Matthew 13:41 kjv
The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;
Matthew 13:41 nkjv
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,
Matthew 13:41 niv
The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil.
Matthew 13:41 esv
The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers,
Matthew 13:41 nlt
The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will remove from his Kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil.
Matthew 13 41 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Matt 13:30 | "Let both grow together until the harvest; and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares..." | Parable context; initial separation instruction. |
| Matt 13:39 | "...the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels." | Identifies angels as reapers at end of age. |
| Matt 24:31 | "And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect..." | Angels gathering people; for salvation. |
| Matt 25:31-33 | "When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him... he shall separate them one from another..." | Son of Man with angels in final judgment. |
| Mark 13:27 | "And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds..." | Angels gathering the chosen. |
| 2 Thess 1:7-9 | "The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God..." | Jesus with angels bringing judgment on unrighteous. |
| Jude 1:14-15 | "...the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, To execute judgment upon all..." | Lord coming for judgment. |
| Rev 14:14-20 | (Various verses on reaping, sickle, winepress of wrath) | Eschatological harvest and judgment. |
| Dan 7:9-10 | "I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit... and the judgment was set, and the books were opened." | Heavenly court, judgment. |
| Dan 7:13-14 | "...one like the Son of man came... and there was given him dominion... and all people, nations, and languages, should serve him." | Son of Man's dominion and coming, authority. |
| Is 11:4 | "With the breath of his lips he shall slay the wicked." | Christ's power in judgment. |
| Zeph 1:2-3 | "I will utterly consume all things from off the land... I will consume man and beast..." | Widespread judgment and removal of wickedness. |
| Mal 3:1-3 | "And he shall sit as a refiner and purifer of silver... and purge them as gold and silver..." | Purging and purification of the righteous. |
| 1 Cor 15:25 | "For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet." | Christ's reign leading to removal of opposition. |
| Ps 1:5 | "Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous." | Separation of wicked from righteous. |
| Ps 92:7 | "When the wicked spring as the grass... it is that they shall be destroyed for ever:" | Wickedness destined for destruction. |
| 2 Pet 3:10-13 | "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief... the heavens shall pass away... the earth also... and the works therein shall be burned up." | Consummation and purification of creation. |
| Col 1:13 | "Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:" | Believers are already in Christ's kingdom, contrasting with those removed. |
| Rev 21:27 | "And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie..." | Purity of the new creation. |
| Zechariah 5:5-11 | "Then the angel... said unto me, This is the basket that goeth forth... And he said, This is wickedness. And he cast it into the midst of the ephah..." | Removal of wickedness. |
| Gal 5:19-21 | (Works of the flesh listed, followed by "they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.") | Contrast of wicked deeds and kingdom inheritance. |
Matthew 13 verses
Matthew 13 41 Meaning
This verse describes a crucial moment in the eschatological timeline, detailing the activity of the Son of Man at the culmination of the age. It explains that Jesus, as the Son of Man, will dispatch His angels to His kingdom to meticulously separate and remove everything that causes sin and all individuals who practice lawlessness. This act represents a divine purification, an ultimate judgment that rids the sphere of His visible reign of all spiritual stumbling blocks and unrighteous doers, setting the stage for the kingdom of God to be fully manifested in its pure form.
Matthew 13 41 Context
Matthew 13 is often referred to as the "Parable Chapter" of the New Testament, where Jesus teaches extensively about the Kingdom of Heaven using various parables. Specifically, Matthew 13:41 is part of Jesus' interpretation of the Parable of the Weeds (also known as the Tares), which spans Matthew 13:24-30 and 36-43. This parable describes a man who sowed good seed (sons of the kingdom) in his field, but an enemy later sowed weeds (sons of the evil one) among the wheat. The parable concludes with the harvest where the weeds are gathered first and burned, then the wheat gathered into the barn. Verses 36-43 provide Jesus' direct explanation, clarifying that the sower is the Son of Man, the field is the world, the good seed are the children of the kingdom, the weeds are the children of the evil one, the enemy is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. Matthew 13:41 explicates the specific role of the angels at this end-time harvest regarding the "weeds"—those who cause sin and practice lawlessness. Historically, the audience would have been familiar with agricultural metaphors and Jewish eschatological expectations of divine judgment and the coming of God's righteous kingdom. The concept of angels as divine agents for both judgment and gathering was also a known biblical theme.
