36 “Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples came to him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.” 37 He answered, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. 38 the field is the world, and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, 39 and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. 40 Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, 42 and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.” (Matthew 13:36–43 ESV)
Matthew 13:1-50 contains seven parables concerning the Kingdom of Heaven. These include the Parable of the Sower (Matt. 13:3-23), the Parable of the Weeds (13:24-30), the Parable of the Mustard Seed (13:31-32), the Parable of the Leaven (13:33), the Parable of the Hidden Treasure (13:44), the Parable of the Pearl of Great Value (13:13:45-46), and the Parable of the Net (13:47-50).
Recapping the Parable of the Weeds, a man sowed wheat in his field (Matt. 13:24). In Israel, farmers planted barley and wheat in autumn. The sowed grains ripened in spring. However, an enemy of the landowner secretly came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away (13:25). Therefore, when the plants came up and bore grain in spring, the weeds also appeared (13:26).
During the spring harvest time, the land owner’s servants noticed that weeds were growing in the midst of the wheat field. While the master realized that an enemy was responsible for the weeds, there was nothing he could do until the harvest. At that time, the harvesters would separate the wheat from the tares. The workers would place the wheat in to the barn and they also would save the weeds gathering them for fuel.
When Jesus concluded teaching by parables to the crowds, He returned to His home in Capernaum. At that time, His disciples came to Him and asked Him for the meaning of the Parable of the Weeds. Jesus complied with the disciples’ request.
“The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man” This is Jesus Christ.
“The field is the world.” This refers to the fallen world and its human inhabitants.
“The good seed is the sons of the kingdom.” They are those justified by grace alone, through faith alone, in the person and work of Jesus Christ alone. They are compared to wheat.
“The weeds are the sons of the evil one, and the enemy who sowed them is the devil.” The evil one is the devil. His sons are the unconverted. He is the enemy of the Son of Man, Jesus Christ.
“The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels.” They will harvest not only the saved but also the unsaved.
Jesus then said, “The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, 42 and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
Jesus continued by saying, “Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.” Jesus clearly referred to His divine authority when He refers to the future resurrection (Dan. 12:1-3).
He concluded by saying, “He who has ears, let him hear.” Jesus’ disciples, then and in the present day, must understand the reality and finality of the judgment of God upon the unrighteous. We must also give God praise for His grace in calling us to be members of the kingdom of heaven; His wheat.
Soli deo Gloria!
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