The Wheat and the Tares

Jesus often used farming pictures because people of that time understood the land and the harvest. The parable of the wheat and the tares is one of His clearest and most serious lessons. Many have thought it was about the saved and the unsaved—the world outside the church. But when you look closely at Jesus’ own explanation, it’s clear He was warning about something far more personal: false believers growing among the true within the very heart of the church.

Matthew 13:24–30
 “Jesus presented another parable to them, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and left. And when the wheat sprouted and produced grain, then the tares also became evident. The servants said to him, “Do you want us, then, to go and gather them up?” But he said, “No; while you are gathering up the tares, you may uproot the wheat with them. Allow both to grow together until the harvest; and at the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, ‘First gather up the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them up; but gather the wheat into my barn.’”’”

Later, Jesus explained the parable Himself.

Matthew 13:37–43
 “He said, ‘The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man, and the field is the world; and as for the good seed, these are the sons of the kingdom; and the tares are the sons of the evil one; and the enemy who sowed them is the devil, and the harvest is the end of the age; and the reapers are angels. So just as the tares are gathered up and burned with fire, so shall it be at the end of the age; the Son of Man will send forth His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all stumbling blocks, and those who commit lawlessness, and they will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine forth like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.’”

When you take Jesus at His word, the meaning is plain. The field represents the world, and within it grow both true believers—the wheat—and false believers—the tares. They share the same field, but they are not the same seed.

A tare is a kind of weed called Darnel. It looks almost identical to wheat while it grows. Both are green and upright. But when harvest time comes, the difference shows. Wheat bends under the weight of real grain, but the tares stay stiff and proud because they are empty. That picture fits perfectly with spiritual reality. The true believer is humble and fruitful, bearing the evidence of God’s Spirit. The false believer stands tall, full of self, and barren of truth.

Jesus said these tares were “the sons of the evil one.” That’s strong language. He was not describing confused seekers or people who just hadn’t heard yet. He was describing those sown by the devil to imitate the real thing. They sing, pray, and serve in the same field, but their hearts are never changed by the Spirit of God.

This truth isn’t isolated to one parable. The New Testament confirms it again and again. Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 11:13–15, “For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness; whose end will be according to their deeds.”

John said in 1 John 2:19, “They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be shown that they all are not of us.”

And Jude warned in Jude 4, “For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into indecent behavior and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.”

All these verses describe the same kind of people—the tares. They are planted by the enemy, blend in with the wheat, and work their way into the church. They look alive, but their root is dead.

The danger isn’t only that they exist, but that we can’t always tell them apart from the real thing. Jesus said not to pull them up because in doing so we might harm the wheat. That tells us two things. First, the judgment belongs to God alone. Second, we must be discerning, but patient. The harvest—the final separation—comes at the end of the age when the angels, not men, will do the sorting.

This parable also speaks to the false comfort of appearance. A tare can grow right beside wheat and still remain lost. That means being near truth, hearing it, and even agreeing with it is not the same as being born again. Only those drawn by the Father and made alive by the Spirit are true wheat. Jesus said in John 6:44, “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.”

So the message of this parable is not about the evil world versus the good church—it is a warning to the church itself. Not all who claim the name of Christ belong to Him. At the harvest, that difference will be revealed.

For the believer, that truth should bring both comfort and caution. Comfort, because God knows who are His and will keep them safe until the end. Caution, because appearance is not assurance. True wheat bears fruit. It bends low in humility and grows from the seed Christ Himself planted.

The real question is one of discernment—can we tell the difference between what only looks alive and what truly is? Jesus could, and He calls His people to see with the same spiritual eyes.

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“What I write is not for everyone, but what I write is meant for someone.” – Dean Butler

I am the author of two books: Embracing God's Wisdom: A Journey of Faith and Reflection and Embracing God’s Wisdom: Paul’s Commands for Victorious Living. Both are available on Amazon.

This work may be shared for ministry or personal use, but please credit the author when doing so. © Dean Butler – Dean’s Bible Blog. All rights reserved.

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“I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service.” (1 Timothy 1:12)