Holy Bible Online 
This is one of the parables Jesus used to teach truths about the Kingdom of God. In this parable, He emphasized the reality that in this world, good and evil coexist: His children and the children of the evil one. This will continue until the end of the world, when they will be separated for all eternity.
The parable emphasizes God's patience and mercy by giving time for the plants to grow and develop. But it also speaks of God's justice. In His time, He will separate good from evil for all eternity, giving each one their reward or punishment.
The text of the parable is found in Matthew 13:24-30 and says the following:
The Parable of the Wheat and the Tares
24 Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; 25 but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. 26 But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. 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?’ 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?’ 29 But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. 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.”
- Matthew 13:24-30 (NKJV)
Explanation of the Parable of the Wheat and the Tares
The Parable of the Wheat and the Tares is a story Jesus used to illustrate the goodness of God sown into the world and the evil planted by the Enemy, in opposition. The narrative appears in Matthew 13:24-30, and later in Matthew 13:36-43, Jesus provides an explanation of its meaning.
Jesus told this story to teach about God’s mercy and patience. In the story, as the wheat seeds began to grow, weeds also appeared, which is a type of weed that closely resembles wheat.
The servants of the field owner asked where the weeds came from and if they should pull them out. But the owner instructed them to wait until the harvest, to avoid pulling up the wheat along with the tares. At harvest time, he would have the workers separate the wheat into barns and burn the tares.
Jesus used parables like this to convey truths about the Kingdom of God through everyday stories.
In this story, common rural examples take on a deeper meaning with future consequences:
- The field represents the world.
- The man who sows the seed is the Son of Man (Jesus).
- The wheat, or good seeds, are the children of the Kingdom.
- The weeds are the children of the Evil One.
- The enemy who sows the tares is the devil.
- The harvest represents the end of the age.
- The harvesters are the angels.
- The fire symbolizes the final judgment and punishment.
What We Can Learn from the Parable of the Wheat and the Tares
This parable teaches us that although weeds and wheat may appear similar and grow together in the world, there will come a time of separation and judgment. In the end, God will make a complete distinction between the righteous and the wicked.
Until then, we are reminded:
- To endure living alongside evil, trusting in God’s perfect justice.
- To trust in God’s patience and goodness to save those lost around us.
- To discern what is good for us and what harms us in this world, where the enemy continues to sow confusion and deception.
- To live as "wheat," seeking a close relationship with God and living according to His principles.
Want to learn more about Jesus’ parables? Check out: