Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 (Matins Gospel)
- 24
- Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field;
- 25
- but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way.
- 26
- But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared.
- 27
- 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?’
- 28
- 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?’
- 29
- But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them.
- 30
- Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of 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.”’”
- 36
- Then Jesus sent the multitude away and went into the house. And His disciples came to Him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the tares of the field.”
- 37
- He answered and said to them: “He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man.
- 38
- The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one.
- 39
- The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels.
- 40
- Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age.
- 41
- The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness,
- 42
- and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
- 43
- Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!