Matthew 13:39
The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.
Original Language Analysis
ὁ
G3588
ὁ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
1 of 21
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ἐχθρὸς
The enemy
G2190
ἐχθρὸς
The enemy
Strong's:
G2190
Word #:
3 of 21
hateful (passively, odious, or actively, hostile); usually as a noun, an adversary (especially satan)
ὁ
G3588
ὁ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
4 of 21
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
σπείρας
that sowed
G4687
σπείρας
that sowed
Strong's:
G4687
Word #:
5 of 21
to scatter, i.e., sow (literally or figuratively)
αὐτά
them
G846
αὐτά
them
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
6 of 21
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 #:
8 of 21
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ὁ
G3588
ὁ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
10 of 21
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
συντέλεια
the end
G4930
συντέλεια
the end
Strong's:
G4930
Word #:
13 of 21
entire completion, i.e., consummation (of a dispensation)
τοῦ
G3588
τοῦ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
14 of 21
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
αἰῶνός
of the world
G165
αἰῶνός
of the world
Strong's:
G165
Word #:
15 of 21
properly, an age; by extension, perpetuity (also past); by implication, the world; specially (jewish) a messianic period (present or future)
οἱ
G3588
οἱ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
17 of 21
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
Cross References
Matthew 13:49So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just,Matthew 25:31When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:Joel 3:13Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness is great.Revelation 19:20And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.Revelation 13:14And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.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.Matthew 13:25But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.Matthew 24:3And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?Hebrews 9:26For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.Ephesians 2:2Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
Historical Context
Jesus spoke this during His earthly ministry (AD 30-33), but His teaching points forward to the Parousia (Second Coming). The early church wrestled with false teachers and apostates (1 John 2:19, Jude 4), finding comfort in this parable's assurance of eventual divine sorting.
Questions for Reflection
- How does recognizing Satan as an active 'counter-sower' change your understanding of false teaching and apostasy in church history?
- Why might God sovereignly permit the devil to sow tares rather than supernaturally preventing all counterfeits?
- How should the certainty of angelic harvest at history's end affect your patience with imperfect church situations today?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
The enemy that sowed them is the devil (ὁ ἐχθρὸς ὁ σπείρας αὐτά ἐστιν ὁ διάβολος, ho echthros ho speiras auta estin ho diabolos)—Satan is the counter-sower, deliberately planting false believers to infiltrate and confuse the kingdom. The harvest is the end of the world (συντέλεια τοῦ αἰῶνος, synteleia tou aiōnos—'the consummation of the age'). The reapers are the angels (θερισταί εἰσιν ἄγγελοι, theristai eisin angeloi)—God's appointed agents of final separation.
This establishes eschatological framework: judgment is certain, but delayed. The coexistence of wheat and tares is temporary, ending at Christ's return. Angels as reapers (cf. Matthew 13:41, 24:31) emphasizes divine, not human, execution of final judgment. Satan's work is real but limited—he can counterfeit but not prevent God's harvest.