Matthew 13:27

English Revised Version

And the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst thou not sow good seed in thy field? whence then hath it tares?

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
The landowner’s servants

King James Version (1611)
So the seruants of the housholder came, and said vnto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seede in thy field? From whence then hath it tares?

King James Version
So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?

English Standard Version
And the servants of the master of the house came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?'

New American Standard Bible
"And the slaves of the landowner came and said to him, 'Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?'

New Century Version
Then the man's servants came to him and said, ‘You planted good seed in your field. Where did the weeds come from?'

Amplified Bible
"The servants of the owner came to him and said, 'Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? Then how does it have weeds in it?'

Geneva Bible (1587)
Then came the seruaunts of the housholder, and sayd vnto him, Master, sowedst not thou good seede in thy fielde? from whence then hath it tares?

New American Standard Bible (1995)
"The slaves of the landowner came and said to him, 'Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?'

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

Berean Standard Bible
The owner's servants came to him and said, 'Sir, didn't you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?'

Contemporary English Version
The servants came and asked, "Sir, didn't you scatter good seed in your field? Where did these weeds come from?"

Complete Jewish Bible
The owner's servants came to him and said, ‘Sir didn't you sow good seed in your field? Where have the weeds come from?'

Darby Translation
And the bondmen of the householder came up and said to him, Sir, hast thou not sown good seed in thy field? whence then has it darnel?

Easy-to-Read Version
Then the man's servants came to him and said, ‘You planted good seed in your field. Where did the weeds come from?'

George Lamsa Translation
So the servants of the landowner came and said to him, Our lord, behold, did you not sow good seed in your field; whence did the tares come into it?

Good News Translation
The man's servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, it was good seed you sowed in your field; where did the weeds come from?'

Lexham English Bible
So the slaves of the master of the house came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have darnel?'

Literal Translation
And coming near, the slaves of the housemaster said to him, Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? Then from where does it have the darnel?

American Standard Version
And the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst thou not sow good seed in thy field? whence then hath it tares?

Bible in Basic English
And the servants of the master of the house came and said to him, Sir, did you not put good seed in your field? how then has it evil plants?

Hebrew Names Version
The servants of the householder came and said to him, 'Sir, didn't you sow good seed in your field? Where did this darnel come from?'

International Standard Version
The owner's servants came and said to him, 'Master, you sowed good seed in your field, didn't you? Then where did these weeds come from?'

Etheridge Translation
And the labourers of the house-lord drew near and said to him, Our lord, didst thou not sow good seed in thy field ? From whence then is the zizania in it?

Murdock Translation
And the servants of the householder came, and said to him, Our lord, didst thou not sow good seed in thy field? From whence are the tares in it.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
So, the seruauntes of the housholder came, and sayde vnto hym. Sir, diddest not thou sowe good seede in thy fielde? from whence then hath it tares?

World English Bible
The servants of the householder came and said to him, 'Sir, didn't you sow good seed in your field? Where did this darnel come from?'

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
So the servants of the housholder came to him and said, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? Whence then hath it darnel?

Weymouth's New Testament
"So the farmer's men come and ask him, "`Sir, was it not good seed that you sowed on your land? Where then does the darnel come from?'

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And the seruauntis of the hosebonde man camen, and seiden to hym, Lord, whether hast thou not sowun good seed in thi feeld? where of thanne hath it taris?

Update Bible Version
And the slaves of the householder came and said to him, Sir, didn't you sow good seed in your field? from where then has it tares?

Webster's Bible Translation
So the servants of the householder came and said to him, Sir, didst thou not sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?

New English Translation
So the slaves of the owner came and said to him, ‘Sir, didn't you sow good seed in your field? Then where did the weeds come from?'

New King James Version
So the servants of the owner came and said to him, "Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?'

New Living Translation
"The farmer's workers went to him and said, ‘Sir, the field where you planted that good seed is full of weeds! Where did they come from?'

New Life Bible
"The servants of the man who planted the seed came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not plant good seed in your field? Why does it have weeds also?'

New Revised Standard
And the slaves of the householder came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where, then, did these weeds come from?'

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And the servants of the householder, coming near, said to him, - Sir! was it not, good seed, thou didst sow in thy field? Whence then hath it, darnel?

Douay-Rheims Bible
And the servants of the good man of the house coming said to him. Sir, didst thou not sow good seed in thy field? Whence then hath it cockle?

