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Matthew 13:24-43
(Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43)
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• Reading the Text:
  • NRSV (with link to Anglicized NRSV) at Oremus Bible Browser.
  • Greek Interlinear Bible, ScrTR, ScrTR t, Strong, Parsing, CGTS, CGES id, AV.
  • The Bible Gateway: NRSV, RSV, NIV, NASB, CEV, The Message, KJV, etc.
  • The Blue Letter Bible. KJV, alternate versions, Greek text with concordance, commentaries.
  • The World Wide Study Bible includes commentary, exposition & sermons.
• Historical References, Commentary and Comparative Texts:
  • The Five Gospels Parallels, John W. Marshall, University of Toronto.
  • Comparative primary texts about Sin and Justice from Mishnah and Babylonian Talmud. At Mahlon H. Smith's Into His Own: Perspective on the World of Jesus, Rutgers University.
  • Similitude VIII.3, Shepherd of Hermas. (c.145)
  • Chapter, XVI, The First Apology of Justin Martyr. (c 150)
  • IV.XXVI.1, IV.XL.2, 3, IV.XLI.1, 3, V.X.1, V.XXVII.1, V.XXXIII.3, Adversus Haereses, Irenaeus of Lyons. (c. 180)
  • Chapter II, Adversus Judaeos, Tertullian (c. 198)
  • I.11, Paedagogus, Clement of Alexandria (c 200)
  • V.12, VI.15, VII.15, Stromata, Clement of Alexandria (c 200)
  • Chapter XVI, On the Soul, Tertullian (c. 210)
  • Chapter XXXII, Chapter XXXV, On the Resurrection of the Flesh,  Tertullian (c. 211)
  • Chapter I, Against Praxeas,  Tertullian (c. 213)
  • V.III, V.IV, IX.VII, The Refutation of all Heresies (Philosophumena), Hippolytus of Rome. (c. 225)
  • Epistle V -- Cyprian of Carthage (c. 250)
  • Latin text of Augustine's Sermon 73 (Mt 13:4-30).
  • Homilies on the Gospel of St. Matthew, St. Chrysostom (c. 380):
    • Homily XLVI - Matthew 13:24-30
    • Homily XLVII - Matthew 13:34, 35
  • From the Catena Aurea, Patristic Commentary by St Thomas Aquinas.
  • "The Wheat & The Tares," Matthew 13:24-30, Martin Luther, c. 1525.
    • "People securely think here God is enthroned without a rival and Satan is a thousand miles away, and no one sees anything except how they parade the Word, name and work of God. That course proves beautifully effective."
  • From the Geneva Notes.
    • "God begins his kingdom with very small beginnings so that by its growing (even though men neither hope nor expect it to) his mighty power and working may be displayed all the more."
  • From Matthew Henry's Commentary.
    • "So prone is fallen man to sin, that if the enemy sow the tares, he may go his way, they will spring up, and do hurt; whereas, when good seed is sown, it must be tended, watered, and fenced."
  • From Wesley's Notes.
    • "Cares are thorns to the poor: wealth to the rich; the desire of other things to all."
  • From the Commentary on the Whole Bible (Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, 1871).
    • "...is it straining the parable... to suppose that, besides the wonderful growth of His kingdom, our Lord selected this seed to illustrate further the shelter, repose and blessedness it is destined to afford to the nations of the world?"
  • "Wheat in the Barn: Matthew 13:30," Charles H. Spurgeon. From Farm Sermons (c 1875).
    • "Heaven is the palace of the King, but, so far, to us a barn, because it is the place of security, the place of rest for ever. It is the homestead of Christ to which we shall be carried, and for this we are ripening."
  • From The People's New Testament, B.W. Johnson, 1891.
    • "The tares are not bad church members, but bad men; those who have been under the influence of the wicked one."
• Contemporary Commentary, Studies, and Exegesis:
  • "Wheat and Tares," Andrew Prior, 2017
  • "Weeds among the Wheat," Nancy Rockwell, The Bite in the Apple, 2017.
