Matthew 13:28

He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?

{G1161} He said {G5346} unto them {G846}, An enemy {G2190}{G444} hath done {G4160} this {G5124}.{G1161} The servants {G1401} said {G2036} unto him {G846}, Wilt thou {G2309} then {G3767} that we go {G565} and gather {G4816} them {G846} up {G4816}?

He answered, `An enemy has done this.' The servants asked him, `Then do you want us to go and pull them up?'

‘An enemy did this,’ he replied. So the servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’

And he said unto them, An enemy hath done this. And the servants say unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?

Matthew 13:28 is a pivotal verse within the Parable of the Tares (or Weeds), one of Jesus' significant teachings about the Kingdom of Heaven. In this verse, the master of the field responds to his servants' discovery of weeds among the wheat, revealing the source of the problem and setting the stage for his surprising instruction regarding their removal.

Context

This verse follows the servants' observation in Matthew 13:27 that while good seed was sown, tares (weeds) have appeared. The master's immediate declaration, "An enemy hath done this," identifies the deliberate, malicious intent behind the corruption. This sets up the central conflict of the parable. The servants, eager to protect the crop, then ask, "Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?" This question highlights their natural impulse to immediately remove evil, which contrasts sharply with the master's subsequent instruction to allow both to grow together until the harvest (Matthew 13:29-30). Later, Jesus explicitly explains the parable's elements, 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 wicked one, and the enemy as the devil (Matthew 13:38-39).

Key Themes

  • The Origin of Evil: The master's definitive statement, "An enemy hath done this," clearly attributes the presence of evil and corruption in the world not to God, but to a malevolent external force. This underscores the reality of spiritual warfare and the active opposition of Satan against God's purposes and people.
  • Divine Patience and Judgment: The servants' question reflects a desire for immediate action and judgment. However, the parable (and the master's full response) teaches God's incredible patience, allowing both good and evil to coexist for a time. This patience is a reflection of His desire for all to come to repentance, delaying final judgment until the appointed time of harvest.
  • Discernment and Intermingling: The very nature of "tares" (zizania, a type of darnel that resembles wheat in its early stages) illustrates the difficulty of distinguishing true believers from false ones in the present age. Premature human judgment could inadvertently harm the genuine "wheat."

Linguistic Insights

The Greek word for "tares" is zizania (ζιζάνια), which refers to darnel, a poisonous weed that looks remarkably similar to wheat during its early growth stages. This visual similarity is crucial to the parable's meaning, as attempting to uproot the darnel too early would inevitably damage the valuable wheat roots intertwined with them. The "enemy" (Greek: echthros - ἐχθρός) is clearly identified as the devil in Jesus' later explanation of the parable, emphasizing his role as an adversary.

Practical Application

Matthew 13:28 encourages believers to exercise patience and trust in God's perfect timing regarding judgment. It teaches us not to be surprised by the presence of evil or hypocrisy within the world, or even within religious communities, recognizing that an "enemy" is at work. Instead of becoming overly focused on rooting out perceived "weeds" ourselves, which can lead to judgmental attitudes and harm to genuine believers, we are called to focus on our own growth in faith and allow God to handle the final separation at the end of the age. This parable fosters humility and reminds us that ultimate judgment belongs to God alone.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • 1 Corinthians 5:3

    For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, [concerning] him that hath so done this deed,

  • 1 Corinthians 5:7

    ¶ Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:

  • Luke 9:49

    And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us.

  • Luke 9:54

    And when his disciples James and John saw [this], they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?

  • 1 Thessalonians 5:14

    Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all [men].

  • 2 Corinthians 2:6

    Sufficient to such a man [is] this punishment, which [was inflicted] of many.

  • 2 Corinthians 2:11

    Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

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