Matthew 13 38

Matthew 13:38 kjv

The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;

Matthew 13:38 nkjv

The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one.

Matthew 13:38 niv

The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one,

Matthew 13:38 esv

The field is the world, and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one,

Matthew 13:38 nlt

The field is the world, and the good seed represents the people of the Kingdom. The weeds are the people who belong to the evil one.

Matthew 13 verses

Matthew 13 38 Meaning

Matthew 13:38 directly explains the elements of Jesus' Parable of the Weeds, clarifying that "the field" where the sowing occurs represents the entire world. The "good seed" symbolizes true believers, those who belong to the Kingdom of God and bear its characteristics. Conversely, "the tares," or weeds, are identified as individuals who align with and manifest the nature of "the wicked one," which is the Devil. This verse thus delineates the spiritual reality of distinct populations coexisting in the world until a future, decisive separation.

Matthew 13 38 Context

Matthew 13 is often referred to as the "Parable Chapter," where Jesus reveals the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven through various illustrative stories. This chapter's primary audience is the multitudes, but Jesus explains the Parable of the Weeds (Mat 13:24-30) specifically to His disciples in private (Mat 13:36-43) because they sought clarity on its meaning.

The historical and cultural context is primarily agrarian, where wheat cultivation was central to life. The practice of enemies sowing darnel (Greek: zizania), a weed strikingly similar to wheat in its early stages but worthless or even poisonous at harvest, was a known act of malice. This vivid imagery allowed Jesus to convey deep spiritual truths. The immediate context of verse 38, therefore, is Jesus directly addressing His disciples' specific question, offering an authoritative interpretation of the parable's allegorical elements. This revelation was crucial for them, as it countered prevailing Jewish expectations of an immediate, pure, and militantly victorious earthly kingdom devoid of all unrighteousness. Jesus indicates that the kingdom, in its present manifestation, would coexist with evil until the final consummation.

Matthew 13 38 Word analysis

• the field (ὁ ἀγρός - ho agros):

  • Word: "field" (ἀγρός - agros) refers to cultivated land.
  • Significance: Here it signifies the arena of life where spiritual growth occurs. In its context, it refers specifically to the world, highlighting the extensive reach of both divine sowing and evil opposition.

• is the world (ὁ κόσμος ἐστίν - ho kosmos estin):

  • Word: "world" (κόσμος - kosmos). While kosmos can sometimes denote a hostile system alienated from God, in this specific context of the "field," it refers to the inhabited earth, the entire sphere of humanity where the gospel is proclaimed and individuals reside.
  • Significance: It clarifies that the battle between good and evil is not confined to Israel or a specific group but unfolds globally, among all nations and peoples.

• and the good seed (τὸ δὲ καλὸν σπέρμα - to de kalon sperma):

  • Word: "good" (καλὸν - kalon). Implies intrinsically excellent, beautiful, and proper, derived from a good source. "Seed" (σπέρμα - sperma) denotes that which gives life and reproduces itself.
  • Significance: Emphasizes the intrinsic purity and divine origin of those belonging to God. It highlights that they are intentionally sown by the Son of Man (Mat 13:37) and possess a life-giving nature reflecting God's character.

• is the sons of the kingdom (οὗτοί εἰσιν οἱ υἱοὶ τῆς βασιλείας - houtoi eisin hoi huioi tēs basileias):

  • Words: "sons" (υἱοὶ - huioi). This Hebrew idiom indicates a close relationship or characteristic belonging ("sons of X" meaning 'characterized by X' or 'belonging to X'). "Kingdom" (βασιλείας - basileias) refers to God's sovereign rule.
  • Significance: Not merely nominal members, but those who are spiritually born into and embody the characteristics of God's reign. They are distinct from those who only outwardly associate with religious practices but lack true faith or divine origin.

• but the tares (τὰ δὲ ζιζάνια - ta de zizania):

  • Word: "tares" (ζιζάνια - zizania). This specific Greek term refers to "darnel" (Lolium temulentum), a common weed in the Middle East, visually almost indistinguishable from wheat in its early growth, but with bitter, intoxicating, and harmful seeds.
  • Significance: Crucially illustrates the challenge of discernment: the ungodly can appear outwardly similar to true believers, especially in their initial stages, making immediate separation difficult and dangerous for the spiritual "harvest." They represent counterfeits.

