Matthew 13:29

KJV

But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.

KJV (with Strong's)

But {G1161} he said {G5346}, Nay {G3756}; lest {G3379} while ye gather up {G4816} the tares {G2215}, ye root up {G1610} also the wheat {G4621} with {G260} them {G846}.

Complete Jewish Bible

But he said, `No, because if you pull up the weeds, you might uproot some of the wheat at the same time.

Berean Standard Bible

‘No,’ he said, ‘if you pull the weeds now, you might uproot the wheat with them.

American Standard Version

But he saith, Nay; lest haply while ye gather up the tares, ye root up the wheat with them.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Matthew 13:29 captures the master's decisive refusal to his servants' premature desire to remove the "tares" from among the "wheat" in the field. This pivotal moment in the Parable of the Tares reveals God's divine patience, His sovereign timing for judgment, and the inherent danger of human attempts to separate the righteous from the unrighteous before the appointed harvest, emphasizing that such discernment and ultimate separation belong solely to Him.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is a direct response within Jesus' Parable of the Tares (also known as the Parable of the Wheat and the Weeds), recorded in [Matthew 13:24-30](/matthew/13-24-30 "Matthew 13:24-30 - The Parable of the Tares"). It follows the servants' discovery of the enemy's sabotage—the sowing of tares among the good seed—and their eager proposal to immediately uproot the weeds. The master's "Nay" in [Matthew 13:29](/matthew/13-29 "Matthew 13:29 - The Master's Refusal") sets the stage for the parable's central teaching on divine patience and the timing of judgment, which Jesus later explains in detail to His disciples in [Matthew 13:36-43](/matthew/13-36-43 "Matthew 13:36-43 - Jesus Explains the Parable of the Tares"). This parable is part of a larger discourse on the Kingdom of Heaven, presented through a series of parables in [Matthew 13](/matthew/13 "Matthew 13 - Parables of the Kingdom"), illustrating its nature, growth, and ultimate consummation.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The agricultural setting of the parable—a field of wheat—would have been immediately recognizable to Jesus' audience in ancient Israel. The "tares" (Greek: _zizánion_) refer to darnel (_Lolium temulentum_), a common weed that, in its early stages of growth, bears a striking resemblance to young wheat. This visual similarity is crucial to the parable's meaning, as it explains the master's concern: attempting to remove the darnel prematurely would inevitably damage or uproot the genuine wheat, as their root systems would be intertwined. This agricultural reality underscores the difficulty, if not impossibility, of human discernment in spiritual matters and the practical wisdom of waiting until the harvest when the two plants are clearly distinguishable. The practice of "gleaning" and careful harvesting was well-known, making the master's command to wait resonate with their understanding of farming.

