Parables Of Jesus Christ: Weeds In The Wheat
by Wayne Blank
See also 1 Year Holy Bible Reading Plan

The Messiah's parable of the "tares," or weeds, in the wheat field:

"13:24 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: 13:25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. 13:26 But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.
13:27 So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?

13:28 He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?

13:29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. 13:30 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." (Matthew 13:24-30 KJV)

"Let both grow together until the harvest"

"Tares," when they are young, are indistinguishable from wheat - to attempt to remove them when small would result in just as much wheat being lost. On the other hand, when the tares become grown, they do look different than the wheat, but by that time their root systems are so close to the wheat that removing the tares would damage the wheat. For that reason, both are permitted to grow until the time of harvest, as the Messiah further explained:

Wheat
"13:36 Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field.
13:37 He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; 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; 13:39 The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.

13:40 As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. 13:41 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; 13:42 And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 13:43 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear." (Matthew 13:36-43 KJV)

Salvation is about salvaging humanity from its self-imposed death sentence. But human beings are more than mindless wheat plants; they are living creatures that are capable of making themselves worthy to be saved by accepting the LORD's offer of salvation (see Growing In The Grace And Knowledge). That growth requires time to live a life of repentance and obedience - a life in a world rife with evil. But the LORD does not destroy all who are evil, yet, in order to give the "wheat" the time required to reach their harvest. Then, as Christ described in the parable, the "wheat" will be harvested, while the "chaff" will be burned (see the Fact Finder question below to understand what "baptism of fire" truly means.

The apostle Peter, who was among those present when Christ spoke the parable, later reiterated the lesson - and the warning.

"3:3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 3:4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation [see Christ The Creator]. 3:5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: 3:6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: 3:7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men [see Hydrogen].
3:8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord [see YHVH, Adonai, Jehovah, LORD and 'Before Abraham Was, I AM'] as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

3:11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 3:12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?3:13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness." (2 Peter 3:3-13 KJV)

Fact Finder: What does "baptism of fire" mean in the Word of God? Is it a reward for the righteous, or is it the condemnation of the wicked?
See Baptism Of Fire