  • "Bad Seeds and the Grace of God," Janet H Hunt, Dancing with the Word, 2017.
  • Commentary, Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43, Warren Carter, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2014.
    • "After explaining the parable of the seed and different types of ground, Matthew's Jesus again employs an agricultural setting for the parable concerning weeds sown and growing among the wheat crop."
  • "Wheat and Tares and Other Truths about the Kingdom of Heaven," Karoline Lewis, Dear Working Preacher, 2014.
    • " This parable is a description of a reality we'd rather not admit. Maybe even a description of a God in whom we'd rather not believe."
  • "On Wheat, Weeds, anad Ambiguity," David Lose, ...in the meantime..., 2014.
    • "I think it would be an incredible thing, Dear Partner, if our people came to see church as a place where they could confess the confusion and ambiguity of their lives and find counsel, comfort, and hope as they seek to be the people God has called them to be."
  • "The Grace of Doing Nothing," D. Mark Davis, Left Behind and Loving It, 2014.
    • "What parables do not do is tell us everything..."
  • "Let Them Grow Together: On Gaza, Migrants, Refugees, Wheat and Weeds," David Henson, 2014.
    • "...our world will be poorer for it. It always is. Whenever the children of God learn to see a difference between the wheat and the weeds."
  • "The Politics of Doing Nothing," D. Mark Davis, Political Theology, 2014.
  • "The Cheatgrass Is in Us," Nanette Sawyer, Question the Text, 2014.
    • "So if people are not simply bad or good, how can we learn from this parable? How are we to interpret the idea that there is a fiery furnace someplace and sometime?"
  • "The End?..... or Resurrection?" Andrew Prior, 2014.
  • "Becoming Our Calling," Andrew King, A Poetic Kind of Place, 2014.
  • "Weeding Time?," Bob Cornwall, Ponderings on a Faith Journey, 2014.
    • "Jesus speaks of judgment. In fact, he speaks of the workers (angels of God) separating out the weeds from the grain (after harvesting them) and burning the weeds and chaff. But, as for us, we're to leave judgment to God."
  • "Let Them Grow Together: God's Solution to the Problem of Evil," Richard Mario Procida, Modern Lectionaries, 2014.
  • The Lectionary Lab, the Rev'ds Dr. John Fairless and Delmer Chilton (aka "Two Bubbas and a Bible"), 2014. Lectionary Lab Live podcast.
  • Pulpit Fiction, plus podcast. Reflections of lectionary text, pop culture, current events, etc. Robb Mc Coy and Eric Fistler, 2014.
  • "Keep Your Hat On," Andrew Prior, 2014.
  • "Wheat and Weeds and Birthday Calls," Janet H. Hunt, Dancing with the Word, 2014.
  • "Gray Matter," Rick Morley, 2014.
  • "Tangled Humanity," Christopher Burkett, PreacherRhetorica, 2014.
    • "So where is the evil located? Is it to be found in a far away, or maybe not so far away, enemy who has sown evil into my life—weeds that are all around me?"
  • Echoes of Scripture, Brent Anderson, 2014.
  • "Weeds," Nancy Rockwell, The Bite in the Apple, 2014.
  • In Gandhi there is a scene in South Africa which show’s the beginning of Gandhi’s struggle against the British Empire as small as a mustard seed. Ed McNulty, Visual Parables.
  • "Sowing and Not Reaping," Alan Brehm, The Waking Dreamer, 2014.
    • "We tend to assume that we are the favorites, we are the "chosen ones." But the plain truth of Scripture is that in God's sight all people are loved and valued. In God's realm, all people are God's children."
  • Radical Gratitude, lectionary-based stewardship, Northwest United Methodist Foundation. (.pdf)
  • Evangelio Comentario del San Mateo 13:24-30, 36-43 por Dan González Ortega, Working Preacher, 2014.
