📖 Biblical Definition
Christ's parable in Matthew 13:24-30, interpreted by Christ Himself in 13:36-43. A man sows wheat in his field; an enemy comes by night and sows tares (zizania, darnel/cheat-grass that resembles wheat in early growth). The servants ask whether to pull the tares; the owner says no — lest in pulling tares they also uproot wheat. Both grow together until the harvest, when the reapers separate them. Christ identifies the field as the world, the wheat as the children of the kingdom, the tares as the children of the wicked one, the harvest as the end of the age.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
WHEAT AND TA, n.
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A scriptural parable of Christ; wheat and tares growing together until the harvest.
📖 Key Scripture
Matthew 13:24 — "The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field."
Matthew 13:30 — "Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares."
Matthew 13:39 — "The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels."
Matthew 13:43 — "Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Modern Christianity is impatient with mixed fields; Christ said wait for the harvest.
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The wheat-and-tares parable rebukes two modern impatiences. First, the impatience that demands a perfectly pure church now — expelling all imperfect members, all doubters, all immature saints. Christ says wait. The wheat and the tares grow together; final separation belongs to the reapers, not the servants. Second, the impatience that demands instant judgment on the wicked — demanding visible justice now on tyrants and oppressors. Christ says wait. The harvest comes; the wheat will shine forth.
The patience required is severe. The Lord lets tares grow alongside wheat for an entire age because pulling them now would damage the wheat. Trust His harvest schedule. Be wheat. Pray for tares to be converted while they still can be. The reapers are coming; the field will be judged at the right time.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Greek roots below.
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G4621 — sitos — wheat
G2215 — zizanion — tares; darnel
Usage
"Modern Christianity is impatient with mixed fields; Christ said wait for the harvest."
"Final separation belongs to the reapers, not the servants."
"Trust His harvest schedule; be wheat; pray for tares to be converted while they can be."