What Separates the Wheat from the Weeds! Matthew 13:24-30

The Parable of the Weeds

Jesus tells them another parable with a similar, but different theme.  Again he starts by saying, "the kingdom of heaven is like".  Jesus is giving them the secrets of the kingdom to reveal spiritual realities through these practical stories.  

24 Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. 

We can assume that the good seed means followers of God and Christ, similar to the seeds in the previous parable which were planted in the four different soil conditions. Only one of the seeds produced fruit 30, 60 and 90 times over which is represented by the sprouting wheat in this parable. But in this parable something external threatens the wheat which has already sprouted.  

25 But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. 

The enemy is always interpreted as the devil, who is always trying to destroy the work of God's kingdom coming on earth as it is in heaven.  Why?  Because he can't fight against God's kingdom and power and he knows he would ultimately be destroyed by it.  He can only try to corrupt those who are a part of God's kingdom while he has limited time and power.   

"We note that this parable clearly describes corruption among the people of God. Just as in the previous parable, the wheat represents the people of God. Some corrupting influence is brought, and an influence that may look genuine even as tares may resemble real wheat." (Guzik)

26 When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.

This type of weed was usually called "darnel", and it looked very similar to the wheat.  

As I work in my yard sometimes it is hard to distinguish the good grass with the weeds.  I can only see the difference when I know what the true grass looks like.  But knowing what the real thing looks like helps me to spot the imposter. 

Notice too it is right at the time that the wheat sprouted that the weeds appeared.  Satan hates Christians who are growing, starting to bear fruit, and operating in kingdom power.  He spends more time working against Christians who are "on fire" than those who are asleep or dying.  

27 “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?’

The servants were unaware of the source of the weeds.  Many times Christians are unaware of the devil's schemes.  They are surprised when he rears his ugly head.  Paul says 2 Corinthians 2:11,

"I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, 11 in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes."

28 “‘An enemy did this,’ he replied. “The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’

It makes sense that the servants would want to get ride of the weeds as soon as possible.  But the problem was they might not recognize as they pulled up the weeds that they were pulling up wheat.  

29 “‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. 

"In the interest of preserving and protecting the wheat, the wise farmer did not separate the tares from the wheat until the time of harvest." (Guzik)

Though the owner was concerned about the weeds, he was more concerned about the wheat.  He was more afraid of losing good wheat than eliminating the bad weeds.  But there would be a time of judgment when the two would be separated. And it would be final.  This time was when the wheat was harvested and used for its ultimate purpose.  

30 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 and bring it into my barn.’” 

There would be a time when the weeds were dealt with, but for now they had to keep the wheat growing until it could be harvested.  

This refers to the day of judgement when God will judge the living and the dead.  The wheat, or those who have believed in Jesus Christ, will be harvested to eternal life.  This was the ultimate purpose of the believer. To come into a relationship with God through Christ, bear fruit,  and then one day be with him forever.  Though the weed was allowed to co-exist with the wheat, at the day of judgment they will be burned up like chaff.  They have no value except to try and corrupt and kill the wheat before that final day.  

So is the fate of anyone the devil has used to corrupt God's kingdom and God's children.  While God will allow time for them to co-exist with God's own children, one day they will be judged and extinguised forevermore. 

Though we do not know when the day of judgment comes, there will be a separation of the true followers of Christ and those who masqueraded as believers. but they were really of the enemy.  How can we distinguish real Christians from imposters?  When we know the truth of God's Word. we can notice the difference between truth and error.  The Holy Spirit gives us discernment when someone is not of God, but really of the enemy.  

This is why we need to pray and be in God's Word daily, so we can avoid being corrupted by the enemy.  Though we have to live in a world of evil that is constantly trying to corrupt us, one day we will be separated from sin, death and the power of the devil to live with God forever.  

How do you recognize the schemes of the devil?  How do you notice the difference between a real Christian and a false believer?  Are you continuing to grow as wheat, or are you being "choked out" by the weeds?  Do you surround yourself with wheat (other Christians) or hang out with the weeds?