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 13:30KJVWhat does Matthew 13:30 mean?
Matthew 13:30 describes how both the wheat and the tares (weeds) are to be allowed to grow together until the harvest, at which time the reapers will first gather the tares to be burned and then gather the wheat into the barn. This verse uses the image of a harvest to show that judgment and separation will come at a set time, not before.
In this passage, Jesus is speaking to a crowd, telling a parable about a farmer whose field contains both good wheat and unwanted tares. The farmer instructs his workers not to pull up the tares immediately, but to wait until harvest so the separation can be done properly. The verse highlights patience and the idea that final judgment belongs to God, not people.
The Greek behind Matthew 13:30
- "Tares" (ζιζάνια, zizanía): This word refers to a specific kind of weed that looks very similar to wheat when young, making it hard to distinguish between the two until they mature. This detail sharpens the parable’s point about why separation must wait.
- "Harvest" (θερισμός, therismós): The Greek word for harvest often carries the sense of a decisive, final gathering. Here, it emphasizes that the sorting will happen at a specific, appointed time.
- "Bind" (δέω, deō): The instruction to bind the tares in bundles before burning shows an orderly, deliberate process, not a hasty or careless one.
- "Barn" (ἀποθήκη, apothēkē): The barn is a place of safety and storage, highlighting the care given to the wheat as it is gathered in.
Why Matthew 13:30 matters
- Matthew 13:30 clarifies that immediate judgment or removal of the "tares" is not the approach Jesus teaches; instead, there is a period of waiting until the right time.
- The verse emphasizes that distinguishing between true and false, or good and bad, is not always possible or wise before the final "harvest," reminding readers of human limitations.
- This verse connects to the larger message of the parable, which is about the kingdom of heaven and how God's timing and judgment differ from human expectations.