The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat

Another parable He put forth to them, saying: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. 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?' 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?' But he said, 'No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of the 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."'"

- Matthew 13:24-30

In our recent readings in Matthew's gospel, Jesus has introduced parables in His preaching. On Tuesday, we read the parable of the Sower (Behold, a sower went out to sow). In Wednesday's reading, Jesus was asked by His disciples why He taught in parables (Hearing you will hear and shall not understand,And seeing you will see and not perceive). In yesterday's reading, Jesus explained the parable to His disciples. He explained the different places where the seeds fell, the good ground, the stony ground, the birds that snatched them up, the weeds that choke. Each was a state of receptivity within a person of the word Jesus teaches, and the faith that takes root, or fails to. Jesus explained the various conditions in the world that lead to failure for the seed to take root, and also the fruitfulness of the word for which He is searching in each of His followers, in those who have spiritual ears to hear. See Therefore hear the parable of the sower.

Another parable He put forth to them, saying: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way." Here, Jesus begins again another parable. We remember that parables are like windows -- they open to give light on something. Here Jesus' parables are giving us windows on the kingdom, to teach us something of its nature, and about the faith that He is teaching and looking for in us. In yesterday's reading, Jesus explained the parable of the Sower to His disciples -- the sower is sowing seeds in a world beset by problems that will act against this kingdom, against the word taking root in the hearts of people, and He taught about the things that will act against steadfast faith. Here we have another window on the kingdom. The enemy, or the "ruler of this world," will sow tares among the good crops.

"But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. 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?' He said to them, 'An enemy has done this.'" Jesus gives us a picture of our world. We recall His words to the apostles before sending them out on their first mission: "I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves." In this sense, the "enemy" is the "wicked one" of yesterday's explanation of the parable of the Sower. My study bible points out a classic commentary that shows us that the weeds and wheat look alike. Both are intermixed in the field.

"The servants said to him, 'Do you want us then to go and gather them up?' But he said, 'No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of the 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."'" This is a picture of our world, and the understanding of the age in which we live. All grow together, until the time of the harvest, the Judgment. My study bible notes that the tares are sown after the good seed has been sown, so this is a kind of warning against false prophets that will come after Christ, and falsehood that will come after the truth. It notes that "the devil fashions falsehood and heresy to resemble the true Faith" and also that the evil one comes while everybody is asleep. So, "in this age he intermingles the counterfeit with the Kingdom."

So, in today's parable Jesus builds on the parable of the Sower. He gives us another glimpse of the kingdom as it enters into this world, and the ways in which it works. In yesterday's reading, Jesus explained that the parable of the Sower gives us a picture of how "the evil one" or "the ruler of this world" can choke our faith, the "stony ground" that may be within us and the cares of the world that interfere. But here He gives us a picture of something else -- that the weeds and the wheat will grow together. We will hear all kinds of things in the world, and some people will believe one and others will believe another. The startling part of this story is that the tares will not be pulled away -- that will only come at harvest time. So we are given a picture of the need for strong faith. Oftentimes, things will not be obvious, we will live in a world in which wheat and weeds, the fruit of good and bad seed, will be intermingled. The faithful will grow side by side with that which is false, and judgment is not up to us. It is instead discernment we rely on, and patience, and the wisdom of His teachings. This parable also strikes a note of the kindness and gentleness of the kingdom of heaven: all grow together. It is only the Judgment at the end of the age that will separate. And we must be careful not to "sleep" -- we need watchfulness, discernment, prayer. As He said to the apostles after teaching them they are sent out as sheep in the midst of wolves, "Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves." So, how do we practice our faith in this understanding? How do we cultivate the good ground within ourselves for faith while good and bad grow together? Let us consider what it is to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves in the context of today's parable, this new glimpse on another aspect of the life of the kingdom in this world.