The Parable of the Weeds Explained

Matthew 13

36 Then Jesus sent the multitude away and went into the house. And His disciples came to Him, saying, "Explain to us the parable of the tares of the field." 37 He answered and said to them: "He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. 38 f "The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are g the sons of the wicked one. 39 "The enemy who sowed them is the devil, h the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels. 40 "Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. 41 "The Son of Man will send out His angels, i and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, 42 j "and will cast them into the furnace of fire. k There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 43 l "Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. m He who has ears to hear, let him hear!

  1. Cross References
    Matthew 24:14
    And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached...
    Matthew 28:19
    Go therefore and make disciples of all the nati...
    Mark 16:15
    And He said to them, "Go into all the world and...
    Luke 24:47
    And that repentance and remission of sins shoul...
    Romans 10:18
    But I say, have they not heard? Yes indeed: "Th...
    Colossians 1:6
    Which has come to you, as it has also in all th...
  2. Cross References
    Genesis 3:15
    And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel.
    John 8:44
    You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.
    Acts 13:10
    And said, "O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord?
  3. Cross References
    Joel 3:13
    Put in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Come, go down; For the winepress is full, The vats overflow - For their wickedness is great.
    Revelation 14:15
    And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, "Thrust in Your sickle and reap, for the time has come for You to reap, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.
  4. Cross References
    Matthew 18:7
    Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!
    2 Peter 2:1
    But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.
    2 Peter 2:2
    And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed.
  5. Cross References
    Matthew 3:12
    "His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire."
    Revelation 19:20
    Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone.
    Revelation 20:10
    The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
  6. Cross References
    Matthew 8:12
    "But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
    Matthew 13:50
    "and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth."
  7. Cross References
    Daniel 12:3
    Those who are wise shall shine Like the brightness of the firmament, And those who turn many to righteousness Like the stars forever and ever.
    1 Corinthians 15:42
    So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption.
    1 Corinthians 15:43
    It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power.
    1 Corinthians 15:58
    Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
  8. Cross References
    Matthew 13:9
    "He who has ears to hear, let him hear!"
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
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