The parable of wheat and tares is a popular story in the Bible about Jesus. What is a tare in the Bible particularly in this story? That’s what we’re going to talk about in this post. What exactly is a tare and what does it represent?
First, let’s talk about the parable.
The Parable of the Wheat and Tares
Jesus tells in Matthew 13:24-30 what is known as the parable of the tares of the field or the parable of the wheat and tares. In this story, Jesus explains that the kingdom of heaven is similar to a man who sowed good seed in his wheat field. Everyone was sleeping. Then, an enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and left. When the plants sprouted and bore grain, the tares appeared too.
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The servants of the owner or the slaves of the landowner were confused. They asked the master how tares got into the field considering that he only planted good seeds. But the master responded:
“An enemy has done this.”
The servants asked the master if they should remove the tares. The master said no unless they uproot the wheat too. He advised them to just let wheat and tares grow together until the time of harvest or the harvest time. When that happens, the tares can be gathered first and burned. The wheat, on the other hand, will be gathered in his barn.
Jesus explains the meaning of the parable to his disciples in Matthew 13:36-43. The Son of Man here is Jesus. He’s the one who sows the good seed. The field is the entire world. The good seeds are the sons of the kingdom or true believers.
The tares are the sons of the evil one. They’re sown by the father of lies also known as Satan. The end of the age or end of this age is the final judgment. The angels here are the harvesters.
During the last days, the tares will be gathered. They’re thrown into the furnace of fire where there will be gnashing of teeth. The righteous, on the other hand, will shine in the kingdom of their Father.
It’s a great story about Jesus. But what is a tare in the Bible?
What is a tare in the Bible particularly in the story? In this story, tare is a kind of weed. It resembles wheat in its early stages. Some scholars identify the tare as Lolium temulentum or known as bearded darnel or grains of the L. temulentum.
This weed mimics wheat in appearance. That is, it has tall green stalks. Tare also has similar leaves to wheat. Plus, it has an identical growth pattern. However, tare is poisonous and harmful.
As you can see, tares here represent false believers, false prophets, and false teachers. These are the people who resemble real Christians on the outside. But inwardly, they reject the Word of God. They also resist the Holy Spirit.
Jesus warns us in this parable of the weeds that these people are satanic plants. They’re planted by the enemy to infiltrate the church of God.
Tares symbolize people who appear to the will of my Father. In truth, they have no personal relationship with Christ Jesus. Their fruits don’t reflect the love of God, the fruit of the Spirit, or true faith. Tares are bad trees that bear bad fruit. They produce no good fruit and they’re designed for destruction.
The similarity between wheat and tares is crucial in this story. It symbolizes how hard it is to differentiate between believers from well-meaning people who don’t truly follow God’s commands.
One great example of a tare is Judas Iscariots. He was one of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. He was a tare among the twelve.
Reading the said parable, what lessons can we learn from it?
Lessons to Be Learned
This parable teaches truths about the believer’s life, the church of God, and the end of the world. Jesus told the parable of the wheat and tares to His apostles just to illustrate farming practices in Biblical times. Instead, He used this story to illustrate the wheat field to uncover spiritual realities that are just as urgent today as they were in that era.
One of the most compassionate aspects of this story is the owner of the field’s decision to just allow the wheat and the tares to grow together until it’s time to harvest them. This reveals the love of God and His divine patience. Instead of uprooting what might still turn into good wheat, God offers the false believers a chance to repent. He’s not willing to eliminate the bad. He wants every bad person to repent.
His patience can be seen when He tolerated Judas Iscariots. We’re all familiar with this apostle. Jesus gave him every opportunity to become good.
Today, there are people in the church who are still struggling with sins. Some have yet to yield fully to the Holy Ghost. God waits not because He’s indifferent but because He’s merciful. The last time is coming. However, we’re in a season of grace.
Judgment is Inevitable
It’s true that God is patient. However, His justice is inevitable. Jesus is clear about it. At the end of the age, the first gather is not the wheat but the tares. The slaves will separate the bad seeds from the good seed. The tares will be bundled and thrown into the fire. In that fire, there’ll be gnashing of teeth. This is an image of eternal life lost and people thrown into it will suffer eternal separation from God.
Jesus didn’t use final judgment to scare us. Rather, it was a loving warning from a loving Savior. It assures us that the kingdom of heaven will be purified. In the kingdom of their Father, only the sons of the kingdom will remain.
Fruit Reveals the Root
Outside appearance can deceive people. However, harvest time reveals the truth. The wheat and tares appear similar during early growth. When the time of harvest comes, only the wheat bore grain.
This means that the true measure of a person isn’t their church attendance or spiritual language. Rather, it’s the fruit of the Spirit growing in their lives.
The Word of God and the Holy Spirit must be at work in a person’s heart to produce good fruit. In another parable, Jesus said that a good tree can’t bear bad fruit and a bad tree bears only corruption. In our life, fruit confirms our identity.
The Church is a Mixture of True Believers and False Prophets
This parable helps us manage our expectations of the church. The church will always be a mixture of true believers, false prophets, and well-meaning people who may still be deceived because of their immaturity.
