Matthew 13:38-39
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It’s easy to see "sons of the evil one" as just referring to obviously wicked people, but the Greek word used here for "evil one" can also mean "wicked" or "harmful" in a general sense. This reminds us that those who oppose God’s kingdom aren't always openly rebellious; they can be subtly harmful, sowing discord and confusion within the world that God has made His own.
The field is the world, and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus has just told the parable of the sower, and his disciples are asking for clarification. He then explains the parable of the weeds, which reveals a spiritual reality: the world itself is the field where both genuine followers of God ("sons of the kingdom") and those aligned with evil ("sons of the evil one") coexist. This coexistence is not accidental but is part of a larger cosmic drama that will only be fully sorted out at the end of time.
Jesus paints a picture of a farmer sowing seeds. But where is this harvest happening? The answer might be bigger than you think.
Jesus is crystal clear: The field is the world. This isn't just about a local village or even a specific nation. The scope is global, encompassing every corner of the earth where humanity resides. This immediately broadens our perspective, showing that God's work and His discernment extend far beyond our immediate surroundings.
Think about it:
In this spiritual garden, two very different kinds of seeds are present. What do they represent, and why is their presence so significant?
Jesus identifies two distinct groups within the world-field:
The Good Seed: Sons of the Kingdom
These are the genuine believers, those who belong to God's reign. They are characterized by their relationship with God and their destiny within His kingdom. They are born of God and reflect His nature.
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The Weeds: Sons of the Evil One
These represent those who belong to the adversary, the evil one. They may outwardly appear similar to the good seed, perhaps even professing faith, but their true allegiance and nature are opposed to God's will. They follow the ways of the wicked one.
This distinction isn't about outward performance alone, but about the underlying spiritual lineage and allegiance.
Understand the original words
hoi huioi tēs basileias · Greek Noun phrase
Those who belong to God's redemptive reign, characterized by faith in Christ and obedience to His kingdom's principles.
echthros · Greek Noun
An adversary or opponent; in this context, it refers to the spiritual force of rebellion against God, embodied in Satan.
diabolos · Greek Noun
The supreme adversary of God and humanity, the tempter and accuser who actively works to oppose God's kingdom and deceive the world.
synteleia aiōnos · Greek Noun phrase
The culmination of human history, marked by the final judgment, the vindication of God's people, and the establishment of the eternal state.
angeloi · Greek Noun
Supernatural beings created by God who act as His messengers and agents, particularly in carrying out divine judgment and gathering the elect at the end of time.
This passage directly contrasts those who belong to God with those who belong to the devil, mirroring Matthew 13:38's distinction between the 'sons of the kingdom' and the 'sons of the evil one' within the world.
Galatians 5:19-21It lists the 'works of the flesh' which are behaviors characteristic of the 'sons of the evil one,' providing concrete examples of the 'weeds' that would be evident in contrast to the 'good seed.'
John 8:44Jesus describes the devil as the 'father of lies' and a murderer from the beginning, directly linking the 'sons of the evil one' to the characteristics and origin of evil itself.
1 Corinthians 3:9This verse calls believers 'God's field' and 'God's building,' expanding on the imagery of the field being cultivated and built upon, though it focuses on the church rather than the entire world.
pulpitMatthew 13:38: "The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;"
Verse 38. - The children of the kingdom; the sons, etc. (Revised Version); Matthew 5:9, note. The tares are the children of the wicked one; of the evil one (Revised Version); cf. Matthew 6:13, note. (On the bearing that the evidence of the Old Syriac and the Old Latin versions here has on the masculine interpretation there, see Chase, 'Lord's Prayer,' etc., p…
ellicottMatthew 13:38: "The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;"
(38) The tares are the children of the wicked one. —It was, perhaps, natural that theologians, who saw in heresy the greatest of all evils, should identify the tares with heretics. So far as heresy rises from the spirit of self-will, or antagonism to righteousness, we may admit that they are included in the class, but the true definition is that given in Matt…
It’s easy to see "sons of the evil one" as just referring to obviously wicked people, but the Greek word used here for "evil one" can also mean "wicked" or "harmful" in a general sense. This reminds us that those who oppose God’s kingdom aren't always openly rebellious; they can be subtly harmful, sowing discord and confusion within the world that God has made His own.
Jesus has just told the parable of the sower, and his disciples are asking for clarification. He then explains the parable of the weeds, which reveals a spiritual reality: the world itself is the field where both genuine followers of God ("sons of the kingdom") and those aligned with evil ("sons of the evil one") coexist. This coexistence is not accidental but is part of a larger cosmic drama that will only be fully sorted out at the end of time.
Jesus has just told the parable of the sower, and his disciples are asking for clarification. He then explains the parable of the weeds, which reveals a spiritual reality: the world itself is the field where both genuine followers of God ("sons of the kingdom") and those aligned with evil ("sons of the evil one") coexist. This coexistence is not accidental but is part of a larger cosmic drama that will only be fully sorted out at the end of time.
"The field is the world, and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels." — It’s easy to see "sons of the evil one" as just referring to obviously wicked people, but the Greek word used here for "evil one" can also mean "wicked" or "harmful" in a general sense. This reminds…
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Last reviewed October 2026
