Matthew 13 25

Matthew 13:25 kjv

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

Matthew 13:25 nkjv

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

Matthew 13:25 niv

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

Matthew 13:25 esv

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

Matthew 13:25 nlt

But that night as the workers slept, his enemy came and planted weeds among the wheat, then slipped away.

Matthew 13 verses

Matthew 13 25 Meaning

Matthew 13:25 describes a critical moment in the Parable of the Weeds (also known as the Tares), illustrating the cunning and insidious method of evil's infiltration. While humanity (represented by the sleeping servants) is unaware or spiritually negligent, an enemy deliberately plants harmful imitations among the good seed, seeking to corrupt the harvest. This act highlights the enemy's strategic malice, covert operations, and ultimate goal of sabotaging God's kingdom and purpose through deceptive means.

Matthew 13 25 Context

Matthew chapter 13 is central to understanding Jesus' teaching on the Kingdom of Heaven through parables. It marks a shift in His public ministry, as He begins to speak in parables to conceal truth from those hardened in unbelief while revealing it to His disciples (Mt 13:10-17). The chapter opens with the Parable of the Sower (Mt 13:1-9, 18-23), illustrating different responses to the Word of God. Immediately following this, the Parable of the Weeds (Mt 13:24-30) is presented, providing further insight into the nature of the Kingdom.

This specific verse, Matthew 13:25, describes the critical act of the "enemy" in the parable. It portrays a scene common to the agricultural society of ancient Israel: wheat (the good seed) was a staple crop, and "zizania" (darnel or tares) was a particularly insidious weed. Darnel looks remarkably like young wheat, making it nearly impossible to distinguish until the plants mature and the heads appear. Planting darnel in an enemy's wheat field was a malicious act of sabotage known in antiquity, capable of ruining a harvest both by strangling the good crop and by contaminating it, as darnel kernels could be mildly toxic. The context highlights not just passive growth of evil, but deliberate, hostile, and deceptive interference, setting the stage for the tension within the field until the harvest.

Matthew 13 25 Word analysis

• But (Greek: De - δέ): This conjunction introduces a contrast. It marks a shift from the peaceful and productive sowing of good seed by the sower (God/Son of Man) in the preceding verse to a new, opposing action. It signals the emergence of an adversarial force.
• while men slept (Greek: enthos tōn anthrōpōn koimōmenōn - ἐνῷ δὲ καθεύδειν οἱ ἄνθρωποι):
  • koimōmenōn derives from koimaō meaning "to put to sleep, to be asleep." This phrase points to human lack of vigilance, inattention, or unawareness. It doesn't necessarily imply spiritual laziness in itself, but rather a moment of vulnerability or unwatchfulness that allows evil to operate unseen. It highlights that the enemy operates when observers are not alert. In the parable, these "men" refer to the servants who were supposed to be guarding the field.
  • This state of 'sleep' emphasizes the stealthy nature of the enemy's attack.
• his enemy (Greek: ho echthros autou - ὁ ἐχθρὸς αὐτοῦ):
  • Echthros signifies a hostile adversary, an opponent. It is a definite enemy, clearly identified later in the parable's explanation as the Devil (Mt 13:39).
  • The possessive pronoun "his" refers back to the "man who sowed good seed" (Mt 13:24), confirming a direct antagonistic relationship with the sower of the good seed.
  • This term clearly points to an intentional act of malice, not a random occurrence or natural pest.
• came (Greek: ēlthen - ἦλθεν): Implies a deliberate and active approach, indicating intent and purpose behind the enemy's actions. It is a calculated movement.
• and sowed (Greek: kai espesen - καὶ ἔσπειρεν): The verb speirō (to sow) is the same as that used for the sower of good seed, indicating a parallel act, but with malevolent intent. It is an act of propagation.
• tares (Greek: zizania - ζιζάνια):
  • This term specifically refers to Lolium temulentum, or darnel, a common weed in the Middle East.
  • Its key characteristic is its uncanny resemblance to wheat in its early stages of growth, making it very difficult to distinguish until the grains form. The kernels of darnel are mildly poisonous and can cause nausea if mixed with grain.
  • This imagery signifies counterfeits, false believers, or deceptive teachings that closely mimic genuine ones, designed to blend in and corrupt. This presents a polemic against simplistic views that would expect the community of faith or the world to be purely good and immediately discernible.
• among the wheat (Greek: ana meson tou sitou - ἀνὰ μέσον τοῦ σίτου):
  • Ana meson means "in the midst of" or "among."
  • Sitou refers to cultivated grain, specifically wheat.
  • This highlights the precise location of the enemy's sowing: not in a separate field, but directly mingled with the good produce. This signifies the presence of evil and false elements within the very fabric of society, and even within the visible community of believers (as explained in the parable). It means the enemy seeks to corrupt from within.
• and went his way (Greek: kai apēlthen - καὶ ἀπῆλθεν): This signifies the covert nature of the enemy's action. The act is performed secretly and stealthily, and then the enemy departs unnoticed, leaving the hidden damage to grow. This suggests a desire to avoid detection and responsibility for the act, further emphasizing malicious intent.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "But while men slept, his enemy came...": This sequence immediately establishes the key elements: opposition ("But"), vulnerability/unawareness ("while men slept"), identification of the malicious actor ("his enemy"), and active intent ("came"). It emphasizes that evil capitalizes on moments of inattention.
• "...and sowed tares among the wheat...": This phrase describes the enemy's precise method: deliberate planting ("sowed") of a destructive imitation ("tares") in a strategic location ("among the wheat") to cause maximum confusion and damage to the good. It highlights deception and mimicry as tools of sabotage.
• "...and went his way.": This final phrase emphasizes the covertness and dissimulation of the enemy's work. The act is done without confrontation or direct acknowledgment, making the enemy's departure signify the insidious nature of the attack that unfolds over time rather than in a sudden, open assault.