  • "Why We Must Learn to Love Weeds," Richard Mabey, The Wall Street Journal, June 4, 2011.
  • Commentary, Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43, Elisabeth Johnson, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 201l.
    • "Perhaps there were some overzealous 'weeders' in Matthew's congregation who wanted to purify the community by rooting out the bad seed. This seems to be a temptation for followers of Jesus in every age."
  • The Parable of Weeds among the Wheat, audio telling, story in episodes, graphic, audio and written commentaries. Go Tell Communications, Biblical Storytelling for the Global Village, 2011.
  • "Jesus Condones Weed," Peter Woods, I am Listening, 2011.
    • "Before holiness and perfection however, Jesus expected transformation in his hearers."
  • Holy Textures, Understanding the Bible in its own time and in ours, Matthew 13;24-30, 36-43, David Ewart, 2011.
    • "This is a parable about the FIELD - about the collective experience. At the end, the weeds ARE separated and burned. At the end, what is pleasing to God is taken in to God's care and keeping. But remember, think of yourself as the FIELD. At the harvest, the weeds in you are removed, and the wheat in you is gathered in."
  • "First Thoughts on Year A Gospel Passages in the Lectionary," Pentecost 6, William Loader, Murdoch University, Uniting Church in Australia.
    • "Never uproot people in your mind or attitude by treating them as no longer of any worth!"
  • Lectionary Blogging, July 17, 2011, John Petty, Progressive Involvement, 2011.
    • "Could he be any more obvious? He is generating disciples who live out the ways of the kingdom--open table fellowship, gender equality, non-heirarchical living, inherent worth of every human being, and opposition to oppression. Those who don't follow this way of the kingdom are instead pressed by hardship and difficulty. They suffer the "weight" of heirarchy, scarcity, tribalism."
  • "The Best Approach Is...To Do Nothing?" Danielle Shroyer, The Hardest Question, 2011.
    • "So we’re just supposed to leave the weeds?"
  • Exegetical Notes by Brian Stoffregen at CrossMarks Christian Resources.
    • "For a slightly different illustration of making things worse by trying to fix them, I'm using From Stuck to Unstuck: Overcoming Congregational Impasse, by Kenneth a. Halstead..."
  • "The Weeds among the Wheat," Alyce McKenzie, Edgy Exegesis, Patheos, 2011.
    • "This makes me wonder if this parable is an answer to the question: How do two conflicting groups in the same setting manage to get along?"
  • Commentary, Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43, Dale Allison, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2008.
  • "Weeds and Wheat," Gospel Analysis, Sermons from Seattle, Pastor Edward F. Markquart, Grace Lutheran Church, Seattle, Washington. Detailed background and exegesis.
    • "The Greek word for weeds is 'zizania' which is a very particular type of weed that looks just like wheat as it is growing up.  You can hardly tell the difference.  Today it is called  'darnel' wheat. It looks like wheat, it appears like wheat but it is not wheat.  It fools you."
  • Synopsis (English) and discussion by Dr. Mahlon H. Smith, Rutgers University. Focus is on literary relationships of texts. Includes non-canonical parallels and discussion of textual origins.
    • "The Harvest" (synopsis only)
    • "Mustard Seed and Leaven " (synopsis only)
    • "The Harvest as Allegory"
      • "Then Jesus is reported to supply his disciples with an interpretation, in spite of his insistence a few lines earlier that they already knew 'the secrets of the kingdom' and, therefore, needed no explanation."
  • Comments (commentary) and Clippings (technical notes for in-depth study), Chris Haslam, Anglican Diocese of Montreal.
  • "Violent Parables and the Nonviolent Jesus," study guide, Robert B. Kruschwitz, (other resources at) "Parables," Christian Reflection, The Center for Christian Ethics at Baylor University, 2006.
  • Matthew in the Margins, by Brian McGowan, Anglican priest in Western Australia.
