Study Desk

Jesus presented another parable to them, saying, "^(u)The kingdom of heaven ^[m]may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field.

But while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed ^[n]tares among the wheat, and went away.

But when the ^[o]wheat sprouted and bore grain, then the tares became evident also.

The slaves of the landowner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? ^[p]How then does it have tares?'

And he said to them, ‘An ^[q]enemy has done this!' The slaves *said to him, ‘Do you want us, then, to go and gather them up?'

But he *said, ‘No; for while you are gathering up the tares, you may uproot the wheat with them.

Allow both to grow together until the harvest; and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, "First gather up the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them up; but ^(v)gather the wheat into my barn."'"