THE WHEAT AND THE TARES
Parable
The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in they field? from whence then hath it tares? He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with 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. When Jesus had retired to the house in which He lodged, the disciples came, saying: declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field. He answered and said unto them, 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; the enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; and shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. - Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43
The Wheat and the Tares (Biblical)
In the original parable, a householder plants wheat in a field. While he sleeps, his enemy comes and sows tares, or weeds, among the wheat. When the wheat begins to grow, the servants discover the weeds and run to the householder asking if they should pull up the tares. The householder explains that the servants cannot always tell the difference between the two plants and it is best to let them grow together until the time of the harvest when He will send in reapers to pull up the tares and burn them while gathering the wheat into his barn. Jesus explains that God is the householder and the wheat represents those who follow Him. The enemy is Satan and the tares are those who follow him. The harvest is the end of the world and the reapers are God's angels which will come down and judge the wicked and the righteous.
