When Jesus began teaching in parables, it marked a significant shift in His ministry. Early on, His message to Israel was plain: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near” (Matthew 4:17). But after Israel’s religious leaders rejected Him, even accusing Him of working by Satan’s power (Matthew 12:24), Jesus adopted a new teaching method. He began to speak in parables—stories that concealed truth from hardened hearts while revealing it to those who believed.
He explained this to His disciples:
“The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them” (Matthew 13:11).
This fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy (Matthew 13:14–15), showing that the parables were both judgment and mercy—judgment to those who rejected Him, mercy to those ready to receive. Parables were more than stories; they were spiritual filters, designed to separate the sincere from the insincere.
From a dispensational perspective, these parables reveal the mystery phase of the Kingdom—a phase not described in the Old Testament, unfolding between Christ’s rejection and His Second Coming. The parables don’t give doctrinal instruction for the Church. Instead, they reveal truths about God’s Kingdom plan during the period of the King’s absence. They point to the hidden work of the Kingdom now and its full unveiling when Christ returns.
Words: 1349 / Time to read: 7 minutes
The Parable of the Wheat and the Weeds
Matthew 13:24–30
“The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.
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?’
‘An enemy did this,’ he replied.
The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’
‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. 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.’”
Understanding the Parable
This parable follows immediately after the Parable of the Sower, but with a new focus. Rather than describing individual responses to the Kingdom message, it addresses how true believers and false converts will coexist in the world until Christ’s return.
The Farmer and His Field
The farmer represents the Son of Man (Jesus). The field is the world, not just the Church (Matthew 13:38). The good seed stands for the sons of the Kingdom—true believers. The enemy who sows weeds is the devil, and the weeds represent the sons of the evil one.
The Strategy of the Enemy
Satan’s primary strategy is deception. He plants counterfeit believers alongside the true to corrupt and confuse. These “weeds” often look like wheat at first (likely darnel, a weed nearly identical in appearance to wheat until maturity). The presence of these false converts isn’t accidental—it is a deliberate act of spiritual sabotage.
The Delay of Judgment
The servants want to pull up the weeds immediately, but the farmer says no. Premature action could harm the wheat. Instead, both are to grow together until the harvest—the end of the age—when the separation will occur. This points to God’s patience and the timing of divine judgment.
The Harvest and Final Judgment
At harvest (the end of the age), the weeds will be gathered first and burned, symbolizing eternal punishment. The wheat will be brought into the barn—the sons of the Kingdom will shine in glory in the Kingdom of their Father (Matthew 13:43).
How This Parable Fits God’s Kingdom Program
This parable offers crucial insight into the mystery phase of the Kingdom. It explains why the Kingdom, though offered, was not established at that time. The King had come, but His reign was postponed due to Israel’s rejection. In this interim period, true and false believers exist side by side. The visible Kingdom awaits the Second Coming.
The parable also anticipates the end of the age, when Christ will return in power and glory. The Church, already raptured, will return with Him. The righteous remnant of Israel and believing Gentiles will enter the Kingdom. The wicked will be removed in judgment. This pattern echoes Old Testament prophecies of the day of the Lord (Joel 3:12–16) and the New Testament’s picture of final separation (Revelation 14:14–20).
During the Tribulation, this parable will take on renewed relevance. The 144,000 Jewish evangelists (Revelation 7) and the Two Witnesses (Revelation 11) will proclaim God’s truth amid great deception. The difference between true wheat and weeds will become stark, as many false converts follow the Antichrist, while the faithful endure.
Apostolic Teaching and Church-Age Reflection
Though the parable isn’t about the Church specifically, its principles apply. The apostles warned of false teachers and counterfeit believers infiltrating Christian communities:
- Paul: “Having a form of godliness but denying its power.” (2 Timothy 3:5)
- Jude: “Certain individuals whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you.” (Jude 4)
However, the Church is called to practice discipline now, not to wait for the final harvest. Paul urges believers to rebuke and, if necessary, remove those who spread false doctrine (Titus 3:10–11).
Cultural and Historical Context
Jesus’ listeners would have immediately grasped the seriousness of this scenario. Darnel (the likely weed referenced) was a major agricultural problem. Roman law forbade intentionally sowing it in an enemy’s field—a crime of economic sabotage. The danger lay in its similarity to wheat; the difference became clear only at harvest, when wheat produced grain, and darnel did not.
Ancient farmers knew pulling up darnel too soon risked damaging the wheat. This vivid image underscores Jesus’ message: God allows both to grow for now, but judgment will come in His perfect time.
Final Reflection
The Parable of the Wheat and the Weeds is a sobering reminder that not all who appear to be part of God’s people truly belong. As Jesus said elsewhere:
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 7:21)
But it is also a message of hope. The righteous will shine like the sun in the Kingdom. God knows His own, and His timing is perfect. We are called to be discerning, faithful, and patient—trusting the Lord of the harvest to make all things right.
As Charles Ryrie wrote:
“The parables of the Kingdom describe not the Church but the course of the age while the King is absent, awaiting His return in glory.”
Want to Go Deeper?
This post is adapted from my book, The Parables of Jesus: Covert Communication from the King (Grace and Knowledge Series, Book 7). It offers clear, verse-by-verse explanations of every parable using a faithful dispensational lens.
