²⁴

Another parable He put forth to them, saying: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field;

²⁵

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

²⁶

But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared.

²⁷

So the servants of the owner came and said to him, 'Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?'

²⁸

He said to them, 'An enemy has done this.' The servants said to him, 'Do you want us then to go and gather them up?'

²⁹

But he said, 'No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them.

³⁰

'Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, "First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn." ' "

³⁶

Then Jesus sent the multitude away and went into the house. And His disciples came to Him, saying, "Explain to us the parable of the tares of the field."

³⁷

He answered and said to them: "He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man.

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.

³⁹

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

⁴⁰

Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age.

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,

⁴²

and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

⁴³

Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!