Another parable he proposed to them, saying: The kingdom of heaven is likened to a man that sowed good seed in his field.
αλλην παραβολην παρεθηκεν αυτοις λεγων ωμοιωθη η βασιλεια των ουρανων ανθρωπω σπειροντι καλον σπερμα εν τω αγρω αυτου
10 Church Fathers comment on this verse
In the earlier parable, the Lord indicated that a quarter of the seed landed on fertile soil. However, in this new parable, He reveals that the adversary did not spare even this seed that landed on the fruitful ground because we grew complacent and neglected our labor. The field represents the world or the individual soul. The sower is Christ, while the good seed symbolizes righteous individuals or virtuous thoughts.
The phrases of everlasting life are entrusted to Christ's servant. A man filled with divine love is likened to pure wheat.
The second parable, along with its interpretation, is presented not concurrently but rather explained after the previous parables have been shared. Here, the parable is directed toward the people, and later, when He returns home and the crowds have dispersed, His disciples seek clarification by asking Him, 'Explain to us the parable of the tares in the field.' Consequently, we should not get ahead of ourselves in our eagerness to understand a parable before it has been elucidated by the Lord.
The realm of heaven is referred to by Him here, for upon taking on human form, He became akin to humanity: “in the likeness,” as it is stated, “being made man” (Phil. 2:7). He designated the children of the kingdom as the good seed, as He elucidated when His disciples inquired about this. His domain encompasses the world, reflecting His creation and ownership.
The Lord unmistakably reveals that He is the one who plants the good seed, continually sowing the word of God into the hearts of humanity, much like a farmer tending his field. This divine planting enables each individual to reap heavenly and spiritual harvests from the seeds sown within them by God.
In a manner reminiscent of a wealthy host providing an array of delights for his visitors, following the parable of the sower, Jesus Christ presented another parable to His audience, declaring, ‘The KINGDOM OF THE HEART OF HEAVEN IS GIVEN TO THE MAN WHO SOWS GOOD SEED, pure and sown wheat, ON HIS GROUND.'
The Lord made it clear that there is another sower and a different kind of seed. Through a new parable, He illustrated how the adversary of humanity plants tares among the good seed, which resemble wheat but are not truly wheat. The master of the field allows both to grow together until the time of reaping, so as to avoid uprooting the wheat along with the tares by attempting to remove them too early (Matthew 12:22-30 and 36-46). The Lord implied that the separation of the righteous from the wicked—judgment—will not occur immediately within His kingdom.
The Savior conveyed that the kingdom of heaven would prevail through the force of truth, inherent in its essence, and it would rejuvenate the world through faith and love. However, its development would face the cunning strategies of the initial adversary, who would undoubtedly employ every means of malevolence to hinder or obstruct the flourishing of that kingdom. In this regard, "the kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field," yet during the night, his adversary also sowed weeds among the wheat to stifle the good crop. When the servants observed this, they suggested to their master that they remove the weeds; however, the master replied, "No; for in gathering the weeds you might uproot the wheat along with them.
Let both grow together until the harvest," at which point the harvesters would be able to gather the weeds without damaging the wheat, and at the master's command, they would bind the weeds in bundles to be burned, while the wheat would be stored in the barn.
"Presented them" refers to the people; see Matthew 3:10, 34. - "The kingdom of heaven" (refer to the commentary on Matt. 3:2) signifies the realm of Christ on earth, which is analogized to a field cultivated with virtuous seed. Given that the primary actor in this scenario is the sower, it is compared to a man who plants seeds (see Matt. 13:45, Matt. 18:23, Matt. 20:1).
In the parable of the sower, the Lord relayed that only a fraction of the seeds fell onto fertile soil, and in the parable of the weeds, it is revealed that the adversary, exploiting the inattention and negligence of humanity, does not allow the seeds that landed on good ground to rest undisturbed. The Kingdom of Heaven is compared to a man who sowed good seeds in his field; however, while he was asleep, his foe came and scattered weeds among the wheat, then left. When the plants sprouted and began to bear fruit, the weeds likewise became evident. The servants approached their master and inquired, “Did you not sow good seeds in your field?
Where did these weeds come from?” He responded, “An enemy has done this.” The servants asked, “Do you want us to go and pull them up?” He instructed, “No, lest in gathering the weeds you uproot the wheat along with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time, I will say to the reapers: first gather the weeds and bind them in bundles for burning, but gather the wheat into my barn.”
Passages read together with this verse.
Greek text, 18 words with lemma, transliteration and Strong’s number. Tap to expand.
THEOSIS