Matthew 13:26 kjv
But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.
Matthew 13:26 nkjv
But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared.
Matthew 13:26 niv
When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.
Matthew 13:26 esv
So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also.
Matthew 13:26 nlt
When the crop began to grow and produce grain, the weeds also grew.
Matthew 13 26 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Mt 7:16 | You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes...? | Discernment by fruit: True nature revealed through outcome. |
| Mt 7:20 | Therefore by their fruits you will know them. | Discernment by fruit: Reiteration of the principle of revealing character. |
| Lk 6:43-45 | For no good tree bears bad fruit... A good man out of the good treasure... | True nature manifested: Good/evil heart produces good/evil words/actions. |
| Mt 13:24 | ...The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. | Context: Introduction of the parable, the field and good seed. |
| Mt 13:25 | But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat... | Origin of tares: The enemy's subtle, destructive work. |
| Mt 13:29 | But he said, 'No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them.' | Patience in judgment: Warning against premature separation. |
| Mt 13:30 | Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest... | Coexistence until judgment: The divine strategy of patient waiting. |
| Mt 13:38 | The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one. | Explanation of elements: Identity of the 'grain' and 'tares'. |
| Mt 13:39 | The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels. | Timing of judgment: Final separation occurs at the end. |
| Mt 13:41 | The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness. | Final judgment of evil: Angels removing sources of evil. |
| Mt 25:32 | All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. | Divine separation: Christ's future role in distinguishing. |
| 1 Tim 5:24 | Some men’s sins are clearly evident, preceding them to judgment, but those of some men follow later. | Delayed revelation: Not all sins or true natures are immediately clear. |
| 2 Tim 3:9 | But they will proceed no further, for their folly will be manifest to all... | Exposing error: The eventual manifestation of false teachings or evil intent. |
| Jn 8:44 | You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. | Source of evil: The true spiritual parentage of those who embody evil. |
| 1 Jn 3:10 | In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest... | Identifying spiritual children: True nature shown by practice. |
| 2 Cor 11:13-15 | For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ... | Deception: Evil can masquerade as righteous until its fruits expose it. |
| Heb 4:13 | And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open... | God's perfect knowledge: He sees the hidden nature before it appears to man. |
| Rom 2:6 | who “will render to each one according to his deeds.” | Judgment based on deeds: Confirmation that actions reveal truth for judgment. |
| Isa 5:20 | Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness... | Perverted discernment: The danger of failing to see true nature. |
| Jer 17:10 | I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings. | Divine discernment: God's complete knowledge of inner truth and outward deeds. |
| 1 Cor 4:5 | Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will bring to light the hidden things of darkness... | Wait for divine timing: Affirming that ultimate judgment and revelation belong to God. |
Matthew 13 verses
Matthew 13 26 Meaning
Matthew 13:26 describes a crucial turning point in the Parable of the Weeds, illustrating the moment when the deceptive nature of the "tares" (evil, the sons of the wicked one) becomes apparent alongside the "grain" (good, the sons of the kingdom). This revelation occurs not at their initial sprouting, but only when both plants mature enough to produce their distinctive crop, making their true identities discernible. It signifies that evil, initially resembling good, will eventually reveal itself through its deeds or outcome.
Matthew 13 26 Context
Matthew chapter 13 is often referred to as the "parable chapter," where Jesus teaches about the Kingdom of Heaven using various agricultural and everyday illustrations. The Parable of the Weeds (v. 24-30) is central to understanding the nature of the Kingdom's presence in the world and its ultimate destiny. Verse 26 describes the point at which the zizania (tares), which were previously indistinguishable from wheat, become noticeable due to their unique, non-fruit-bearing growth, thus clarifying why immediate uprooting was prohibited in the preceding verses. Historically, the darnel weed (Lolium temulentum) strongly resembles wheat in its early stages of growth, often growing intertwined roots, making separation impossible without harming the good grain until both reached maturity. This cultural detail is crucial to appreciating the parable's realism and theological depth concerning divine patience.
Matthew 13 26 Word analysis
- But when: Denotes a shift or turning point from the initial planting and the enemy's subtle work, to a stage of observable revelation. It highlights that the state described in the previous verse (the hiddenness of the tares) has changed.
- the grain: (τὸ σῖτον - to siton) Refers to the edible cultivated plant, specifically wheat. In the parable's explanation (Mt 13:38), it symbolizes "the sons of the kingdom," genuine believers or those belonging to God's dominion.
- had sprouted: (ἀνέτειλεν - aneteilen) From the Greek anatellō, meaning "to rise up, spring forth, grow." This signifies the active process of growth from the ground, reaching a state of vegetative development.
- and produced a crop: (ἐποίησεν καρπόν - epoiesen karpon) This is a critical phrase. Karpon (fruit, produce) signifies the final output or outcome. This stage indicates maturity where the true nature of the plant is revealed through what it bears. Unlike the wheat's healthy grain, the tares produce a bitter, often toxic seed. Metaphorically, this refers to actions, character, and spiritual outcomes that define one's true nature or affiliation (e.g., Mt 7:16).
- then the tares: (τότε τὰ ζιζάνια - tote ta zizania) Zizania refers to "darnel" or "false wheat," a weed that strikingly resembles wheat in its young stages but produces a toxic, inedible grain. Symbolically, these are "the sons of the wicked one" (Mt 13:38), those who, though present among true believers in the world or professing church, belong to Satan.
- also appeared: (ἐφάνη - ephanē) From phainō, meaning "to become visible, appear, be manifest." This implies that the tares were present but not previously obvious; now their distinct identity became evident. This manifestation is not through human intervention but a natural revelation coinciding with maturity.
Words-group analysis
- "when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared": This entire phrase underlines the specific condition and timing for the revelation of the tares' true nature. It is not their mere existence or early growth, but their fruit-bearing stage that distinguishes them. This highlights God's patience and sovereignty in allowing both good and evil to grow together for a season. It implicitly counsels against human impatience or premature judgment, as distinguishing would be difficult or impossible until this point. The phrase reveals that ultimate truth about spiritual allegiances will be made manifest through one's life outcomes and actions, particularly in a mature state.
Matthew 13 26 Bonus section
The revelation of the tares at this specific point underscores the theme of the harvest as the definitive time for judgment, not a premature sifting by human hands. Before producing a crop, both plants appear so similar that any attempt to "weed out" the tares would risk damaging or uprooting the precious wheat itself due to intertwined roots. This reflects the reality that in the "field of the world," trying to perfectly purify humanity by human effort would lead to catastrophic error, inadvertently harming true believers. The timing suggests that divine wisdom dictates allowing full development, making separation clear and precise at the appointed time of the "harvest" (the end of the age).
Matthew 13 26 Commentary
Matthew 13:26 unveils a profound spiritual truth within the Parable of the Weeds. It speaks to the insidious nature of evil, which often infiltrates or exists alongside goodness, initially appearing indistinguishable. The verse clarifies that discernment is not always immediate; it requires patience and the observation of the ultimate 'fruit' or 'crop' that a life produces. When both the grain and the tares reach maturity and begin to yield their respective produce, their true identities become starkly evident. This explains why the "servants" could only then perceive the tares and why the master commanded patience until the harvest. It assures believers that though evil may blend in and mimic good, its true character will eventually be unmasked by what it bears. This serves as a warning against being easily deceived and a comfort in trusting God's timing for ultimate judgment and separation.