Matthew 13:25

KJV

But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.

KJV (with Strong's)

But {G1161} while {G1722} men {G444} slept {G2518}, his {G846} enemy {G2190} came {G2064} and {G2532} sowed {G4687} tares {G2215} among {G303}{G3319} the wheat {G4621}, and {G2532} went his way {G565}.

Complete Jewish Bible

but while people were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, then went away.

Berean Standard Bible

But while everyone was asleep, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and slipped away.

American Standard Version

but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares also among the wheat, and went away.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Matthew 13:25, a pivotal verse within Jesus' Parable of the Tares (or Weeds), reveals the insidious act of an enemy who, under the cover of night while people slept, secretly sowed harmful weeds (tares) among the good wheat in a field. This clandestine act of sabotage highlights the stealthy nature of evil's infiltration into the world and among God's people, setting the stage for the parable's deeper truths about the coexistence of good and evil, spiritual vigilance, and the ultimate, divinely appointed time of judgment.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated within a series of parables that Jesus taught to large crowds by the Sea of Galilee, as recorded in [Matthew chapter 13](/matthew/13 "Matthew 13 - Parables of the Kingdom"). Following the Parable of the Sower, the Parable of the Tares ([Matthew 13:24-30](/matthew/13-24-30 "Matthew 13:24-30 - The Parable of the Tares")) immediately follows, offering further insight into the nature of the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus' use of parables at this point marks a shift in his teaching method, designed to reveal spiritual truths to those with "ears to hear" while obscuring them from others ([Matthew 13:10-17](/matthew/13-10-17 "Matthew 13:10-17 - Why Jesus Taught in Parables")). Verse 25 specifically details the enemy's malicious action, which precipitates the central conflict and dilemma of the parable, later clarified by Jesus himself to his disciples in [Matthew 13:36-43](/matthew/13-36-43 "Matthew 13:36-43 - Jesus Explains the Parable of the Tares").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Ancient agricultural practices in the Middle East provide crucial background for understanding this parable. Sowing seeds was a primary method of cultivation, and fields were often left unattended overnight. The act described in [Matthew 13:25](/matthew/13-25 "Matthew 13:25 - The Enemy Sows Tares")—secretly sowing weeds among a neighbor's crops—was a known form of malicious sabotage. The "tares" (Greek: _zizánion_) refer to darnel (_Lolium temulentum_), a common weed that, in its early stages of growth, looks almost identical to wheat. Only as both plants mature do their differences become apparent, particularly in their seeds. This made the act especially insidious, as the damage would not be immediately obvious, and attempting to remove the darnel prematurely would inevitably uproot the valuable wheat, causing significant loss to the farmer.
* **Key Themes:** [Matthew 13:25](/matthew/13-25 "Matthew 13:25 - The Enemy's Stealth") contributes significantly to several overarching themes within the chapter and the broader New Testament. Firstly, it underscores the **stealth and deception of the enemy**, highlighting how evil infiltrates and operates subtly, often unnoticed until its effects are widespread. The phrase "while men slept" speaks to a vulnerability that the enemy exploits. Secondly, the verse introduces the theme of the **coexistence of good and evil** within the world and, by extension, within the visible community of faith. The parable teaches that genuine believers and those who are not will grow side-by-side until the appointed time of separation. Finally, it foreshadows the theme of **delayed judgment**, emphasizing that God, in His wisdom and patience, permits this coexistence until the "harvest," which represents the final judgment at the end of the age ([Matthew 13:39](/matthew/13-39 "Matthew 13:39 - The Harvest is the End of the Age")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Slept (Greek, _katheúdō'_):** This word signifies to lie down to rest or to fall asleep, literally or figuratively. In the context of [Matthew 13:25](/matthew/13-25 "Matthew 13:25 - While Men Slept"), it denotes a state of unawareness, vigilance, or spiritual slumber among those who should be watching over the field. It implies a lack of alertness that provides an opportune moment for the enemy's malicious activity.
* **Enemy (Greek, _echthrós'_):** Derived from a root meaning "to hate," this term refers to someone hateful, odious, or actively hostile. As a noun, it often denotes an adversary, particularly Satan. In this parable, "his enemy" is explicitly identified by Jesus as the devil ([Matthew 13:39](/matthew/13-39 "Matthew 13:39 - The Enemy is the Devil")), highlighting the malevolent, destructive intent behind the sowing of tares.
* **Tares (Greek, _zizánion'_):** This word refers to darnel or false grain (_Lolium temulentum_). Its significance lies in its striking resemblance to wheat in its early growth stages, making it nearly impossible to distinguish from the good crop until maturity. This linguistic detail is crucial to the parable's message about the difficulty of discerning genuine believers from false ones until the final judgment.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"But while men slept":** This opening clause immediately establishes the critical timing of the enemy's action. The "sleeping" signifies a state of human unawareness, perhaps even a lack of spiritual vigilance or discernment. It's not necessarily a condemnation of sleep itself, but rather highlights the enemy's opportunistic nature, acting when the guardians of the field (representing those responsible for the Kingdom, or even humanity in general) are not alert. This vulnerability allows evil to be introduced subtly and without immediate detection.
* **"his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat":** This is the core malicious act. The "enemy" (later identified as the devil) deliberately and maliciously introduces "tares" (darnel, a weed that mimics wheat) into the field where good seed (wheat) has already been sown. This act is one of sabotage, aiming to corrupt the good harvest and cause confusion and damage. The phrase "among the wheat" emphasizes the intermingling of the destructive element with the valuable crop, making separation difficult and risky.
* **"and went his way":** This final phrase underscores the stealth and cunning of the enemy. The act is performed secretly, and the perpetrator departs without being apprehended or even noticed. This highlights the hidden nature of evil's work, which often operates beneath the surface, leaving its destructive effects to manifest over time, long after the initial act of sowing.