* **Key Themes:** Matthew 13:29 contributes significantly to several overarching themes within the Gospel of Matthew and the broader biblical narrative. Foremost is the theme of **Divine Patience and Sovereignty**, highlighting God's long-suffering nature in allowing both the righteous and the unrighteous to coexist in the world until His appointed time for judgment. It also emphasizes the **Difficulty of Human Discernment and the Danger of Premature Judgment**, illustrating that humans are ill-equipped to perfectly separate true believers from those who merely appear to be so. This ties into the theme of **Ultimate Judgment Belonging to God Alone**, a truth echoed throughout Scripture. The parable also subtly speaks to the **Nature of the Kingdom of Heaven** as a mixed reality in the present age, where good and evil will coexist until the eschatological harvest, as described in [Matthew 13:38-43](/matthew/13-38-43 "Matthew 13:38-43 - The Explanation of the Parable").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Nay (Greek, _ou'_):** This absolute negative adverb signifies a firm and unequivocal refusal. In the context of the parable, it conveys the master's definitive command against the servants' proposal, indicating that their suggested action is not merely unwise but entirely forbidden. It underscores the master's sovereign authority and his superior understanding of the situation and its consequences.
* **gather up (Greek, _syllégō'_):** Derived from "together" and "to collect," this word implies the act of assembling or collecting items. Here, it refers to the servants' intention to collect the tares for removal. The master's concern is not with the act of gathering itself, but with the inevitable damage that would occur to the wheat during this process if done prematurely.
* **tares (Greek, _zizánion'_):** This term specifically refers to darnel, a type of weed that closely resembles wheat in its early stages of growth. Its presence in the field represents the "sons of the wicked one" (as explained in [Matthew 13:38](/matthew/13-38 "Matthew 13:38 - The Tares are the Sons of the Wicked One")), who are sown by the enemy among the "sons of the kingdom." The indistinguishable nature of the tares from the wheat in their initial growth is central to the parable's message about the difficulty of human discernment.
* **root up (Greek, _ekrizóō'_):** This verb, formed from "out" and "to root," means to pluck up by the root or to eradicate completely. It highlights the destructive nature of the proposed action. The master's fear is that in attempting to remove the tares, the servants would inadvertently pull up the wheat as well, due to their intertwined root systems. This emphasizes the potential for collateral damage when human judgment attempts to preempt divine timing.
* **wheat (Greek, _sîtos'_):** This term refers to grain, specifically wheat, which represents the "sons of the kingdom" (as explained in [Matthew 13:38](/matthew/13-38 "Matthew 13:38 - The Wheat are the Sons of the Kingdom")). It is the valuable crop, the desired outcome of the master's planting. The master's primary concern is the preservation and protection of the wheat, even at the cost of allowing the tares to remain for a season.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"But he said, Nay;":** This clause presents the master's immediate and firm rejection of the servants' proposal to remove the tares. The "Nay" (Greek _ou_) is an absolute negative, conveying a decisive prohibition. It establishes the master's authoritative wisdom and sovereign control over the field and its harvest, overriding the servants' well-intentioned but misguided zeal.
* **"lest while ye gather up the tares,":** This phrase introduces the master's reasoning for his refusal. The Greek particle _mḗpote_ ("lest" or "for fear that") indicates the potential negative consequence he seeks to avoid. The act of "gathering up" (Greek _syllégō_) implies a systematic effort to remove the weeds. The master foresees that this very act, if performed prematurely, would lead to undesirable outcomes.
* **"ye root up also the wheat with them.":** This final clause reveals the specific danger the master is concerned about. He fears that in the process of "rooting up" (Greek _ekrizóō_) the tares, the servants would inadvertently "root up also the wheat" (Greek _sîtos_). This highlights the intertwined nature of the tares and wheat, especially in their early growth stages, making separation by human hands impossible without causing harm to the valuable crop. It underscores the theme that premature human judgment can lead to the destruction of the righteous.

#### Literary Devices
The primary literary device at play in Matthew 13:29, and indeed the entire passage, is **Parable**. Jesus uses this extended metaphor of an agricultural scenario to convey profound spiritual truths about the Kingdom of Heaven. The master, servants, field, good seed, tares, and harvest all function as **Symbolism**. The "field" symbolizes the world, the "good seed" represents the sons of the kingdom, the "tares" symbolize the sons of the wicked one, and the "harvest" signifies the end of the age and the final judgment. The master's command, "Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them," serves as a **Foreshadowing** of the ultimate divine judgment, emphasizing that the separation of the righteous and unrighteous will occur at a divinely appointed time, not by human intervention. The very practical, agricultural problem of intertwined roots serves as an **Analogy** for the spiritual reality of how difficult it is for humans to perfectly discern the true spiritual state of others without causing harm to genuine believers.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Matthew 13:29 profoundly illustrates God's patience and His sovereign control over the timeline of judgment. It teaches that the visible church and the world at large will contain a mixture of genuine believers and those who merely appear to be so, or even outright imposters, until the end of the age. This divine forbearance is not an endorsement of evil, but a demonstration of God's long-suffering love, providing time for repentance and ensuring that no true believer is inadvertently harmed by premature human attempts at "purification." The verse underscores that ultimate discernment and separation belong to God alone, who sees the heart and knows His own. It cautions against self-righteous judgment and vigilante efforts to "cleanse" the community, urging believers to trust in God's perfect justice and timing.