Revised Standard Version
And the servants of the householder came and said to him, 'Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then has it weeds?'

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
The servauntes came to the housholder and sayde vnto him: Syr sowedest not thou good seed in thy closse fro whece the hath it tares?

Young's Literal Translation
`And the servants of the householder, having come near, said to him, Sir, good seed didst thou not sow in thy field? whence then hath it the darnel?

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Then came the seruautes to ye housholder, & sayde vnto him: Syr, sowdest not thou good sede in yi felde? Fro whece the hath it tares?

Mace New Testament (1729)
so the servants of the yeoman came and said, Sir, did not you sow your field with good grain: how comes it then to have tares?

THE MESSAGE
"The farmhands came to the farmer and said, ‘Master, that was clean seed you planted, wasn't it? Where did these thistles come from?'

Simplified Cowboy Version
The cowboys went and told the rancher that another bull must have got to the cows.

Contextual Overview

²⁴ Another parable set he before them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man that sowed good seed in his field: ²⁵ but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares also among the wheat, and went away. ²⁶ But when the blade sprang up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. ²⁷ And the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst thou not sow good seed in thy field? whence then hath it tares? ²⁸ And he said unto them, An enemy hath done this. And the servants say unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? ²⁹ But he saith, Nay; lest haply while ye gather up the tares, ye root up the wheat with them. ³⁰ Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather up first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn. ³¹ Another parable set he before them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like unto a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: ³² which indeed is less than all seeds; but when it is grown, it is greater than the herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the heaven come and lodge in the branches thereof. ³³ Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till it was all leavened.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

the servants: 1 Corinthians 3:5-9, 1 Corinthians 12:28, 1 Corinthians 12:29, 1 Corinthians 16:10, 2 Corinthians 5:18-20, 2 Corinthians 6:1, 2 Corinthians 6:4, Ephesians 4:11, Ephesians 4:12

whence: Romans 16:17, 1 Corinthians 1:11-13, 1 Corinthians 15:12-34, Galatians 3:1-3, James 3:15, James 3:16, James 4:4

Reciprocal: Matthew 13:37 - He

Gill's Notes on the Bible

So the servants of the householder came,.... Christ is the "householder"; the house of which he is master is the church, called the household of God, the household of faith, the family in heaven, and in earth; in which house he bears and sustains many relations, as those of a son, a priest, a master, or governor. By "the servants" that came to him, are meant, not civil magistrates, who have nothing to do in the affairs of churches; nor the angels, though these are ministering servants to Christ, and will be employed by him, in the close of time, to gather up the tares, bind them in bundles, and cast them into the fire; but the ministers of the Gospel, the servants of Christ, and of the most high God, who are made use of in planting, and sowing, and weeding his field, the church: these observing the tares, and fearing the danger the wheat was in by them, as well as troubled and surprised at the appearance and growth of them, came to him, and spread the case before him in prayer; and

said unto him, Sir, didst thou not sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? Their manner of address, calling him Sir, or Lord, is expressive of their reverence of him, and obedience to him; and which is said, not in word only, but in the sincerity of their hearts, and under the influence of the Spirit of God. They ascribe the field, the church, the good seed, converts that sprung up in it, and the sowing, or making of them such, all to Christ, and not any of this kind, or any part of it to themselves; though they were employed by him in tilling this field, in sowing spiritual things to the saints, and were useful to them in their profession of religion. Moreover, they intimate, that nothing but good could come from Christ; no bad seed, no tares could be of his sowing: and declare their ignorance of the rise of them; which ignorance was owing to their being asleep, when the enemy sowed them.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The kingdom of heaven is likened ... - That is, the “gospel resembles.” The kingdom of heaven (see the notes at Matthew 3:2) means here the effect of the gospel by its being preached. The meaning of this parable is plain. The field represents the “world,” in which the gospel is preached. The “good seed,” the truths preached by Christ and his apostles.

Matthew 13:25

While men slept, his enemy came ... - That is, “in the night,” when it could be done without being seen, an enemy came and scattered bad seed on the new-plowed field, perhaps before the good seed had been harrowed in.

