Skip to main content
    2

    The Parable of the Wheat and the Tares

    A farmer sows good seed, but an enemy sows weeds among the wheat. Jesus teaches that believers and unbelievers will coexist until the final judgment, when God will separate them.

    Matthew 13:30
    Judgment & Readiness
    Quick Answer

    A farmer sows good seed, but an enemy sows weeds among the wheat. Jesus teaches that believers and unbelievers 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)
    "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 — Read in Context

    Historical & Cultural Context

    Tares (darnel or Lolium temulentum) are a poisonous weed nearly indistinguishable from wheat until the ears form at harvest. In Roman law, sowing tares in an enemy's field was a recognized crime, showing that Jesus drew on a real agricultural threat familiar to His listeners. Separating the two plants before harvest risked uprooting the wheat's shallow root system.

    Who Was Jesus Speaking To?

    Jesus addressed this parable to the multitudes but explained it privately to His disciples when they asked. The Pharisees, who prided themselves on separating the righteous from sinners, would have been challenged by Jesus's teaching that final judgment belongs to God alone, not to self-appointed religious gatekeepers.

    Early Galilean Ministry
    Part of the 'Kingdom Parables' discourse in Matthew 13, approximately AD 28

    Key Symbols and Their Meanings

    The Field

    The world — not just the church — where both righteous and unrighteous coexist.

    Good Seed

    Children of the kingdom — genuine believers planted by the Son of Man.

    Tares

    Children of the wicked one — counterfeit believers sown by the devil to deceive and disrupt.

    The Harvest

    The end of the age when angels will separate the righteous from the wicked for final judgment.

    What Does The Parable of the Wheat and the Tares Mean?

    In this parable, a man sows good wheat seed in his field, but while everyone sleeps, his enemy sows tares (weeds that closely resemble wheat). When servants discover the weeds, they want to pull them up immediately. But the master says to let both grow together until harvest, lest pulling up the tares uproot the wheat. At harvest, reapers will separate them — tares to be burned, wheat to be gathered. Jesus explained that the field is the world, the good seed represents children of the kingdom, the tares are children of the wicked one, and the harvest is the end of the age.

    Applying This Parable Today

    This parable teaches patience and trust in God's ultimate justice. In our churches, workplaces, and communities, genuine believers and hypocrites coexist. We are not called to be the final judges of who is authentic — that belongs to God. Instead, we should focus on being good wheat ourselves: rooted in faith, growing in character, and producing fruit that distinguishes us from mere imitations.

    Related Scripture References

    Matthew 13:36-43

    "He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one."
    Read in context

    Romans 12:19

    "Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord."
    Read in context

    Related Teachings

    Beatitudes and Commandments connected to this parable:

    Beatitude

    8. Persecuted for Righteousness

    The righteous endure alongside the wicked until final judgment

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What are tares in the Bible?

    Tares (darnel) are weeds that closely resemble wheat during early growth but are poisonous and worthless. In the parable, they represent false believers or those influenced by evil who look like genuine Christians but bear no true spiritual fruit.

    Why does God allow evil to exist alongside good?

    Jesus teaches that God allows both to coexist to protect the righteous — uprooting evil prematurely might harm genuine believers. God's final judgment at the end of the age will perfectly separate the two.

    ← Previous

    1. The Sower

    Next →

    3. The Mustard Seed

    Quiz yourself on the The Wheat and Tares

    Free KJV Bible quizzes covering Jesus' parables and teachings.

    Related Scripture & Topics

    Continue your study with related content from across our library:

    Q&A

    What Is the Parable of the Wheat and Tares?

    End Times

    Bible Quiz

    Parable of the Wheat and the Tares Quiz

    An enemy sows tares among the wheat — and the harvest sorts all (Matthew 13).

    Bible Quiz

    The Wheat and the Tares Parable Quiz

    The enemy sows counterfeit grain — Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43.

    Parable

    The Parable of the Sower

    Matthew 13:3-4 • Kingdom of God

    Parable

    The Parable of the Mustard Seed

    Matthew 13:31-32 • Kingdom of God

    Parable

    The Parable of the Leaven

    Matthew 13:33 • Kingdom of God