Matthew 13:24-30

The Parable of the Tares/Bearded Darnel (13:24-30).

In this parable the sower sows good seed in a field, but by night his enemy sows bad seed. However, when asked if the bad seed should be removed the householder says ‘no', lest good seed also be removed in error. Both are to be allowed to grow together until the Harvest when the bad seed will be dealt with along with the good seed.

Analysis.

a Another parable set He before them, saying, “The Kingly Rule of Heaven is likened to a situation where a man sowed good seed in his field (Matthew 13:24).

b But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares (darnel) also among the wheat, and went away (Matthew 13:25).

c But when the blade sprang up and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares (darnel) also (Matthew 13:26).

d And the servants of the householder came and said to him, “Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? From where then has it tares (darnel)?” (Matthew 13:27).

c And he said to them, “An enemy has done this.” And the servants say to him, “Do you wish us then to go and gather them up?” (Matthew 13:28).

b But he says, “No, lest it happen that while you gather up the tares (darnel), you root up the wheat with them (Matthew 13:29).

a Let both grow together until the harvest, and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, ‘Gather up first the tares (darnel), and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn'.” (Matthew 13:30).

In ‘a' the good seed of the Kingly Rule of Heaven is sown, and in the parallel the Harvest results and the good seed is gathered into the barn. In ‘b' the enemy sows tares (darnel) among the wheat, and in the parallel it is not to be gathered up lest it also root up the wheat. In ‘c' first the fruitful blade springs up, and the tares (darnel) among them, and in the parallel the tares are (darnel is) recognised for what they are, the work of the enemy. Centrally in ‘d' is the question as to where the tares (darnel) came from.