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.

{G1161} The enemy {G2190} that sowed {G4687} them {G846} is {G2076} the devil {G1228};{G1161} the harvest {G2326} is {G2076} the end {G4930} of the world {G165}; and {G1161} the reapers {G2327} are {G1526} the angels {G32}.

The enemy who sows them is the Adversary, the harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.

and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.

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

Context

This verse is a crucial part of Jesus' private explanation of the Parable of the Wheat and the Tares, which is found in Matthew 13:24-30. After telling the parable to the crowds, Jesus' disciples asked Him to explain its meaning. In verses 37-39, Jesus breaks down the allegory, revealing the identity of the sower, the field, the good seed, the tares, and in this specific verse, the enemy, the harvest time, and the reapers. It clarifies the spiritual battle at play and the ultimate divine resolution.

Key Themes

  • The Identity of the Enemy: Jesus explicitly names the devil as the one who maliciously sows the "tares" or "children of the wicked one" among the good seed ("children of the kingdom"). This highlights Satan's active role in introducing evil, deception, and opposition into the world and among humanity.
  • The Certainty of Final Judgment: The "harvest" unequivocally represents "the end of the world." This signifies a definitive future event when God's patience will conclude, and a clear separation will occur between the righteous and the wicked. It underscores the biblical theme of ultimate accountability and divine justice.
  • Angels as Agents of God's Will: The "reapers" are identified as "the angels." This reveals that angels play a crucial role in executing God's decrees, particularly in the final judgment and separation of humanity. They are not merely messengers but active participants in the divine plan, carrying out the will of the Father.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "end of the world" translates the Greek words sunteleia (συντέλεια), meaning 'completion' or 'consummation,' and aion (αἰών), which refers to an 'age' or 'epoch,' rather than solely the physical planet. Therefore, "the end of the age" more accurately conveys the meaning of a significant transition point in history, marking the conclusion of the current era and the initiation of God's eternal kingdom. This is not necessarily the destruction of the physical earth, but the culmination of human history as we know it, leading to a new order.

Practical Application

This verse offers both a solemn warning and a profound assurance. For those who align with Christ, it provides comfort that evil will not triumph indefinitely; there is a coming day when God will set all things right and bring justice. For those who reject God's rule, it serves as a serious warning about the inevitable judgment and separation that awaits. It encourages believers to persevere in righteousness, knowing that their true identity as "children of the kingdom" will be fully revealed at the harvest, and to live with an awareness of the coming Day of the Lord and its implications for eternity.

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.

  • Matthew 13:49

    So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just,

  • Revelation 14:15

    And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.

  • Revelation 14:19

    And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast [it] into the great winepress of the wrath of God.

  • Matthew 25:31

    When 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 3:13

    Put 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 19:20

    And 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.

  • 2 Thessalonians 1:7

    And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,

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