The Parable of the Tares, also known as the Parable of the Weeds, is a significant teaching of Jesus Christ found in the Gospel of Matthew. This parable is part of a series of teachings that Jesus delivered to illustrate the nature of the Kingdom of Heaven. It is recorded in Matthew 13:24-30, with an explanation provided by Jesus in Matthew 13:36-43.

Text of the Parable:

In the Berean Standard Bible , the parable is presented as follows:

"Jesus put before them another parable: 'The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was asleep, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and slipped away. When the wheat sprouted and bore grain, then the weeds also appeared.

The owner’s servants came to him and said, "Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?"

"An enemy did this," he replied.

So the servants asked him, "Do you want us to go and pull them up?"

"No," he said, "if you pull the weeds now, you might uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters, 'First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat into my barn.'"'" (Matthew 13:24-30)

Explanation of the Parable:

Later, Jesus provides an explanation of the parable to His disciples:

"Then He dismissed the crowds and went into the house. His disciples came to Him and said, 'Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.'

He replied, 'The One who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed represents the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.

As the weeds are collected and burned in the fire, so will it be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will weed out of His kingdom every cause of sin and all who practice lawlessness. And they will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.'" (Matthew 13:36-43)

Interpretation and Significance:

The Parable of the Tares is a profound teaching on the coexistence of good and evil in the world until the final judgment. The "good seed" represents the children of the Kingdom, those who follow Christ and live according to His teachings. The "weeds" or "tares" symbolize those who follow the evil one, the devil, and live in opposition to God's will.

The parable emphasizes the patience and forbearance of God, who allows both the righteous and the wicked to coexist until the appointed time of judgment. This reflects the current state of the world, where believers and non-believers live side by side. The ultimate separation and judgment are reserved for the end of the age, when Christ will return to establish His Kingdom fully.

The imagery of the harvest underscores the certainty of divine judgment. The righteous will be gathered into God's eternal Kingdom, while the wicked will face eternal separation from God. This parable serves as both a warning and an encouragement: a warning of the consequences of living apart from God and an encouragement to remain faithful and steadfast in the hope of eternal life.

In summary, the Parable of the Tares offers a vivid portrayal of the Kingdom of Heaven, highlighting the reality of spiritual warfare, the patience of God, and the assurance of final justice. It calls believers to live with discernment and hope, trusting in God's ultimate plan for redemption and judgment.Matthew 13:24-30,36-43
Another parable put he forth to them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened to a man which sowed good seed in his field:
Nave's Topical Index

The Tares.
... of good cheer; believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou ... It is, indeed, a parable
concerning the kingdom of ... When the tares prosper, the wheat languishes: when ...
//christianbookshelf.org/arnot/the parables of our lord/ii the tares.htm

New Teaching in Parables' - the Parables to the People by the Lake ...
... representations of the Person and Teaching of Christ. ... to themselves, fulfilling what
Jesus was speaking to ... further unfolded, in the next Parable concerning the ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xxiii new teaching in.htm

The Prodigal Son.
... The view that Jesus gives is the true view of the Father ... that conclusion by affirming
that the father in the parable represents Christ, err equally ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/arnot/the parables of our lord/xxiv the prodigal son.htm

The Germination of the Earth.
... which mix themselves with the harvest, the tares of Scripture ... must we, in the spirit
of the parable, put forth ... our God, [1564] in our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom ...
/.../basil/basil letters and select works/homily v the germination of.htm

Book I.
... the householder slept, an enemy sowed tares, and that ... oats among the good corn, this
parable of the ... through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: whom God ...
//christianbookshelf.org/jerome/the principal works of st jerome/book i.htm

Letter cxxx. To Demetrias.
... the greater horror as it severs us from Christ the one ... When Jesus was crowned with
thorns and bore our sins ... The gospel teaches us this in the parable of the ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/letter cxxx to demetrias.htm

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