Jesus told a parable about a farmer who sowed good seed in his field. However, while the farmer and his workers slept, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat. When the plants began to grow, the workers saw both wheat and weeds. The farmer told them to let both grow until harvest, when the weeds could be separated from the wheat. Jesus explained that the farmer represents God, the field is the world, the good seed are God's children, the weeds are evil people, and the harvest is Judgment Day when good and evil will be separated.

2. Jesus told His disciples a parable to help them understand the Kingdom of
Heaven. A farm owner after preparing his land for planting, carefully selected and
scattered good seed on the plowed soil.

3. At nightfall, the owner and his helpers were fast asleep.

4. His enemy came and sowed weeds, known as tares, among the wheat.

5. Tares look like wheat as they are growing but it is a poisonous weed not fit for
eating. Tares are also known as Lolium temulentum or bearded darnel (darnell), a
species of ryegrass. If one ate tares, it would make them feel intoxicated, giddy,
and sick. They would vomit, have stomach ache and diarrhea.

6. When the wheat crop began to grow, the tares grew among them too. The farm
helpers went to find the owner to warn him of the problem. "Sir, did you not sow
good seed in the field, however, where did the tares come from?" "An enemy did
this," the owner replied.

7. "Shall we try and pull out the tares?" they asked. "No," he replied. “You may pull
out the wheat along with the tares. So, let them grow together until the harvest."
The owner knew his helpers would be able to distinguish the tares from the wheat
at harvest time.

8. "I will tell the harvesters (reapers) to separate the tares first and burn them," the
owner said. With the poisonous tares gone, the reapers could then harvest the
wheat crop. The good seed would bring a good harvest to be put in the barns.

9. Then Jesus left the crowd and went into a house. His disciples asked Him to
explain the parable to them.

10. Jesus answered, "The person who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. The
field is the world, and the good seeds are the children of the kingdom. The tares
are the children of the evil one, and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The
harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels.”

11. Just as the tares (weeds) are gathered up and burned in the fire, at the end of the world,
Jesus will send out His angels to gather up all those who cause people to sin and those who
do evil things. They will throw them into a furnace of fire, where they will cry and gnash their
teeth. However, God's chosen people, the righteous ones, will shine like the sun in their
Father's Kingdom.

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13. Illustrations by Shalom Reuel