Matthew 13:28

He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?

Matthew 13:28 (KJV)

Context

Jesus had just told the parable of a man who sowed good seed in his field. While everyone slept, an enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat (Matt 13:24-25). When the plants sprouted, the tares appeared alongside the wheat. In verse 27, the servants reported the weeds to the householder, asking how they had come. Now, in verse 28, the householder answers, “An enemy hath done this.“

Meaning

The householder’s reply identifies a deliberate adversary. The Greek phrase behind “an enemy” is literally “an enemy man,” a Hebrew idiom meaning “a certain enemy” or “an implacable foe.” This does not necessarily mean the enemy is human; rather, it emphasizes the certainty and hostility of the one who acted. Later in the parable, Jesus identifies this enemy as the devil (Matt 13:39). The servants then ask, “Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?” Their question reveals both their concern for the wheat and their eagerness to act. They assume the weeds should be removed immediately, but they first seek the master’s permission.

Biblical connections

The phrase “an enemy hath done this” uses the same Hebrew idiom found in Esther 7:6, where Haman is called “the adversary and enemy.” That Old Testament expression describes a specific, determined foe. Here, the enemy is the devil, who opposes God’s work by sowing false or wicked elements among the true believers. The servants’ question also reflects the concern of Christ’s ministers for the purity of the church, yet the master’s response in the following verses warns against hasty separation.

Application

• Good and evil coexist in this world. The wheat represents the children of God, and the tares represent those under the influence of the evil one. This mixed condition will continue until the end of the age.

• God’s patience and judgment are seen in the householder’s response. He does not immediately pull up the tares because doing so might damage the wheat. Both are allowed to grow together until the harvest, which symbolizes the final judgment.

• The final separation is certain. At harvest, the wheat will be gathered into the barn, representing the righteous entering the Kingdom of Heaven, while the tares will be bound and burned, representing the fate of the wicked.

• Premature judgment is dangerous. The servants’ eagerness to uproot the tares demonstrates a desire for immediate action, but the householder cautions against hasty judgment, emphasizing patience and trust in God’s ultimate justice.

Matthew 13:28 reminds believers that while evil exists in the world, God is aware of it and has a plan for its removal. It encourages patience and trust in God’s timing, assuring that there will be a final separation between good and evil. Believers are called to seek the master’s guidance rather than act rashly, living faithfully amidst the presence of evil.

Reflection

When we see evil or false teaching among God’s people, our first instinct may be to remove it quickly. Yet this verse teaches us to bring our concerns to the Lord and wait for His direction. The enemy is real, but so is God’s sovereign plan. We can trust Him to separate the wheat from the tares at the proper time, and we are called to remain faithful until then.