#### Literary Devices
The primary literary device at play in [Matthew 13:25](/matthew/13-25 "Matthew 13:25 - Literary Devices") and the broader parable is **Allegory**, where each element of the story corresponds to a specific spiritual reality. Jesus himself provides the interpretive key for this allegory in [Matthew 13:36-43](/matthew/13-36-43 "Matthew 13:36-43 - Jesus Explains the Parable"), identifying the sower as the Son of Man, the field as the world, the good seed as the children of the Kingdom, the tares as the children of the evil one, the enemy as the devil, and the harvest as the end of the age. This allegorical structure allows for profound theological truths to be conveyed through a relatable agricultural scenario. Furthermore, the parable employs **Symbolism**, where the "wheat" symbolizes genuine believers or the righteous, and the "tares" symbolize false believers or the wicked. The act of "sleeping" can be seen as symbolic of spiritual complacency or a lack of vigilance. The narrative also contains elements of **Dramatic Irony**, as the reader (and the disciples, once explained) understands the true, sinister nature of the enemy's act, while the "men" in the parable remain oblivious until the tares begin to grow.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Matthew 13:25 profoundly illustrates the reality of spiritual warfare and the pervasive presence of evil in a world created good by God. It teaches that the Kingdom of Heaven, while actively being sown and growing, exists in a fallen world where an active adversary seeks to corrupt and destroy God's work. This verse highlights the enemy's cunning strategy: to introduce counterfeit elements that mimic the genuine, causing confusion and making immediate separation difficult without harming the righteous. The theological implication is that God, in His sovereign wisdom, permits this coexistence for a season, not out of weakness, but as part of His grand redemptive plan that culminates in a final, perfect judgment. This patience allows for the full maturation of both the wheat and the tares, ensuring that when the time of separation comes, it is definitive and just.

