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Matthew 13:24-30

King James Version (KJV)

“In our prayers we talk to God, in our Bible study God talks to us, and we had better let God do most of the talking.”
— D.L. Moody

Scripture focus

24. Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which 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 blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. 27. So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? 28. He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? 29. But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. 30. 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 13:24-30 — KJV

Commentary

Commentary on Matthew 13:24

Theological / Devotional

Another parable. [The Tares, Matt. 13:24-30. On parables see pp. 203-207.] The parable of the Tares appears only in Matthew. It points out that not all of those who profess to accept the principles of the kingdom of heaven are what they may at first appear to be. Judas was one of these fair-weather Christians. Those who become disciples of Christ must not be surprised to find in the “kingdom of heaven” — the kingdom of divine grace here on earth (see on chs. 3:2; 4:17) — some whose lives have not been transformed by the gospel. Christ would have men know that such persons are not of His planting, that their lives are not the product of the gospel seed. Their presence in the church is due to the fact that “an enemy” has “planted” them there, with the twofold purpose of endangering the “wheat” (see on ch. 13:29) and dishonoring and ruining the owner of the “field.”

Put he forth unto them. Literally, “he set before them.”

Kingdom of heaven. See on chs. 3:2; 4:17; 5:3.

Sowed good seed. As in the previous parable, Jesus Himself is the sower of divine truth. The seed He came to sow is “good seed.” He must not be blamed for the fact that later on tares were discovered growing in the field. Whereas the previous parable dealt primarily with the reception of the seed of truth, this deals with its development. It is cheering to remember that the presence of tares among the wheat did not cause any of the wheat to be changed into tares.

In his field. This “field” is the “world” (see v. 38). It is true that in the world today there are both “tares” and “wheat,” both bad people and good people. But that is to be expected. Here Christ refers particularly to His church, God’s own special “field” (see COL 70). It should be noted that this parable represents “the kingdom of heaven,” that is, the present kingdom of divine grace, the church of God on earth.

By SdaBc