In that case, we shouldn’t be surprised to find scandal, hypocrisy, and error in Christian institutions.
Jesus doesn’t call us to purify the church prematurely. Rather, He wants us to be faithful until the harvest time. We may be tempted to uproot the tares ourselves like the owner’s servants. However, doing so will only harm the good wheat in the process. Thus, spiritual discernment must be guided by humility.
Satan Mimics Light
The closest resemblance between the tare and wheat is Satan’s strategy. The apostle Paul says that Satan can appear as an angel of light. His false teachers wear the garb of righteousness. The devil doesn’t sow obvious evil. Rather, he sows satanic plants in disguise. These plants would include summer tare, winter tare, or any kind of weed that will mimic faith but lack power.
These deceivers may even preach the Word of God. But they distort it. They may champion the quantity of goods. They focus on outward results or success metrics like the quantity of a commodity, instead of the inward transformation. Over time, though their fruit reveals their root.
The Apostle John warns us that many antichrists have gone out into the world. We must remain with God and be in a relationship with Christ Jesus to avoid deception.
How to Apply the Story of a Tare in the Bible?
What is a tare in the Bible? As mentioned, the parable is more than just a teaching about the end of the world. It’s a call for us all to reflect, discern, and become spiritually mature. Jesus offers us the chance to examine our faith and walk with Him.
Examine Your Heart
We must ask ourselves, “What is the condition of my heart?” Jesus taught us the Word of God is sown in different types of soil. It represents the hearts of men. Some ground is rocky while others are fertile.
Our heart determines whether the seed becomes fruitful. This ties to the good seed in the parable of the weeds. Is your heart soft? Is it ready for God’s truth?
The image of wheat reminds us that we’re meant to grow and bear fruit. A good tree can’t have bad fruit, just as a bad tree can’t yield good fruit. It’s not enough for us to appear religious or attend church. Instead, we need to have a real relationship with Christ Jesus.
Jesus said that only those who do the will of my Father will enter the kingdom of heaven. Don’t rely on emotions or church attendance. Rather, examine whether the fruit of the Spirit is evident in your life.
Discern But Don’t Judge
What is a tare in the Bible and why the owner doesn’t want it to be removed? When the servants asked the owner if they should remove the tares or the bad fruits, the owner said no. He didn’t want to harm the good wheat while removing the bad ones. This teaches us not to make quick assumptions or judgments about others.
Some people may seem like bad seeds. In time, though, they may yield good fruits. Others may be a real thing but they’re not in reality. There’s little doubt that spiritual growth varies among believers. Some are early in their faith journey. They may be confused or caught in old habits. Others, however, there are true Christians in disguise. They’re genuine believers growing quietly under the grace of God.
That’s why we shouldn’t be too quick in labeling someone as a tare or bad fruit. Let’s follow Jesus’ example showing love, patience, and grace. Our task is to live the truth, share the good news, and leave judgment to God. Even the slaves were warned not to act prematurely.
Be Vigilant
What is a tare in the Bible and the parable? The parable warns of false teachers being sown by Satan, who’s the father of lies. These people may look like good fruits but they’re actually tares. They could be bearded darnel or Lolium temulentum, which is a species of ryegrass that resembles wheat. This deception is not an accident. Satan specializes in counterfeiting the truth.
The church of God must stay spiritually alert. Bad seeds are sown not only by heretics but also through media, culture, and pulpits. Paul warns of those who preach another gospel. To stop it, you must immerse yourself in the Word of God.
In that case, you need to be selective in whom you listen to. Trust voices like Apostle Paul and others grounded in truth. Avoid those who only focus on the quantity of the produce. It means that we must avoid people who are just focused on outward success and empty metrics, instead of embracing the truth, repentance, and transformation.
False doctrine spreads like a plant of the vetch. It tangles around the good tree. It chokes out the fruit of the spirit. That’s why we’re urged to pray for discernment. Invite the Holy Ghost to guide you into truth. It’s a lifelong process to guard your heart and your faith.
Prepare for the Harvest
Jesus said that God would send His angels at the end of the age to gather the harvest. The first gathering will be the tares who bore no fruit and who lived outside of God’s will. They will be bound and cast into the fire. This is the eternal judgment if you reject Christ.
But those who obeyed God’s commands, loved Him, and bore spiritual fruit will shine like the sun in the kingdom of God. This is the hope of eternal life.
We must live every day to anticipate the final judgment. The last days are not a far-off fantasy. We’re living in them now. The end of this age is near. The line between wheat and tares becomes increasingly clear.
To prepare ourselves, we need to abide in Christ Jesus, obey His commands, walk in the spirit, and share faith with others.
Be Faithful and Fruitful
What is a tare in the Bible? It’s a plant that doesn’t bear fruit. But Jesus teaches us not to quickly label others as tare. Instead, let’s leave that judgment to God.
Jane is a Roman Catholic on a journey of re-learning about God and deepening her understanding of the Bible. She has over a decade of experience as a copywriter. Her goal is to blend her passion for writing with her spiritual journey. She writes content that doesn’t just uplift but also connects with people who wish to seek a deeper understanding of God’s word. Follow Jane on LinkedIn or Instagram.