* [1 Peter 5:8](/1_peter/5-8 "1 Peter 5:8 - Be Sober and Vigilant")
* [John 8:44](/john/8-44 "John 8:44 - The Devil as a Murderer and Liar")
* [Philippians 1:9-11](/philippians/1-9-11 "Philippians 1:9-11 - Discernment and Fruitfulness")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Matthew 13:25 serves as a potent reminder for believers to cultivate spiritual vigilance and discernment in a world where good and evil are often intertwined. The "sleeping" in the parable can be a metaphor for spiritual apathy, complacency, or a lack of awareness regarding the subtle workings of the enemy. We are called to be alert, not naive, recognizing that deceptive influences and false teachings can easily infiltrate our lives and communities if we are not grounded in truth and watchful in spirit. This verse encourages us to focus on our own growth in righteousness, bearing good fruit as "wheat" for the Kingdom, rather than becoming preoccupied with prematurely identifying and uprooting "tares." It fosters patience and trust in God's perfect timing for judgment, reminding us that the ultimate separation of good from evil is His prerogative, not ours. Our mission is to shine as lights in the world, living out the truth of the gospel amidst the confusion, confident that God will bring all things to their just conclusion.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of your life or community might "men be sleeping," allowing subtle forms of spiritual compromise or deception to enter?**
* **How does the reality of "tares among the wheat" influence your perspective on the visible church and the world at large?**
* **What practical steps can you take to cultivate greater spiritual vigilance and discernment in your daily walk with Christ?**

### FAQ
**Why did the farmer not immediately remove the tares?**

Answer: Jesus explains this in [Matthew 13:29-30](/matthew/13-29-30 "Matthew 13:29-30 - Let Both Grow Together"). The reason the farmer instructed his servants not to uproot the tares immediately was practical: darnel (tares) looks so similar to wheat in its early stages, and their roots become intertwined. Attempting to pull out the tares prematurely would inevitably damage and uproot the good wheat, leading to a significant loss of the valuable crop. Therefore, the farmer wisely decided to let both grow together until the harvest, when the distinction would be clear, and the separation could be made without harming the wheat. This illustrates God's patience and His perfect timing for judgment, ensuring that His true children are not harmed in the process.

**Who is the "enemy" mentioned in this verse?**

Answer: In Jesus' own explanation of the parable, found in [Matthew 13:39](/matthew/13-39 "Matthew 13:39 - The Enemy is the Devil"), He explicitly identifies "the enemy who sowed them is the devil." This confirms that the parable is not just about human malice but about the active, malevolent work of Satan in the world, seeking to corrupt and destroy God's creation and His people.

**What exactly are "tares" and why are they significant?**

Answer: "Tares" (Greek: _zizánion_) refers to darnel, a common weed in the Middle East that, in its early stages of growth, bears a striking resemblance to wheat. It's often called "false wheat." The significance lies precisely in this deceptive similarity. It highlights the difficulty of distinguishing between genuine and counterfeit, between true believers and those who merely appear to be, until a later stage of maturity or judgment. This visual parallel underscores the parable's message about the coexistence of good and evil, and the need for divine discernment and ultimate judgment to make the final separation.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Matthew 13:25, while detailing the enemy's malicious act, ultimately points to the sovereign work and redemptive plan of Jesus Christ. He is the true Sower of the good seed, the "children of the kingdom" ([Matthew 13:37-38](/matthew/13-37-38 "Matthew 13:37-38 - The Sower and the Good Seed")). The enemy's act of sowing tares highlights the spiritual warfare that Christ entered into upon His incarnation. Jesus did not shy away from this reality but confronted the "prince of this world" head-on ([John 12:31](/john/12-31 "John 12:31 - The Prince of This World Cast Out")). His life, death, and resurrection represent the ultimate defeat of the enemy, Satan, disarming the powers and authorities ([Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Colossians 2:15 - Triumph Over Principalities and Powers")). Furthermore, Christ is the appointed Judge who will preside over the final "harvest" at the end of the age ([John 5:22](/john/5-22 "John 5:22 - The Father Judges No One, But Has Given All Judgment to the Son")). He will perfectly and justly separate the "wheat" from the "tares," gathering His own into His eternal kingdom and casting out all that causes sin and all who do evil ([Matthew 13:41-43](/matthew/13-41-43 "Matthew 13:41-43 - The Son of Man Will Send Out His Angels")). Thus, this verse, while describing the enemy's present work, ultimately magnifies Christ's future triumph and His absolute authority over all evil and judgment.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

1 Peter 5:8

¶ Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

Acts 20:30

Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.

Acts 20:31

Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.

2 Peter 2:1

¶ But 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 13:39

The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.

Revelation 12:9

And 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 12:15

Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble [you], and thereby many be defiled;