  • Sermon Preparation Thoughts and Questions by Wesley White, 2005.
    • "We have certainly spent a lot of energy battling one another. We have pulled up our own values, morals, and intentions as we try to eradicate another point of view. This is part of the warning of the parable. The destruction you intend for another will come back to bite you at the same place your focused your attention."
  • Wellspring of the Gospel, Ordinary 16A, Catherine McElhinney and Kathryn Turner, Weekly Wellsprings.
  • "Wheat and Weeds, Good and Evil," Larry Broding's Word-Sunday.Com: A Catholic Resource for This Sunday's Gospel. Adult Study, Children's Story, Family Activity, Support Materials.
    • "Has the problem of evil in the world ever challenged your faith?"
  • "The Parable of the Weeds," Rev. Bryan Findlayson, Lectionary Bible Studies and Sermons, Pumpkin Cottage Ministry Resources. Includes detailed textual notes.
  • Reflection on Matthew 13:24-30, Rev. Wanda Copeland. At Environmental Reflections, Lectionary Year A, Episcopal Diocese of Minnesota, Environmental Stewardship Commission.
    • "Can we even comprehend a God that loves the world so much that every grain of wheat is significant.  What if we started living our lives as if that were true?"
  • "Parables of Jesus," "Weeds among the Wheat," "Mustard Seed," "Yeast," wikipedia.
  • "Matthew's Nonviolent Jesus and Violent Parables," Barbara E. Reid, O.P., (other resources at) "Parables," Christian Reflection, The Center for Christian Ethics at Baylor University, 2006.
    • "Jesus' Sermon on the Mount instructs us to not return violence for violence; instead we should be like God, who offers boundless, gratuitous love to all. But in the same Gospel Jesus tells eight parables in which God deals violently with evildoers. Which of the divine ways are we to imitate?"
• Recommended articles from ATLAS, an online collection of religion and theology journals, are linked below. ATLAS Access options are available for academic institutions, alumni of selected theological schools, and clergy/church offices.Annotated list of "starting place" articles at ATLAS for this week's texts (includes direct links).
  • Bailey, Mark L., "The Kingdom in the Parables of Matthew 13," Bibliotheca Sacra, 1998-1999:
    • "Guidelines for Interpreting Jesus' Parables"
        EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
        EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
    • "The Parable of the Tares"
        EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
        EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Batstone, David B., "Jesus, Apocalyptic, and World Transformation," David B. Batstone, Theology Today, 1993.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Bridges, Linda McKinnish, "Preaching the Parables in Matthew's Gospel in Ordinary Time: The Extraordinary Tales of God's World," Review & Expositor, 2007. (Section on this text begins on p.342, but is best read in context of entire article.)
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Burghardt, William, S.J., "Gospel Joy, Christian Joy," The Living Pulpit, 1996. (see Joy issue focus of The Living Pulpit 5.4, 1996.)
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Collins, John J., "The Zeal of Phinehas: The Bible and the Legitimation of Violence," Journal of Biblical Literature, 2003.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Doty, William G., "An Interpretation: Parable of the Weeds and Wheat," Interpretation, 1971.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Glancy, Jennifer A., "Slaves and Slavery in the Matthean Parables," Journal of Biblical Literature, 2000.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • "Homiletical Helps," Concordia Journal, 2011. (Section on this text begins on page 154)
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerial
  • McIver, Robert K., "The Parable of the Weeds among the Wheat (Matt 13:24-30, 36-34) and the Relationship between the Kingdom and the Church as Portrayed in the Gospel of Matthew," Journal of Biblical Literature, 1995.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Schellenberg, Ryan S., "Kingdom as Contaminant? The Role of Repertoire in the Parables of the Mustard Seed and the Leaven," The Catholic Biblical Quarterly, 2009.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Toussaint, Stanley D. and Jay A Quine, "No, Not Yet: The Contingency of God's Promised Kingdom," Bibliotheca Sacra, 2007.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
• Sermons:
  • "Why Can't We Pull Up the Weeds?" the Rev. Dr. Joanna Adams, Day 1, 2006.
