The Parable of the Wheat and the Tares

The Parable of the Wheat and the Tares
Introduction
Open to Matthew 13. Jesus’ parables train our eyes to see the kingdom’s reality while we still live in a mixed field. News cycles, advertising, and public morals often blur the line between what is wholesome and what is corrupt. Jesus does not leave us guessing. He hands us a field picture—seed, soil, an enemy, and a harvest—so we can live wisely and patiently until the final sorting.

The Parable Read (Matthew 13:24–30)
A householder sows good seed in his own field. While men sleep, an enemy moves through the rows and scatters look-alike weeds among the young wheat. As the stalks head out, the problem becomes visible. Servants offer to pull the weeds. The master forbids the rush to uproot, since roots intertwine. He commands both to grow together until harvest; then reapers will bind the tares for burning and gather the wheat into his barn.

Jesus’ Own Explanation (Matthew 13:36–43)
Jesus identifies every element. The Sower is the Son of Man. The field is the world. The good seed are the sons of the kingdom. The tares are the sons of the evil one. The enemy is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age. The reapers are angels. At the end, the Son of Man will send forth His angels to remove out of His kingdom all causes of stumbling and those who practice lawlessness, casting them into the furnace of fire. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.

What Wheat and Tares Teach Us
Jesus’ audience knew a common weed called darnel—so like wheat in its early growth that farmers often could not distinguish the two until the head formed. That likeness makes the lesson plain. Within the realm where Christ exercises rule, genuine disciples grow beside those who disregard His authority. The resemblance can be convincing at first glance, yet the fruit reveals the plant.

Why God Allows Coexistence for a Season
The Master’s command to let both grow safeguards the wheat. Pulling too soon damages tender roots. God’s patience serves the growth of His people (2 Peter 3:9). He guards young faith, grants time for deeper rooting, and will bring an exact harvest when His wisdom appoints the day (Matthew 13:40).

Discipline Among God’s People Still Matters
The parable speaks of the world-field and the final harvest. Congregational life also requires holiness and restorative discipline. Jesus instructs His church to pursue an erring brother, step by step, for his restoration (Matthew 18:15–17). Paul directed churches to remove open, unrepentant sin for the purity and salvation of souls (1 Corinthians 5; 2 Thessalonians 3:6, 14–15). Patience toward the world’s mixture goes hand in hand with obedience to these passages inside the fellowship.

The Kingdom: Present and Awaiting Consummation
The Son of Man gathers out of “His kingdom” at the end (Matthew 13:41), which shows His reign operates now (Colossians 1:13; Revelation 1:9). When He comes, He will hand the finished kingdom to the Father (1 Corinthians 15:24–26). The kingdom therefore stands as a present reality that will be openly manifested in glory.

A Solemn Warning Against Lawlessness
Some stand within the realm of Christ’s rule and still practice lawlessness. Jesus describes many who will point to impressive religious activity yet lacked submission to the Father’s will (Matthew 7:21–23). John says abiding in the doctrine of Christ keeps one in fellowship with the Father and the Son (2 John 9). Paul gives the safeguard: whatever you do, in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus (Colossians 3:17). These warnings protect souls from the fire Jesus names in this parable (Matthew 13:42; 2 Thessalonians 1:7–9).

Hope for the Righteous
“The righteous will shine forth as the sun” (Matthew 13:43). That is the future of the faithful—an abundant entrance into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:11). Christ rules now; He will return with His angels to finish the harvest (Matthew 13:49; 2 Thessalonians 1:7–8). The barn stands ready for gathered wheat.

Hearing and Entering the Kingdom
Jesus’ repeated appeal—“He who has ears to hear, let him hear”—calls for action. Entrance into the kingdom comes by new birth of water and Spirit (John 3:5). The apostles preached and practiced this confession of faith, repentance, and baptism into Christ’s death and resurrection (Mark 16:16; Matthew 28:19–20; Acts 2:38–41; Acts 8:12, 35–39; Acts 22:16; Romans 6:3–5; Galatians 3:26–27; Colossians 2:12; Acts 16:30–34). Baptized believers then learn to observe all that Christ commanded, growing sturdy roots and clear fruit in a mixed field.