* [2 Peter 3:9](/2_peter/3-9 "2 Peter 3:9 - The Lord's Patience")
* [Romans 2:1-3](/romans/2-1-3 "Romans 2:1-3 - Do Not Judge Others")
* [Luke 9:54-55](/luke/9-54-55 "Luke 9:54-55 - The Disciples' Zeal Rebuked")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Matthew 13:29 offers a crucial lesson for believers regarding our posture toward others within the church and the world. It calls us to cultivate patience and humility, recognizing that only God possesses the perfect wisdom and discernment to separate the true from the false. Instead of expending energy on identifying and "uprooting" those we perceive as "tares," our focus should be on nurturing the "wheat"—that is, on fostering genuine spiritual growth, living out the Gospel, and faithfully proclaiming the good news. This verse liberates us from the burden of judging others' salvation or spiritual authenticity, reminding us that such judgment belongs solely to the Lord of the harvest. Our mission is to bear fruit, to love, and to share Christ, trusting that God will bring about the ultimate and perfect separation in His time, without damaging His precious children.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways might I be tempted to "root up the tares" prematurely in my own life or in the church community?**
* **How does understanding God's patience in this parable impact my view of difficult people or situations within the church?**
* **What does this verse teach me about the importance of trusting God's timing and sovereignty, especially concerning justice and judgment?**
* **How can I shift my focus from discerning "tares" to nurturing "wheat" in my sphere of influence?**

### FAQ
**What are "tares" and why are they so difficult to distinguish from "wheat"?**

Answer: "Tares" (Greek _zizánion_) refers to darnel (_Lolium temulentum_), a common weed in ancient Israelite fields. What makes darnel significant in this parable is its striking resemblance to wheat in its initial stages of growth. Both plants have similar leaves and stalks, making it nearly impossible to distinguish them until they mature and bear their distinct seeds. Only then do the differences become clear (darnel's seeds are darker and smaller). This crucial detail emphasizes the parable's message about the difficulty of human judgment and the wisdom of waiting for the harvest, as attempting to remove the darnel prematurely would inevitably damage or destroy the genuine wheat, whose roots would be intertwined with the weeds. Jesus explains in [Matthew 13:38](/matthew/13-38 "Matthew 13:38 - The Tares and Wheat Symbolism") that the "wheat" represents the children of the kingdom, and the "tares" are the children of the wicked one.

**Why does the master forbid the immediate removal of the tares?**

Answer: The master forbids the immediate removal of the tares because of the high risk of inadvertently "rooting up also the wheat with them" ([Matthew 13:29](/matthew/13-29 "Matthew 13:29 - The Master's Reason")). As explained above, darnel and wheat have intertwined root systems when young, making separation without damage impossible. Theologically, this illustrates God's immense patience and His desire to protect His true children. Premature human attempts to purge or judge those within the visible church or society could lead to harming or rejecting genuine believers. It also underscores that final judgment and separation are God's prerogative, not humanity's, as He alone knows the heart and can perfectly discern between the righteous and the unrighteous, as seen in passages like [1 Samuel 16:7](/1_samuel/16-7 "1 Samuel 16:7 - God Looks at the Heart").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Matthew 13:29, within the Parable of the Tares, finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in Jesus' role as the sovereign Lord of the harvest and the ultimate Judge. The master's command to wait points directly to Christ's patient reign in the present age, where His Kingdom exists as a mixed reality, allowing both genuine believers and those who oppose Him to coexist. This patience is a reflection of God's desire that "none should perish, but that all should reach repentance" ([2 Peter 3:9](/2_peter/3-9 "2 Peter 3:9 - God's Patience for Repentance")). However, the parable also powerfully foreshadows Christ's return and the final judgment. Jesus Himself explains that "the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels" ([Matthew 13:39](/matthew/13-39 "Matthew 13:39 - The Harvest is the End of the Age")). At that time, He, as the Son of Man, will send out His angels to "gather out of His kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, and throw them into the fiery furnace" while the righteous "will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father" ([Matthew 13:41-43](/matthew/13-41-43 "Matthew 13:41-43 - The Final Judgment")). Thus, Matthew 13:29 is not merely a lesson in patience, but a profound declaration of Christ's future, decisive act of separating His redeemed from the unrighteous, ensuring the purity and glory of His eternal Kingdom, as prophesied in passages like [Revelation 20:11-15](/revelation/20-11-15 "Revelation 20:11-15 - The Great White Throne 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.