👉 Read the full book on Amazon →
(Includes all parables in Gospel order, Old Testament parallels, and detailed Kingdom commentary.)
All Scripture quoted from:
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Related
The Parable of the Wheat and the Weeds – Matthew 13:24–30, 36–43
Published by Brother Woody BrohmWhen Jesus began teaching in parables, it marked a significant shift in His ministry. Early on, His message to Israel was plain: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near” (Matthew 4:17). But after Israel’s religious leaders rejected Him, even accusing Him of working by Satan’s power (Matthew 12:24), Jesus adopted a new teaching method. He began to speak in parables—stories that concealed truth from hardened hearts while revealing it to those who believed.
He explained this to His disciples:
This fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy (Matthew 13:14–15), showing that the parables were both judgment and mercy—judgment to those who rejected Him, mercy to those ready to receive. Parables were more than stories; they were spiritual filters, designed to separate the sincere from the insincere.
From a dispensational perspective, these parables reveal the mystery phase of the Kingdom—a phase not described in the Old Testament, unfolding between Christ’s rejection and His Second Coming. The parables don’t give doctrinal instruction for the Church. Instead, they reveal truths about God’s Kingdom plan during the period of the King’s absence. They point to the hidden work of the Kingdom now and its full unveiling when Christ returns.
Words: 1349 / Time to read: 7 minutes
The Parable of the Wheat and the Weeds
Matthew 13:24–30
Understanding the Parable
This parable follows immediately after the Parable of the Sower, but with a new focus. Rather than describing individual responses to the Kingdom message, it addresses how true believers and false converts will coexist in the world until Christ’s return.
The Farmer and His Field
The farmer represents the Son of Man (Jesus). The field is the world, not just the Church (Matthew 13:38). The good seed stands for the sons of the Kingdom—true believers. The enemy who sows weeds is the devil, and the weeds represent the sons of the evil one.
The Strategy of the Enemy
Satan’s primary strategy is deception. He plants counterfeit believers alongside the true to corrupt and confuse. These “weeds” often look like wheat at first (likely darnel, a weed nearly identical in appearance to wheat until maturity). The presence of these false converts isn’t accidental—it is a deliberate act of spiritual sabotage.
The Delay of Judgment
The servants want to pull up the weeds immediately, but the farmer says no. Premature action could harm the wheat. Instead, both are to grow together until the harvest—the end of the age—when the separation will occur. This points to God’s patience and the timing of divine judgment.
The Harvest and Final Judgment
At harvest (the end of the age), the weeds will be gathered first and burned, symbolizing eternal punishment. The wheat will be brought into the barn—the sons of the Kingdom will shine in glory in the Kingdom of their Father (Matthew 13:43).
How This Parable Fits God’s Kingdom Program
This parable offers crucial insight into the mystery phase of the Kingdom. It explains why the Kingdom, though offered, was not established at that time. The King had come, but His reign was postponed due to Israel’s rejection. In this interim period, true and false believers exist side by side. The visible Kingdom awaits the Second Coming.
The parable also anticipates the end of the age, when Christ will return in power and glory. The Church, already raptured, will return with Him. The righteous remnant of Israel and believing Gentiles will enter the Kingdom. The wicked will be removed in judgment. This pattern echoes Old Testament prophecies of the day of the Lord (Joel 3:12–16) and the New Testament’s picture of final separation (Revelation 14:14–20).
During the Tribulation, this parable will take on renewed relevance. The 144,000 Jewish evangelists (Revelation 7) and the Two Witnesses (Revelation 11) will proclaim God’s truth amid great deception. The difference between true wheat and weeds will become stark, as many false converts follow the Antichrist, while the faithful endure.
Apostolic Teaching and Church-Age Reflection
Though the parable isn’t about the Church specifically, its principles apply. The apostles warned of false teachers and counterfeit believers infiltrating Christian communities:
However, the Church is called to practice discipline now, not to wait for the final harvest. Paul urges believers to rebuke and, if necessary, remove those who spread false doctrine (Titus 3:10–11).
Cultural and Historical Context
Jesus’ listeners would have immediately grasped the seriousness of this scenario. Darnel (the likely weed referenced) was a major agricultural problem. Roman law forbade intentionally sowing it in an enemy’s field—a crime of economic sabotage. The danger lay in its similarity to wheat; the difference became clear only at harvest, when wheat produced grain, and darnel did not.
Ancient farmers knew pulling up darnel too soon risked damaging the wheat. This vivid image underscores Jesus’ message: God allows both to grow for now, but judgment will come in His perfect time.
Final Reflection
The Parable of the Wheat and the Weeds is a sobering reminder that not all who appear to be part of God’s people truly belong. As Jesus said elsewhere:
But it is also a message of hope. The righteous will shine like the sun in the Kingdom. God knows His own, and His timing is perfect. We are called to be discerning, faithful, and patient—trusting the Lord of the harvest to make all things right.
As Charles Ryrie wrote:
Want to Go Deeper?
This post is adapted from my book, The Parables of Jesus: Covert Communication from the King (Grace and Knowledge Series, Book 7). It offers clear, verse-by-verse explanations of every parable using a faithful dispensational lens.
👉 Read the full book on Amazon →
(Includes all parables in Gospel order, Old Testament parallels, and detailed Kingdom commentary.)
All Scripture quoted from:
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Related