The Parable of the Wheat and the Tares  Sermon Outline

• Text: Matthew 13:24–30, 36–43
• Thesis: Christ’s kingdom advances in a mixed world; God preserves His people through patience now and perfect judgment at the harvest.
• I. The Parable Stated (Matt 13:24–30)
  • A. Good seed sown; an enemy sows tares
  • B. Visibility arrives at heading; master orders patience
  • C. Harvest plan: bind tares for burning; gather wheat into barn
• II. The Parable Explained (Matt 13:36–43)
  • A. Sower—Son of Man; field—world
  • B. Good seed—sons of the kingdom; tares—sons of the evil one
  • C. Enemy—devil; harvest—end of the age; reapers—angels
  • D. Removal of stumbling and lawlessness; furnace of fire; shining of the righteous
• III. Lessons for the Present
  • A. God’s patience nurtures growth (2 Pet 3:9)
  • B. Church discipline remains required inside congregational life (Matt 18:15–17; 1 Cor 5; 2 Thess 3:6, 14–15)
  • C. The kingdom exists now and awaits consummation (Col 1:13; Rev 1:9; 1 Cor 15:24–26)
• IV. Warnings to Heed
  • A. Lawlessness exposed at judgment (Matt 7:21–23)
  • B. Abide in Christ’s teaching (2 John 9)
  • C. Act under Christ’s authority (Col 3:17)
  • D. Eternal consequences declared (Matt 13:42; 2 Thess 1:7–9; Matt 13:49)
• V. Hope Held Out
  • A. The righteous will shine (Matt 13:43; 2 Pet 1:11)
  • B. Harvest certainty; angels as reapers (Matt 13:39; 2 Thess 1:7–8)
• VI. Entering and Growing
  • A. New birth of water and Spirit (John 3:5)
  • B. Apostolic call and pattern: believe, repent, be baptized, learn (Mark 16:16; Matt 28:19–20; Acts 2:38–41; Acts 8; Acts 22:16; Rom 6:3–5; Gal 3:26–27; Col 2:12; Acts 16:30–34)

Call to Action
Plant your life where the Sower’s hand placed His seed. Submit to His word, turn from lawlessness, and come into Christ through baptism. If you have grown among entangling roots, ask the Lord to deepen your convictions and purify your loyalties. If a brother or sister needs gentle correction, follow Jesus’ steps with humility and courage. Keep your eyes on the barn and your heart set on shining in the Father’s kingdom.

Scripture Reference List

• Matthew 13:24–30, 36–43 — Parable and Jesus’ explanation of wheat, tares, enemy, harvest, and outcome
• 2 Peter 3:9 — The Lord’s longsuffering grants time for repentance and growth
• Matthew 18:15–17 — Instruction for addressing sin within the congregation
• 1 Corinthians 5 — Purity and restorative discipline among saints
• 2 Thessalonians 3:6, 14–15 — Withdraw from disorderly conduct while admonishing as family
• Colossians 1:13 — Transfer into the kingdom of the Son now
• Revelation 1:9 — Shared participation in the kingdom in the present age
• 1 Corinthians 15:24–26 — Christ delivers the kingdom to the Father at His coming
• Matthew 7:21–23 — Entrance requires doing the Father’s will; lawlessness rejected
• 2 John 9 — Abiding in the doctrine of Christ maintains fellowship with God
• Colossians 3:17 — Words and deeds carried out under Christ’s authority
• 2 Thessalonians 1:7–9 — Retribution on those who do not know God or obey the gospel
• Matthew 13:49 — Angels separate the wicked from among the righteous
• 2 Peter 1:11 — Abundant entrance into the everlasting kingdom
• John 3:5 — New birth of water and Spirit for kingdom entrance
• Mark 16:16 — Belief and baptism joined in salvation message
• Matthew 28:19–20 — Make disciples, baptize, teach all Jesus commanded
• Acts 2:38–41 — Repentance, baptism for forgiveness, and reception of the Spirit
• Acts 8:12, 35–39 — Preaching Jesus leads to baptism into Christ
• Acts 22:16 — Arise and be baptized, washing away sins
• Romans 6:3–5 — Baptism into Christ’s death and resurrection life
• Galatians 3:26–27 — Baptized into Christ, clothed with Christ
• Colossians 2:12 — Buried with Him in baptism, raised through faith
• Acts 16:30–34 — Household faith responds in baptism the same hour of the night

Prepared by Pat Cowden