Satan thus sows false doctrine in darkness. In the very place where the truth is preached, and while the hearts of people are open to receive it, by false but plausible teachers he takes care to inculcate false sentiments. Often it is one of his arts, in a revival of religion, to spread secretly dangerous notions of piety. Multitudes are persuaded that they are Christians who are deceived. They are awakened, convicted, and alarmed. They take this for conversion. Or they find their burden gone; they fancy that they hear a voice; or a text of Scripture is “brought” to them, saying that their sins are forgiven; or they see Christ hanging on the cross in a vision; or they dream that their sins are pardoned, and they suppose they are Christians. But they are deceived. None of these things are any conclusive evidence of piety. All these may exist, and still there be no true love to God or Christ, and no real hatred of sin and change of heart. An enemy may do it to deceive them, and to bring dishonor on religion.

Sowed tares - By “tares” is probably meant a degenerate kind of wheat, or the darnel-grass growing in Palestine. In its growth and form it has a strong resemblance to genuine wheat; but it either produces no grain, or that of a very inferior and hurtful kind. Probably it comes near to what we mean by “chess.” It was extremely difficult to separate it from the genuine wheat, on account of its similarity while growing.

“The tare abounds all over the East, and is a great nuisance to the farmer. It resembles the American “cheat (chess),” but the “head” does not droop like cheat, nor does it branch out like oats. The grain, also, is smaller, and is arranged along the upper part of the stalk, which stands perfectly erect. The “taste” is bitter, and when eaten separately, or even when diffused in ordinary bread, it causes dizziness, and often acts as a violent emetic. Barn-door fowls also become dizzy from eating it. In short, it is a strong soporific poison, and must be carefully winnowed, and picked out of the wheat grain by grain, before grinding, or the flour is not healthy. Even the farmers, who in this country generally “weed” their fields, do not attempt to separate the one from the other. They would not only mistake good grain for them, but very commonly the roots of the two are so intertwined that it is impossible to separate them without plucking up both. Both, therefore, must be left to “grow together” until the time of harvest.” - (Thomson) “The Land and the Book,” vol. ii. pp. 111, 112. Thus, “tares” aptly represented hypocrites in the church. Strongly resembling Christians in their experience, and, in some respects, their lives it is impossible to distinguish them from genuine Christians, nor can they be separated until it is done by the Great Searcher of hearts at the day of judgment. An enemy the devil hath done it. And nowhere has he shown profounder cunning, or done more to adulterate the purity of the gospel.

And went his way - There is something very expressive in this. He knew the soil; he knew how the seed would take root and grow. He had only to sow the seed and let it alone. So Satan knows the soil in which he sows his doctrine. He knows that in the human heart it will take deep and rapid root. It needs but little culture. Grace needs constant attendance and care. Error, and sin, and hypocrisy are the native products of the human heart, and, when left alone, start up with deadly luxuriancy.

Matthew 13:26

Then appeared the tares also - That is, then the tares were “first discovered.” They had grown with the wheat, but were so much like it as not to be noticed until the wheat began to ripen.

So true piety and false hopes are not known by professions, by “blades,” and leaves, and flowers, but by the fruit.

Matthew 13:29

Ye root up also the wheat - They so much resembled the true wheat that even then it would be difficult to separate them.

By gathering them, they would tread down the wheat, loosen and disturb the earth, and greatly injure the crop. In the harvest it could be done without injury.

Matthew 13:30

Let both grow together - They would not spoil the true wheat, and in time of harvest it would be easy to separate them.

Our Saviour teaches us here:

1. That hypocrites and deceived persons must be expected in the church.
2. That this is the work of the enemy of man. They are not the work of Christianity any more than traitors are of patriotism, or counterfeiters are of the proper effect of legislating about money. They belong to the world, and hypocrisy is only one form of sin. The Christian religion never “made” a hypocrite, nor is there a hypocrite on the earth whose principles and practice it does not condemn.
3. That all hope of removing them entirely would be vain.
4. That an “attempt” to remove them altogether would injure real Christianity, by causing excitements, discord, and hard feelings even among Christians.
5. That Christ will himself separate them at the proper time. There is no doubt that it is the duty of the church to keep itself pure, and to cut off gross and manifest offenders, 1 Corinthians 5:4-5; but the Saviour refers here to those who may be “suspected” of hypocrisy, but against whom it cannot be proved; to those who so successfully imitate Christians as to make it difficult or impossible for man to distinguish them.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Matthew 13:27. So the servants - said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow] A faithful and vigilant minister of Christ fails not to discover the evil, to lament it, and to address himself to God by prayer, in order to find out the cause of it, and to receive from him proper information how to behave on the occasion.