Matthew 13 41 Word analysis
- The Son of Man (ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου - ho huios tou anthrōpou): This is Jesus' most frequent self-designation, emphasizing both His humanity and His divine, authoritative role as depicted in Dan 7:13-14. In this context, it underscores His authority in judgment and as the ultimate King of the kingdom.
- will send forth (ἀποστελεῖ - apostelei): Signifies an act of commissioning with authority. Jesus, as the one in charge of the kingdom, is dispatching agents. It implies a deliberate, powerful action.
- His angels (τοὺς ἀγγέλους αὐτοῦ - tous angelous autou): Angels are heavenly messengers and agents of God's will. Here, they act under the direct command of the Son of Man in His eschatological work, particularly in carrying out divine judgment and separation.
- and they shall gather out (καὶ συλλέξουσιν - kai syllexousin): The verb "syllēgō" means to collect, assemble, or pick out. In the context of a harvest, it refers to carefully removing and segregating. This is a deliberate, precise sifting or purging, not a chaotic expulsion.
- of His kingdom (ἐκ τῆς βασιλείας αὐτοῦ - ek tēs basileias autou): The kingdom here refers to the visible realm where Jesus' rule is proclaimed and where the righteous and unrighteous have coexisted (the "field" in the parable). It is the sphere over which the Son of Man has authority. This is the kingdom in its current mixed state, from which purity is drawn forth.
- all things that offend (πάντα τὰ σκάνδαλα - panta ta skandala): "Skandalon" means a stumbling block, snare, or occasion for falling. It refers to anything that causes spiritual or moral offense, leading others into sin or away from God. This includes influences, teachings, or practices that impede righteous living within the kingdom.
- and them which do iniquity (καὶ τοὺς ποιοῦντας τὴν ἀνομίαν - kai tous poiountas tēn anomian): "Anomia" literally means "without law" and refers to lawlessness, unrighteousness, or rebellion against God's divine will and commandments. This refers to individuals whose actions and character are marked by active defiance of God's standards. It's not just error, but a chosen way of living.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- The Son of Man shall send forth His angels: Establishes Jesus' sovereign authority over heavenly beings and the eschatological process. It points to Him as the appointed judge, a concept deeply rooted in Old Testament prophecy concerning the Messiah.
- and they shall gather out of His kingdom: This phrase emphasizes the location of the separation. The gathering takes place within the existing sphere of His dominion, highlighting that not all within the visible "kingdom" (e.g., the church, professing Christianity) are genuine children of the kingdom, requiring a divine sorting at the end of the age.
- all things that offend, and them which do iniquity: This pairing comprehensively defines what is removed: not only specific actions or influences that lead to sin, but also the individuals whose character and life are marked by active rebellion against God's law. This speaks to both systemic evils and personal wickedness. The presence of "all things" suggests a complete and thorough purification, indicating that nothing defiling or contrary to God's nature will remain in His purified kingdom.
Matthew 13 41 Bonus section
This verse carries a significant polemic against the idea of universal salvation or a kingdom where sin is tolerated indefinitely. It clearly indicates a necessary and absolute separation. The angels are depicted not just as passive messengers but as active agents of judgment and executive power, underscoring the severity and definitiveness of this purification. The "gathering out of His kingdom" implies that the separation happens from within the mixed assembly of professing believers and true disciples, emphasizing internal cleansing and judgment that begins at the household of God (1 Pet 4:17). This process guarantees the ultimate holiness of God's perfected kingdom, where only those who truly belong to Him and practice righteousness will remain.
Matthew 13 41 Commentary
Matthew 13:41 reveals the inexorable process of divine judgment at the culmination of this present age, interpreted as the "harvest" in the Parable of the Weeds. At the return of Christ, designated as the Son of Man with ultimate authority, His angels will act as divine agents to cleanse His visible kingdom. This cleansing involves the precise removal of two categories: "all things that offend" (anything causing spiritual downfall, such as false doctrines, corrupting influences, or institutional evils) and "them which do iniquity" (individuals whose lives are characterized by active rebellion against God's will). This dual focus underscores a comprehensive purification, eliminating both the cause of sin and the unrepentant sinners themselves from the sphere of His righteous reign. This future act assures the ultimate triumph of good over evil, validating God's perfect justice and promising a pure kingdom where righteousness dwells eternally. It's a sobering reminder that presence within the 'visible church' does not guarantee inclusion in the 'true kingdom,' emphasizing the necessity of genuine repentance and a life of righteousness.