What the kingdom is like
The Weeds Among the Wheat
Also called The Tares, Wheat and Weeds
An enemy sows weeds in a wheat field. The owner says let both grow until harvest.
What it turns on
Pulling the weeds early would tear up the wheat. Patience here is not passivity.
24He set another parable before them, saying, “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field,
25but while people slept, his enemy came and sowed darnel weeds also among the wheat, and went away.
26But when the blade sprang up and produced fruit, then the darnel weeds appeared also.
27The servants of the householder came and said to him, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where did these darnel weeds come from?’
28“He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ “The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and gather them up?’
29“But he said, ‘No, lest perhaps while you gather up the darnel weeds, you root up the wheat with them.
30Let both grow together until the harvest, and in the harvest time I will tell the reapers, “First, gather up the darnel weeds, and bind them in bundles to burn them; but gather the wheat into my barn.” ’ ”
World English Bible, public domain. Read the whole chapter →
More on what the kingdom is like
The SowerSeed falls on a path, on rock, among thorns, and on good soil. Only one yields.The Mustard SeedThe smallest seed grows into a shrub large enough for birds to nest in.The YeastA woman mixes yeast into a large batch of flour until it works all the way through.The Hidden TreasureA man finds treasure buried in a field, and sells everything he has to buy that field.