Matthew 13 25 Bonus section

The nature of the "tares" (zizania) is crucial for understanding the parable. They are not merely general weeds but a specific plant (darnel, Lolium temulentum) which is indistinguishable from wheat in its early stages. This precise botanical detail underscores the theme of deception and counterfeits. The enemy does not sow entirely different plants but those that mimic the genuine, making separation premature and destructive. This nuance informed the historical/cultural understanding that separating them before harvest would inevitably uproot much of the good wheat along with the tares. This botanical fact becomes a theological statement: divine patience allows for both good and evil to grow together until the appointed time of judgment, preventing irreversible damage to the children of the kingdom through human zeal or impatience. This parables warns against any polemic towards the early church or individual who might seek to immediately purify the "field" of the world or church, affirming God's sovereignty over the timing and method of final separation.

Matthew 13 25 Commentary

Matthew 13:25 succinctly describes the devil's subtle yet potent strategy of opposition within God's domain. The parable reveals that the presence of evil and counterfeit elements in the world, and even within the visible church, is not an accident but the result of a deliberate, malicious act by God's enemy, the Devil. His method involves sowing deceptive imitations ("tares") that mimic the genuine ("wheat"), making discernment difficult until full maturity. This action occurs "while men slept," a phrase that points to human vulnerability, inattention, or spiritual unpreparedness, which creates the opportunity for evil to flourish unnoticed.

The verse is a stark reminder that the spiritual battlefield is constantly active, and the adversary operates covertly, leveraging moments of complacency or spiritual slumber. It underscores the ongoing reality of a mixed "field"—the world, and by extension, often the visible church—where truth and deception coexist side by side. The enemy's departure "went his way" signifies his desire for his work to go undetected until it's too late for easy removal. This challenges any notion of an immediately pure or flawless visible kingdom on earth before the final harvest, prompting believers to exercise spiritual vigilance and prepare for the ultimate discernment at the eschatological harvest.

Examples for practical usage:

• A church that allows false teachings to subtly infiltrate due to a lack of biblical discernment among its leadership or members.
• An individual whose spiritual discipline lapses, opening the door for subtle temptations or destructive habits to take root.
• Believers who are unaware of the pervasive influence of worldly philosophies that subtly contradict biblical truth within their culture.