  • "A World Full of Weeds," the Rev. Jim Somerville, Day 1, 2005.
  • "Weeds and Wheat - A Strange Mix!" 9 Pentecost - 17 July 2005, Hubert Beck, Göttinger Predigten im Internet: Every Sunday Sermons based on the RCL by a team of Lutheran theologians/ pastors.
  • "Weeds and Wheat," Pastor Edward F. Markquart, Sermons from Seattle.
  • "Problems Beyond Our Power to Fix," the Rev. Dr. Thomas Lane Butts, Day 1, 1997.
  • "The Mustard Seed," Pastor Edward F. Markquart, Grace Lutheran Church, Seattle, Washington.
  • Father Andrew M. Greeley, "Priest, Author, Sociologist," Commentary and Homily
    • Ordinary 16, 2011
    • Ordinary 16, 2008
    • Ordinary 16, 2005
    • Ordinary 16, 2002
    • Ordinary 16, 1999
    • Ordinary 16, 1996
• With Children:
  • Worshiping with Children, Including children in the congregation's worship, using the Revised Common Lectionary, Carolyn C. Brown, 2014. 2011.
  • "Storypath Lectionary Links: Connecting Children's Literature with our Faith Story," July 20, 2014, Union Presbyterian Seminary. Genesis 28:10-19a and The Magic Pillow by Demi, Romans 8:12-25 and Wild About You! by Judy Sierra, Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 and Seed by Seed, by Esme Raji Codell. 2011.
  • Parable Of The Crabby Grass, Brett Blair, SermonStudio.
  • "Weeds Grow Among the Wheat," Sunday School Lessons: Family Bible Study, art projects, music, stories, etc.
  • "Weed Killer," Children's Time, in Sermons and Liturgies. Richard J. Fairchild. (Scroll down in liturgies to find Children's Time.)
  • "Wheat and Weeds," Jim Kerlin, childrensermons.com.
  • "Parable of Wheat and Tares," children's study, puzzles, coloring sheet, etc. Higher Praise Christian Center.
• Drama:
  • "The Treasure," Kevin Penner, dramatix.
• Graphics & Bulletin Materials:
  • Clip Art Images: Matthew 13:24-43, Misioneros Del Sagrado Corazón en el Perú.
  • Matthew 13:24-43, Liturgical Drawing, Maria d.c. Zamora, Claretian Resources, Philippines. ("Download and use these for free.")
  • Matthew 13:24-43, at Cerezo Barredo's weekly gospel illustration. Liberation emphasis.
  • Commercial Site: The Parable of the Seed / The Kingdom of God Is Like a Mustard Seed, (Film/Visual Liturgy), The Work of the People.
• Hymns and Music:
  • "A Farmer in a Field," Carolyn Winfrey Gillette's new hymn (2014) on Matthew 13:24-30, 35-43 relates Jesus' parable of the wheat and weeds to the problem of evil today. Tune: ST. THOMAS 6.6.8.6 ("I Love Thy Kingdom, Lord")
  • "The Gospel Garden," TEXT: Mark Ryman (2005) based on Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43. TUNE: "Bethlehem." New Hymns for the Lectionary.
  • "Siblings of the Risen Prince," Brenton Prigge, NewHymn, weekly new, relevant hymn set to traditional tunes.
  • Hymnary.org, hymns, scores, media, information.
  • Hymns with Scripture Allusions: Matthew 13:31, 38, 39, 40. The Cyber Hymnal.
  • At Digital Hymnal (midi files, guitar chords, karaoke files, projection text):
    • It May Be at Morn
• Fine Arts Images Linked at The Text This Week's Art Index:
• Movies scenes with the following themes, listed at The Text This Week's Movie Concordance:
• Study Links and Resources for the Book of Matthew

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