Matthew 13:29Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

When they inquired if they should gather them, he replied, "No, lest in gathering the tares you uproot the wheat along with them." They then asked, "What will happen to the tares; will they remain in the barn with us?" He assured them, "At harvest time I will instruct the harvesters, 'Gather the tares first and bind them in bundles to be burned; leave what should remain in the field.'"

Truth itself thus reveals that humanity is not organized in such a way that one can predict exactly what each individual will become in the future, based on current errors, or how the mistakes they observe may serve the righteous. Excluding such individuals from this life could inadvertently lead to the harm of the righteous when attempting to eradicate the unrighteous, as they may unintentionally join their ranks. Additionally, the righteous can benefit from the presence of the unwilling. This tragic outcome may occur when there is no opportunity for change at the end of life due to unforeseen circumstances arising from the recognition of another's faults. However, this task is carried out not by humans but by angels. Thus, the master of the house responds: "No, lest in gathering the weeds you also uproot the wheat; at harvest time I will tell the harvesters..." "Lest, while you gather the weeds, you inadvertently uproot the wheat." Is it not because even the righteous have not yet reached their full potential, requiring engagement with some of the unrighteous, that through this interaction they may be refined, or from observing the best, they might cultivate a deeper commitment through contrast? If the unrighteous are eradicated prematurely, the profound love, akin to being uprooted, will fade away, indicating a complete severance from its source. Indeed, the apostle affirms, "That you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend..." or perhaps this simultaneous uprooting of the wheat occurs when the tares are gathered because many begin as weeds and later transform into wheat. If the unrighteous are not patiently tolerated, they may fail to undergo a commendable transformation, and thus, if they are removed prematurely, the potential wheat that they could become will likewise be eliminated.

Instead, strive to guide him gently and compassionately, not as a harsh adversary or a callous physician who sees only one solution—cutting away the problem. Recognize your own frailties as well. If your own vision is clouded by sin or suffering, how can you see clearly? If you perceive the world as chaotic due to your own afflictions, do not hastily attribute this confusion to others. It is far wiser to reflect and discern before passing judgment on another’s wrongdoing.

Taking a life is not the same as pruning a plant or withering flower; you are created in the likeness of God and converse with another who bears His image. When you judge your brother, remember that you will also face judgment; you assess a servant who belongs to another master. Consider your brother as you would wish to be regarded yourself. Therefore, do not quickly sever ties or cast aside a member until you can be certain that it will not cause further injury to the healthy parts. Offer guidance, encourage, and reprove as necessary (2 Tim. 4:2). You possess the authority to heal; you follow the example of Christ, who is gentle, compassionate, and supportive of the weak among you.

If your brother resists the first time, show him patience; if he falters a second time, maintain hope—there is time for healing. If he stumbles a third time, act as a compassionate gardener, pleading with the Lord to refrain from uprooting the barren fig tree before caring for it and providing nourishment (Luke 13:8)—meaning, offer the opportunity for confession, acknowledge shortcomings, and mend a faulty life. Who knows whether it might yet blossom, bearing fruit and nourishing Jesus on His return from Bethany?

Embrace your brother’s true or perceived shortcomings, for you are anointed with a spirit of peace, called to share that divine fragrance with him. Sin is not an immediate poison leading to swift agony or death, warranting a hasty retreat or destruction of the sinner. Rather, strive to heal your brother; and if you cannot, at least strive to avoid complicity in his failings. A brother's sin might produce an unpleasant odor, but it can be dispelled by your fragrant offering of love. Consider committing to your sacred kinship in a manner similar to what Paul, the zealous one, envisioned for the Israelites—that they might be brought to Christ through your intercession.

Beware, then, of hastily expelling your brother from fellowship over your mere suspicions. In doing so, you might lose someone for whom Christ sacrificed His life. Thus, though you may be well-versed in discussions regarding food and steadfast in faith, be careful not to “destroy with thy food” (Romans 14:15) the one cherished by Christ through shared suffering. The nature of the situation may differ, yet encouragement remains perpetually valuable.

The weeds, as we observe, serve no purpose; the wheat, on the other hand, is beneficial in every way. Likewise, the wicked are worthless while the righteous are useful in all things. The weeds, being unfit, are collected into bundles and set ablaze at harvest time, whereas the wheat is gathered into the granary. In the same manner, the unrighteous, as the unfruitful, will be gathered at the end of the age, bound in bundles, and condemned to eternal fire. Those who engage in immorality, infidelity, corruption, and deceit will form their bundle. Thieves, aggressors, and robbers, who take what belongs to others, will compose their bundle. The deceitful, sly, and manipulative will contribute to their bundle. Backbiters and those who curse will also be included. Hypocrites, who pretend to be righteous while being wicked within, will make up their bundle. These, along with other lawless individuals, being unfruitful to their Lord, will be thrown into eternal fire to face destruction. In contrast, the righteous, the just, the holy, who yield the fruit of God's word with perseverance, producing some a hundredfold, others sixty, and still others thirty, will be gathered into the heavenly kingdom like wheat into the barn. “He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man; the field is the world; the good seeds are the children of the kingdom, but the weeds are the children of the evil one. The enemy who sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. Therefore, as the weeds are collected and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age: the Son of Man will send forth his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all lawbreakers, and throw them into the fiery furnace; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear” (Matthew 13:37-43). Sinners, let us repent. May we not be consumed by eternal fire like the weeds, but rather bear the worthy fruits of repentance. By the grace of God, may we be the wheat gathered into the heavenly barn. “O God of Power! Restore us, and shine Your face upon us, that we may be saved” (Psalm 79:4).

When the servants observed this, they suggested to their master that they should remove the tares; however, the master replied, "No; in picking out the tares you may pull out the wheat with them. Therefore leave both to grow until the harvest." At harvest time, the reapers will have the chance to gather the tares safely without damaging the wheat, and, at the master's command, they will bind the tares in bundles to be burned, while the wheat will be stored in the barn.

Where then did the weeds come from?” He responded, “The enemy has done this.” They inquired, “Do you want us to go and uproot the weeds?” He replied, “Let them grow together until the harvest; at the harvest time, I will instruct the reapers: first gather the weeds and bundle them to be burned, then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.”