Matthew 13:26

But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.

Matthew 13:26 (KJV)

Context

Jesus spoke this verse beside the sea, teaching a large crowd in parables. The parable of the wheat and the tares uses farming imagery to explain the kingdom of heaven. A man sowed good wheat in his field, but while everyone slept, an enemy sowed tares among the wheat. The tares, often identified as darnel, closely resemble wheat in early growth, so their presence is not immediately obvious.

Meaning

Matthew 13:26 describes the moment when the wheat sprouted and began to form grain; only then did the tares also become visible. The word “blade” refers to the initial shoot of the plant. The phrase “brought forth fruit” indicates the wheat’s growth and maturity. This verse emphasizes that the tares grew alongside the wheat, intertwined and indistinguishable until the time of fruit-bearing. The KJV wording “the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit” points to the wheat’s development, which is exactly when the tares appear.

Biblical connections

Jesus later explains the parable to His disciples: the sower is the Son of Man, the field is the world, the good seed are the children of the kingdom, the tares are the children of the wicked one, and the enemy is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. This verse sets the stage for the servants’ question in verse 27 and the landowner’s instruction in verse 30 to let both grow together until harvest, to avoid uprooting the wheat. The practical lesson is that premature judgment and separation are not wise; God will bring about final separation in His timing.

Application

This verse calls believers to exercise discernment, to distinguish between true and false teachings, and to remain faithful despite the presence of spiritual opposition. The coexistence of wheat and tares symbolizes the reality that genuine believers and false believers exist together in the world. The enemy, representing Satan, seeks to hinder growth by sowing confusion and deception. Yet God allows both to grow together until harvest, demonstrating His patience and sovereignty. Believers are encouraged to persevere, trusting in God’s ultimate judgment rather than taking premature action.

Reflection

The presence of evil in the world should not cause believers to doubt God’s goodness or His ultimate plan. Instead, it calls for patient endurance and faithful witness until the harvest. The tares, though harmful and poisonous, are not to be uprooted by human hands. This verse reminds us that God alone knows the hearts of all people and will separate the righteous from the wicked in His perfect time.