The Parable of the Tares, also known as the Parable of the Weeds, is one of the many parables taught by Jesus Christ to convey profound spiritual truths through simple, relatable accounts. This particular parable is found in the Gospel of Matthew, specifically in Matthew 13:24-30, with its explanation provided by Jesus in Matthew 13:36-43.

Context and Content

In the Parable of the Tares, Jesus presents the account of a man who sows good seed in his field. However, while everyone is asleep, an enemy comes and sows tares among the wheat. As the plants grow and bear grain, the tares also become evident. The servants of the landowner inquire whether they should go and pull up the tares, but the landowner advises against it, lest they uproot the wheat along with them. Instead, he instructs them to let both grow together until the harvest. At that time, the reapers will gather the tares first, bind them in bundles to be burned, and then gather the wheat into the barn.

Interpretation

Jesus provides the interpretation of this parable to His disciples, explaining the symbolic elements within the account. The sower of the good seed is the Son of Man, referring to Christ Himself. The field represents the world, and the good seed symbolizes the children of the kingdom, or the believers. The tares, on the other hand, are the children of the evil one, sown by the enemy, who is the devil. The harvest signifies the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels.

Theological Significance

The Parable of the Tares addresses the coexistence of good and evil in the world and within the visible church. It highlights the reality that the kingdom of God on earth will include both true believers and those who are not genuinely part of the kingdom. The parable emphasizes the patience and forbearance of God, who allows both to grow together until the appointed time of judgment.

This parable also serves as a warning against premature judgment and the danger of attempting to separate the righteous from the unrighteous before the proper time. It underscores the ultimate sovereignty of God in discerning the hearts of individuals and executing perfect justice at the end of the age.

Biblical Quotations

In the Berean Standard Bible, the parable is introduced as follows:

"Jesus put before them another parable: 'The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was asleep, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and slipped away. When the wheat sprouted and bore grain, then the weeds also appeared.'" (Matthew 13:24-26)

The explanation given by Jesus is recorded as:

"Then He left the crowds and went into the house. His disciples came to Him and said, 'Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.' He replied, 'The One who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed represents the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.'" (Matthew 13:36-39)

Practical Application

The Parable of the Tares encourages believers to remain steadfast in their faith, trusting in God's ultimate plan and timing. It calls for vigilance and discernment, recognizing that not all who appear to be part of the kingdom truly belong to it. Believers are reminded to focus on their own spiritual growth and to leave the final judgment to God, who alone knows the hearts of all people.Matthew 13:24-30,36-43
Another parable put he forth to them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened to a man which sowed good seed in his field:
Torrey's Topical Textbook

On the Words of the Gospel, Matt. xiii. 19, Etc. , Where the Lord ...
... But in parables and similitudes one thing may be called by many names ... are bad Christians,
and that they too are the "tares." Is not Christ called "the Lamb"? ...
/.../sermons on selected lessons of the new testament/sermon xxiii on the words.htm

New Teaching in Parables' - the Parables to the People by the Lake ...
... Not only the tares, which the Enemy had designedly sown ... admit to have really formed
part of Christ's own original ... Undoubtedly, these Parables were un-Jewish. ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xxiii new teaching in.htm

The Parables Exemplified in the Early History of the Church.
... of these charges show how strongly the tares began at ... Thus we find the Parables of
"The Kingdom of Heaven ... of the reader, about the Church of Christ being "The ...
/.../the kingdom of heaven what is it/chapter vii the parables exemplified.htm

The Parables of the Kingdom.
... be like a field of wheat and tares growing together. ... thou Me" (Acts 9:4) brought
him to Jesus Christ. Furthermore, these two Parables both set forth this truth ...
/.../burbidge/the kingdom of heaven what is it/chapter iii the parables of.htm

The First Great Group of Parables.
... The First Great Group of Parables. ... and the reapers are angels.40 As therefore the
tares are gathered ... to exterminate heretics in the name of Christ by physical ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/liv the first great group 6.htm

The Teaching of Matthew 13 Proves that no Era of Millennial ...
... The second of the parables found in Matt.13"that of ... the only Lord God, and our Lord
Jesus Christ" (Jude 4 ... see that at a very early date the tares were mingled ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the redeemers return/2 the teaching of matthew.htm

The Group in Matt. xiii.
... of believers with unbelievers appears in the tares; but I ... in his effort to destroy
the work of Christ. ... to the sequences and mutual relations of the parables. ...
/.../arnot/the parables of our lord/the group in matt xiii.htm

Parable of the Various Kinds of Fish in the Net. --Of the Wheat ...
... The parables in which he illustrated the hindrances and ... his disciples, at the long
forbearance of Christ toward some ... of the "Wheat and the Tares." Its object ...
/.../section 130 parable of the.htm

The Life of Jesus Christ in Its Historical Connexion
... The Parable of the Shepherd, in John, compared with the Parables in the ... Of the Wheat
and the Tares. ... Christ subdues a Storm on the Sea.--Character of the Act as ...
/.../neander/the life of jesus christ in its historical connexion/

The Tares.
... expression stands not among pictures and parables, but in ... a picture and a
parable."[16] Whence hath it tares? ... cheer; believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and ...
//christianbookshelf.org/arnot/the parables of our lord/ii the tares.htm

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