What Is the Parable of the Wheat and Tares?
What Is the Parable of the Wheat and Tares? The Parable of the Wheat and Tares teaches that true believers and false ones will coexist until the final judgment, when God will separate them.
Key verse: Matthew 13:30 (KJV)
The Parable of the Wheat and Tares teaches that true believers and false ones will coexist until the final judgment, when God will separate them.
The Parable of the Wheat and Tares teaches that true believers and false ones will coexist until the final judgment, when God will separate them.
"Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn." — Matthew 13:30 (KJV)
Meaning
Plain-language explanation
In Context
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The Biblical Answer
In Matthew 13:24-30 and 36-43, Jesus tells of a farmer whose enemy sows weeds (tares) among his wheat. The servants want to pull up the weeds immediately, but the master says to let both grow together until harvest, when reapers will separate them—wheat into the barn and tares into the fire. Jesus explained that the field is the world, the good seed represents believers, the tares are children of the wicked one, the enemy is the devil, and the harvest is the end of the age. This parable teaches patience with imperfection in the world and the church, trusting God's timing for judgment rather than taking premature action that might harm genuine believers.
Topic Overview
What Does the Bible Say About Worship?
What the Bible teaches about worship, praise, and honoring God with our whole lives.
Key Scripture References
"Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn."
"The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels."
"Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father."
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
Related Questions
What Is the Parable of the Sower?
Jesus described a sower whose seeds fell on four types of soil — the wayside, stony ground, thorns, and good ground — representing different responses to God's Word.
What Is the Second Coming of Christ?
The Second Coming is the visible, bodily return of Jesus Christ to earth to establish His kingdom and judge the world.
What Is the Rapture?
The rapture refers to the event when Christ returns to catch up believers — both living and dead — to meet Him in the air.
What Is the Tribulation?
The tribulation is a future seven-year period of unprecedented suffering and divine judgment on the earth before Christ's return.
Who Is the Antichrist?
The Antichrist is a future world leader who will oppose Christ, deceive the nations, and demand worship during the tribulation.
Deep Dive Commentary
For a more in-depth study, read our verse-by-verse commentary:
Related Reading
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The Parable of the Wheat and the Tares
Matthew 13:30 • Judgment & Readiness
Parable of the Wheat and the Tares Quiz
An enemy sows tares among the wheat — and the harvest sorts all (Matthew 13).
The Wheat and the Tares Parable Quiz
The enemy sows counterfeit grain — Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43.
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Read it in context
The answer above sits inside Matthew. The 365-day chronological plan reads it in the order the events happened.
Read Matthew on day 284 of the chronological Bible reading planKeep the verses to hand
Every verse quoted in “What Is the Parable of the Wheat and Tares?” comes from the King James Version, free to download and print.
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