The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field

 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 the past several readings, Jesus has just introduced the use of parables into His ministry.  In Tuesday's reading, He gave the crowds the parable of the Sower.   On Wednesday, we read that His disciples asked Him, "Why do You speak to them in parables?"  Yesterday, we read that Jesus explained for the disciples the meaning of this particular parable of the Sower:   "Therefore hear the parable of the sower:  When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart.  This is he who received seed by the wayside.  But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while.  For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles.  Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.  But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces:  some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty."

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." ' "  My study bible has a note on this parable, explaining that "the parable of the wheat and tares builds on the previous parable of the sower.  Here Christ the Sower gives attention to the work of the enemy, the devil, who comes to sow his own seed after the fruits have multiplied.  Falsehood comes in after truth:  after the prophets came false prophets; after Christ will come the Antichrist.  The devil fashions falsehood and heresy to resemble the true Faith:  the weeds look somewhat like the wheat.  The evil one also comes while everybody is asleep.  While the devices of the evil one do not extend into heaven, in this age he intermingles the counterfeit with the Kingdom.  This parable explains why the Church does not expel her nominal members.  To weed out the tares is to disrupt the wheat.  Those who are watchful and remain faithful will shine forth as the sun forever."  In readings next week, Jesus will also explain to His disciples this parable, just as He explained the parable of the Sower in yesterday's reading.

Of particular note, it seems to me, in this parable is the concept of the two types of grain growing side by side.  One is false, the other is the good grain.  But, as my study bible pointed out,  they resemble one another.  One looks very much like the other.  The importance of this recognition is highlighted and given meaning by the fact that Jesus is introducing here the concept of Judgment -- the Judgment at the end of the age.  It also introduces the idea of tolerance, a kind of tolerance that tells us a few things:  First, that judgment is up to God; second, that it's not up to us to disrupt the life of this world with our own upheavals or violence in any sense as this may cause the good grain to be torn from the roots.  In yesterday's commentary, we spoke of the necessity of the rootedness of the good seed, in discussing the parable of the Sower, and if we look carefully at this parable, there is also an important sense in which the rootedness of the good grain is the great goal, the most important consideration.  So again, in light of Judgment, and Christ's teaching here about the end of the age and the work of God, we turn back to this same principle that the essential job we have is to ensure the rootedness of the good grain in our own hearts.  With a good root, a plant can grow and produce good fruit, giving a good yield, a good crop.  It all depends on how deep the roots grow within us.  Tares, by comparison, are a kind of "weed" -- and its root system does not grow deep.  It's another way in which today's parable plays and reflects off of the earlier parable of the Sower, and we learn accordingly.  It also seems to suggest, in light of that parable, that  all the things Jesus explained in yesterday's reading that hinder the rootedness of the good seed will also take their effects on those with shallow roots, such as the weeds.  Faith needs the inner rootedness to endure.  Let us see that in this analogy, roots are hidden and not seen, and therefore going by this example again, Jesus' point is made:  we're not the judges.  Let us find ways to nurture our rootedness, and thereby nurture the rest of the field of "good wheat" to do the same.  Let us be about the business of enduring and growing in our faith; it is our rootedness that gives us strength.