• are the sons of the wicked one (οὗτοί εἰσιν οἱ υἱοὶ τοῦ πονηροῦ - houtoi eisin hoi huioi tou ponērou):

  • Words: "sons" (υἱοὶ - huioi) again indicates characteristic belonging. "wicked one" (τοῦ πονηροῦ - tou ponērou). This explicitly refers to the Devil or Satan (cf. Mat 5:37, 6:13), the source of evil.
  • Significance: Reveals the spiritual origin and paternity of evil in humanity. Those aligned with the wicked one actively serve his destructive purposes, even if unknowingly, and exhibit his deceptive nature. This points to a spiritual conflict rooted in two opposing ultimate authorities.

Words-group analysis:

• "the field is the world": This phrase universalizes the parable. The setting for the Kingdom's growth and conflict is not confined to a single nation or religious group but encompasses all of humanity, laying the groundwork for the worldwide missionary endeavor. It counters narrow nationalist views of God's rule.

• "the good seed is the sons of the kingdom": This clarifies the true identity of God's people. They are not defined by outward religious adherence or physical lineage, but by spiritual sonship, indicating an inner nature derived from God's sovereign rule. Their character genuinely reflects the kingdom they belong to.

• "the tares are the sons of the wicked one": This exposes the ultimate source and nature of evil that coexists with the righteous. These are individuals who bear the spiritual imprint of the Devil, engaging in deception and ultimately seeking to undermine God's truth. They are spiritual adversaries who outwardly resemble God's children but inwardly oppose Him.

Matthew 13 38 Bonus section

• Divine Patience vs. Human Impatience: This verse, in conjunction with the full parable, highlights God's immense patience in allowing the good seed and the tares to grow together. This divine forbearance offers more time for the good seed to mature and bear fruit without being uprooted and possibly harming others mistakenly identified as weeds. It cautions against human attempts to prematurely or forcibly "purify" the visible realm, whether in society or even in the church, as such efforts often result in more harm than good to the true believers.
• Invisible vs. Visible Church: The interpretation suggests a distinction between the true, "sons of the kingdom" (the invisible church, known to God) and the broader visible company of those who profess faith but may not genuinely possess it (the visible church). This nuance informs ecclesiology, the study of the church, and understanding why hypocrisy and false teaching can exist even within outwardly religious communities.
• Source of Evil: Jesus' identification of the tares as "sons of the wicked one" firmly places the ultimate responsibility for this deceptive evil at the feet of Satan, reinforcing the New Testament's understanding of spiritual warfare and the adversary's work in opposing God's plan and people. It's not just generic evil, but intentional, malevolent sowing by a distinct enemy.

Matthew 13 38 Commentary

Matthew 13:38 provides the indispensable interpretive key to the Parable of the Weeds, unveiling the profound reality of the Kingdom of Heaven in the current age. It unequivocally states that the spiritual battle between good and evil, initiated by different "sowers," unfolds across the entire spectrum of humanity. "Sons of the kingdom" are those whose spiritual life originates from God, bearing His characteristics and genuinely living under His rule. In stark contrast, "sons of the wicked one" are those who, either by deliberate choice or inherent spiritual state, manifest the character and purposes of the Devil.

This explanation has crucial implications. First, it directly confronts any expectation of a pure, perfected earthly kingdom or Church before the eschatological harvest. The presence of evil alongside the righteous is not an oversight by God but a divine allowance until the appointed time of judgment. Second, it calls for spiritual discernment, acknowledging the difficulty of distinguishing true from false adherents, as both types of "seed" grow together, sometimes indistinguishable until maturity. Lastly, it offers reassurance that despite the current co-existence of good and evil, a final and certain separation is guaranteed by God's perfect timing and righteous judgment. Believers are called to patiently endure, focusing on their own growth and faithfulness rather than premature attempts at eradicating those who appear as tares.

• Example 1: A church congregation may consist of genuinely born-again believers and those who are only nominally Christian; this verse explains why both exist together until the final judgment.
• Example 2: When evangelizing, believers encounter diverse responses; some individuals embody genuine receptiveness ("good seed"), while others are hardened by worldly or demonic influence ("tares"), despite living in the same societal "field."