says plainly: “The tares are the sons of the wicked one.

Tares are weeds, worthless, inedible, sometimes poisonous weeds. The enemy who sowed them is the devil.” (vv.38–39) and they led to death and not to life.

Notice the timing—“while men slept” (v.25). The enemy works under cover of darkness when vigilance is lacking.

We must always be vigilant to spread the gospel, in season and out, in day and night, close to home and far away, because the enemy is already there waiting for you to sleep and to steal away ground.

Tares look almost identical to wheat until harvest. False believers, false teachers, and false gospels can look convincing until tested.

We must always test the spirit against the Word of God.

Like the parable of the leaven (v.33), evil spreads quietly and unnoticed until it permeates everything.

And it will, even your own house if you aren’t watchful and vigilant to plant the good seeds of the gospel and to nourish them with the water of life and the Word of God daily.

Paul warned in Acts 20:29–30 that wolves would rise up among the flock, not sparing it. Satan always tries to counterfeit what God is doing. Not only do the tares look like the wheat, but the Sowers of evil look a lot like us. You might be working next to them the whole time and not recognize it if you aren’t vigilant and obedient to God’s Word.

Illustration: In ancient times, sowing weeds in another man’s field was an act of sabotage, even punishable by law. The enemy sought to ruin the harvest. Likewise, Satan plants counterfeits to disrupt God’s work.

Point 4: In the End, the Good Will Be Separated from the Bad (vv.29–30, 39–43)

Jesus says, “The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels” (v.39).

The time is coming for the harvest, its the next big biblical event.

God allows wheat and tares to grow together until harvest because uprooting now would damage the wheat.

His patience is mercy, and many may be saved before the last day.

At the harvest, the tares will be gathered and burned, while the wheat will be gathered into the barn (vv.41–43).

The unbelievers will be judged and cast into the lake of fire and the second death, while the believers will be in Heaven.

This is echoed in the parable of the dragnet (vv.47–50), where fish are separated, the good kept, and the bad thrown away.

As the hand and feet of Christ it should burden our hearts that none should be lost, none should be cast away, but that all should be saved by hearing and believing the gospel. After all that’s God’s heart for His people, that none should be lost, but narrow is the road that leads to salvation and wide is the path that leads to destruction.

Psalm 1:4–6 reminds us: “The ungodly are not so, but are like the chaff which the wind drives away… the LORD knows the way of the righteous.”

Illustration: A farmer does not rush the harvest before the crop is ready. He waits for the right season. God’s timing is perfect—He is patient, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (2 Pet. 3:9).

Application

Application for Point 1 – The Field is the World: Do not limit God’s Kingdom to your personal circle or your local church. Every believer should see the world as the mission field. Lift your eyes beyond your own field and pray for, support, and engage in global missions.

Application for Point 2 – The Seed is the Gospel: Treasure the gospel as the pearl of great price. Guard its purity in your own life and in the church. Share the seed faithfully with others, trusting that God will bring the increase.

Application for Point 3 – The Devil is Also Sowing Bad Seed: Be spiritually alert. Test every teaching by Scripture. Do not be surprised when counterfeit Christianity shows up; because it was foretold. Stay rooted in God’s Word so that you will not be deceived.

Application for Point 4 – The End Will Bring Separation: Live in readiness for the harvest. Don’t be discouraged by the presence of evil; God is allowing time for repentance and salvation. Examine yourself honestly—make sure you are wheat, not tare, truly saved, not merely religious. And do the work God has put before you to grow His Kingdom on earth as it is in Heaven.

Conclusion

The parable of the wheat and tares shows us the reality of this present age: the gospel is being sown, but so is deception. Good and evil grow side by side, but in the end, God Himself will separate the true from the false.

Other parables in this chapter remind us: the Kingdom starts small but grows (mustard seed), spreads unseen but powerfully (leaven), is worth giving up everything to obtain (treasure and pearl), and ends in a final separation (dragnet).

Final Challenge: The harvest is coming. When the reapers come, will you be gathered into God’s barn as wheat—or cast into the fire as tares? Today is the day to make sure you are a child of the Kingdom through faith in Jesus Christ.