Matthew 13:25
but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The "enemy" didn't just scatter any weeds; he sowed "tares" which were a type of degenerate wheat, almost indistinguishable from the real thing. This highlights that evil often disguises itself as good and blends in seamlessly, making it incredibly difficult to spot until much later.
In the parable of the sower, Jesus shifts to the parable of the weeds, describing how an enemy, under the cover of night while workers slept, maliciously sowed weeds among the wheat. This act highlights the subtle and hidden ways evil enters and corrupts, setting the stage for the later explanation of the enemy as the devil and the weeds as people influenced by him, who will grow alongside the righteous until judgment.
The parable reveals a critical moment when those responsible for the field are unaware and vulnerable. What does this 'sleeping' signify for us today?
The parable of the wheat and tares highlights the insidious nature of evil. The enemy strikes not in the bright light of day, but "while men slept." This wasn't just a random oversight; it points to the times when the guardians of truth, the church leaders, and even believers themselves, become spiritually drowsy.
What exactly are these 'weeds,' and why are they so dangerous? Their resemblance to the wheat is key to understanding their destructive power.
The 'tares' mentioned in the parable are not just any weeds; they are a specific type of plant, likely bearded darnel, that closely resembles wheat in its early stages. This similarity is what makes them so dangerous and difficult to deal with.
Understand the original words
echthros · Greek Noun
One who is hostile, an adversary, or a personal opponent. In a theological sense, it often refers to Satan or those who oppose God's purposes.
zizanion · Greek Noun
A plant often identified as darnel, which resembles wheat in its early stages but is inedible or poisonous. It serves as a symbol for false believers or the influence of evil introduced into the world.
Jesus uses the imagery of sowing weeds in a wheat field, a recognized act of malice in the ancient Near East, to illustrate how evil infiltrates the good, often subtly and under cover of darkness, by those who seek to corrupt and destroy.
c. 750-700 BC
Assyrian Captivity of Northern Israel
The Neo-Assyrian Empire under rulers like Tiglath-Pileser III and Sargon II began deporting Israelite populations from the northern kingdom of Israel. This event significantly disrupted Israelite society and marked a decline in its sovereignty.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Babylonian Exile
Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon conquered Jerusalem, destroyed the First Temple, and exiled a large portion of the Judean population to Babylon. This catastrophic event marked the end of the Davidic monarchy and profoundly shaped Jewish identity and theology.
c. 538 BC
Return from Exile and Temple Reconstruction
Following Cyrus the Great's conquest of Babylon, Persian policy allowed exiled Judeans to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their Temple. This marked a significant turning point, restoring religious life and national consciousness.
c. 175-164 BC
Maccabean Revolt
The Seleucid ruler Antiochus IV Epiphanes attempted to Hellenize Judea, leading to a revolt by the Maccabees. This struggle for religious and political freedom resulted in the rededication of the Second Temple.
This passage describes the original 'sowing' of sin and deception into humanity's heart by an enemy, mirroring how Satan introduces corruption into God's field.
1 Corinthians 3:9Paul calls believers 'God's field,' reinforcing the imagery Jesus uses and highlighting that we are God's cultivation, susceptible to the enemy's intrusions.
Galatians 5:17This verse speaks to the ongoing conflict between the desires of the flesh and the Spirit, illustrating the internal 'weeds' that can grow alongside good fruit within believers.
2 Corinthians 11:13-15This passage warns about false apostles and deceitful workers who disguise themselves as servants of Christ, directly paralleling the enemy's strategy of sowing deceptive 'weeds' among the 'wheat'.
Matthew 13:38-43Jesus himself explains this parable, explicitly identifying the 'weeds' as the 'sons of the evil one' and the 'harvest' as the final judgment, showing the ultimate outcome of the enemy's sowing.
barnesMatthew 13:25: "But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way."
While men slept, his enemy came ... - That is, "in the night," when it could be done without being seen, an enemy came and scattered bad seed on the new-plowed field, perhaps before the good seed had been harrowed in. Satan thus sows false doctrine in darkness. In the very place where the truth is preached, and while the hearts of people are open to receive it, by false but plausible teachers…
vincentMatthew 13:25: "But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way."
Sowed (ἐπέσπειρεν)The preposition ἐπί, upon, indicates sowing over what was previously sown. Rev., "sowed also."
The "enemy" didn't just scatter any weeds; he sowed "tares" which were a type of degenerate wheat, almost indistinguishable from the real thing. This highlights that evil often disguises itself as good and blends in seamlessly, making it incredibly difficult to spot until much later.
In the parable of the sower, Jesus shifts to the parable of the weeds, describing how an enemy, under the cover of night while workers slept, maliciously sowed weeds among the wheat. This act highlights the subtle and hidden ways evil enters and corrupts, setting the stage for the later explanation of the enemy as the devil and the weeds as people influenced by him, who will grow alongside the righteous until judgment.
In the parable of the sower, Jesus shifts to the parable of the weeds, describing how an enemy, under the cover of night while workers slept, maliciously sowed weeds among the wheat. This act highlights the subtle and hidden ways evil enters and corrupts, setting the stage for the later explanation of the enemy as the devil and the weeds as people influenced by him, who will grow alongside the righteous until judgment.
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The enemy doesn't stick around to explain his actions. His swift exit is as strategic as his initial act of malice.
There's a profound insight in the simple phrase, 'and went his way.' It reveals the devil's calculated strategy.
63 BC
Roman Intervention in Judea
The Roman general Pompey intervened in a succession dispute within the Hasmonean dynasty, leading to Roman control over Judea. This marked the beginning of Roman domination and a period of political instability.
c. AD 27-30
Jesus' Public Ministry
Jesus preached, taught, and performed miracles throughout Galilee and Judea, gathering disciples and challenging the religious and political status quo. This period culminated in his crucifixion.
c. AD 30-33— this verse
Jesus' Crucifixion and Resurrection
Jesus was crucified in Jerusalem, an event his followers believed was followed by his resurrection. This foundational event is central to Christian faith and theology.
"but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away." — The "enemy" didn't just scatter any weeds; he sowed "tares" which were a type of degenerate wheat, almost indistinguishable from the real thing. This highlights that evil often disguises itself as…
