Matthew 13:25
But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.
Original Language Analysis
τῷ
G3588
τῷ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
3 of 19
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
καθεύδειν
slept
G2518
καθεύδειν
slept
Strong's:
G2518
Word #:
4 of 19
to lie down to rest, i.e., (by implication) to fall asleep (literally or figuratively)
τοὺς
G3588
τοὺς
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
5 of 19
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ἦλθεν
came
G2064
ἦλθεν
came
Strong's:
G2064
Word #:
7 of 19
to come or go (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
αὐτοῦ
his
G846
αὐτοῦ
his
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
8 of 19
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
ὁ
G3588
ὁ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
9 of 19
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ἐχθρὸς
enemy
G2190
ἐχθρὸς
enemy
Strong's:
G2190
Word #:
10 of 19
hateful (passively, odious, or actively, hostile); usually as a noun, an adversary (especially satan)
καὶ
and
G2532
καὶ
and
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
11 of 19
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
ἀνὰ
among
G303
ἀνὰ
among
Strong's:
G303
Word #:
14 of 19
properly, up; but (by extension) used (distributively) severally, or (locally) at (etc.)
τοῦ
G3588
τοῦ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
16 of 19
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
Cross References
1 Peter 5:8Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:2 Peter 2:1But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.Matthew 13:39The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.Revelation 12:9And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.Hebrews 12:15Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;Matthew 25:5While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.Galatians 2:4And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:Revelation 2:20Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.
Historical Context
Bearded darnel was Palestine's most troublesome agricultural weed, toxic when consumed. Its seeds closely resembled wheat until maturity, making early identification nearly impossible. Roman legal codes included penalties for criminal 'oversowing' of enemy fields with darnel. Jesus's parable reflects real agricultural sabotage, making the illustration immediately comprehensible to farming communities.
Questions for Reflection
- Where do you see 'tares among wheat'—counterfeit Christians who look genuine but bear bad fruit?
- What does 'while men slept' warn church leaders about vigilance against false teaching?
- How should knowing tares and wheat coexist until harvest shape your expectations for church purity?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
While men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat (ἦλθεν αὐτοῦ ὁ ἐχθρὸς καὶ ἐπέσπειρεν ζιζάνια)—zizania refers to bearded darnel (Lolium temulentum), a weed virtually indistinguishable from wheat until grain heads form. The enemy (ὁ ἐχθρός) is Satan (v. 39), who deliberately counterfeits God's work. This isn't accidental contamination but intentional sabotage.
The nighttime sowing emphasizes stealth and evil intent—in Roman law, sowing another's field with weeds was a recognized crime. Satan's tares are false converts, counterfeit Christians who look genuine until tested. The timing while men slept warns against pastoral negligence; false teaching infiltrates when leaders aren't vigilant (Acts 20:28-31). The coexistence of wheat and tares until harvest describes the church age—true and false believers intermixed until final judgment.