The Parable of the Weeds

Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 New King James Version

The Parable (Matthew 13:24-30)

Matthew 13:24 Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field;

1. In the Bible, God’s kingdom always refers to his dynamic reign or rule, not to a literal realm. It’s his divine power, not a place.[1]

Matthew 13:25 but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way.

1. Weeds (plural of Gk. zizanion, only here in the NT) are probably darnel, a weedy rye grass with poisonous black seeds which resembles wheat in its early growth but is easily distinguished from it at maturity.[2]

Matthew 13:26 But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared.

Matthew 13:27 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?’

Matthew 13:28 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?’

Matthew 13:29 But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them.

1. Any attempt to gather the weeds would only endanger the wheat, because the roots of the weeds would be intertwined with those of the wheat.[3]

Matthew 13:30 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.” ’ ”

The Interpretation of the Parable (Matthew 13:36-39)

Matthew 13:36 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.”

Matthew 13:37 He answered and said to them: “He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man.

Matthew 13:38 The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one.

Matthew 13:39 The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels.

Four Words of Encouragement from the Parable of the Weeds:

1. Perspective

a. If God is good and loving, why do bad things happen?

i. Matthew 13:27 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?’

ii. Matthew 13:28 He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’

2. Patience

a. Why doesn’t God immediately remove all evil from the earth?

i. Matthew 13:28b The servants said to him, ‘Do you want us then to go and gather them up?’

ii. Matthew 13:29 But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them.

iii. 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

iv. 2 Peter 3:15 and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you,

3. Persistence

a. Although the wheat is outnumbered by the weeds, the wheat survives.

i. Matthew 13:40 Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age.

ii. Matthew 13:41 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,

iii. Matthew 13:42 and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

iv. Matthew 13:43 Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!

4. Power

a. Did you notice the equation of the field with the world and with the kingdom as we read? Verse 38 states, “The field is the world,” but then verse 41 declares, “they will weed out of his kingdom.”[4]

i. Matthew 13:38 The field is the world,

ii. Matthew 13:41 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,

iii. Matthew 13:43 Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!

Conclusion

Matthew 13:41 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,

Matthew 13:42 and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

Matthew 13:43 Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!

Matthew 7:23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

[1] Blomberg, C. (2004). Preaching the Parables: From Responsible Interpretation to Powerful Proclamation(p. 125). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic. [2] Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible(p. 1848). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles. [3] Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible(p. 1848). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles. [4] Blomberg, C. (2004). Preaching the Parables: From Responsible Interpretation to Powerful Proclamation(p. 125). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic.