Matthew 13:28

Contemporary English Version

"An enemy did this," he replied. His servants then asked, "Do you want us to go out and pull up the weeds?"

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
“‘An enemy did this,’ he told them.

King James Version (1611)
He said vnto them, An enemy hath done this. The seruants said vnto him, Wilt thou then that we goe and gather them vp?

King James Version
He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?

English Standard Version
He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.' So the servants said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?'

New American Standard Bible
"And he said to them, 'An enemy has done this!' The slaves said to him, 'Do you want us, then, to go and gather them up?'

New Century Version
The man answered, ‘An enemy planted weeds.' The servants asked, ‘Do you want us to pull up the weeds?'

Amplified Bible
"He replied to them, 'An enemy has done this.' The servants asked him, 'Then do you want us to go and pull them out?'

Geneva Bible (1587)
And hee said to them, Some enuious man hath done this. Then the seruants saide vnto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them vp?

New American Standard Bible (1995)
"And he said to them, 'An enemy has done this!' The slaves said to him, 'Do you want us, then, to go and gather them up?'

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

Berean Standard Bible
'An enemy did this,' he replied. So the servants asked him, 'Do you want us to go and pull them up?'

Complete Jewish Bible
He answered, ‘An enemy has done this.' The servants asked him, ‘Then do you want us to go and pull them up?'

Darby Translation
And he said to them, A man [that is] an enemy has done this. And the bondmen said to him, Wilt thou then that we should go and gather it [up]?

Easy-to-Read Version
"The man answered, ‘An enemy planted weeds.' "The servants asked, ‘Do you want us to go and pull up the weeds?'

George Lamsa Translation
He said to them, An enemy did this; his servants then said to him, Do you want us to go and pick them out?

Good News Translation
‘It was some enemy who did this,' he answered. ‘Do you want us to go and pull up the weeds?' they asked him.

Lexham English Bible
And he said to them, ‘An enemy has done this!' So the slaves said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?'

Literal Translation
And he said to them, A man, an enemy did this. And the slaves said to him, Do you desire, then, that going out we should gather them?

American Standard Version
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?

Bible in Basic English
And he said, Someone has done this in hate. And the servants say to him, Is it your pleasure that we go and take them up?

Hebrew Names Version
"He said to them, 'An enemy has done this.' "The servants asked him, 'Do you want us to go and gather them up?'

International Standard Version
He told them, 'An enemy did this!' The servants said to him, 'Then do you want us to go and pull them out?'

Etheridge Translation
But he said to them, A foeman hath done this. The labourers say to him, Art thou willing that we go and gather them?

Murdock Translation
And he said to them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said to him, Is it thy pleasure that we go and gather them out?

Bishop's Bible (1568)
He sayde vnto them: the malicious man hath done this. The seruauntes sayde vnto hym: wylt thou then that we go, and gather them vp?

English Revised Version
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?

World English Bible
He said to them, 'An enemy has done this.' The servants asked him, 'Do you want us to go and gather them up?'

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
He said to them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said to him, Wilt thou then, that we go and gather them up?

Weymouth's New Testament
"`Some enemy has done this,' he said. "`Shall we go, and collect it?' the men inquire.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And he seide to hem, An enemy hath do this thing. And the seruauntis seiden to him, `Wolt thou that we goon, and gaderen hem?

Update Bible Version
And he said to them, A hostile man has done this. And the slaves say to him, Will you then that we go and gather them up?

Webster's Bible Translation
He said to them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said to him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them?

New English Translation
He said, ‘An enemy has done this.' So the slaves replied, ‘Do you want us to go and gather them?'

New King James Version
He said to them, "An enemy has done this.' The servants said to him, "Do you want us then to go and gather them up?'

New Living Translation
"‘An enemy has done this!' the farmer exclaimed. "‘Should we pull out the weeds?' they asked.

New Life Bible
The man who planted the seed said, ‘Someone who hates me has done this.' The servants asked him, ‘Should we go and pull the weeds out from among the good grain?'

New Revised Standard
He answered, ‘An enemy has done this.' The slaves said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?'

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And he said unto them - An enemy, hath, done this. And they say, unto him - Wilt thou, then, that we go and collect it?

Douay-Rheims Bible
And he said to them: An enemy hath done this. And the servants said to him: Wilt thou that we go and gather it up?

Revised Standard Version
He said to them, 'An enemy has done this.' The servants said to him, 'Then do you want us to go and gather them?'

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
He sayde to the the envious ma hath done this. Then ye servauntes sayde vnto him: wilt thou then yt we go and gader them?

Young's Literal Translation
And he saith to them, A man, an enemy, did this; and the servants said to him, Wilt thou, then, [that] having gone away we may gather it up?

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
He sayde vnto the: that hath the enemye done. The sayde ye seruautes: wilt thou then yt we go & wede the out?

Mace New Testament (1729)
'tis some enemy, said he, has done this. the servants replied, shall we go then and pull them up?

THE MESSAGE
"He answered, ‘Some enemy did this.' "The farmhands asked, ‘Should we weed out the thistles?'

Simplified Cowboy Version
'That no-account Counterfeit must have done this to me!' the rancher said. "'Do you want us to shoot the cross bred calves?' the cowboys asked.

Contextual Overview

²⁴ Jesus then told them this story: The kingdom of heaven is like what happened when a farmer scattered good seed in a field. ²⁵ But while everyone was sleeping, an enemy came and scattered weed seeds in the field and then left. ²⁶ When the plants came up and began to ripen, the farmer's servants could see the weeds. ²⁷ The servants came and asked, "Sir, didn't you scatter good seed in your field? Where did these weeds come from?" ²⁸ "An enemy did this," he replied. His servants then asked, "Do you want us to go out and pull up the weeds?" ²⁹ "No!" he answered. "You might also pull up the wheat. ³⁰ Leave the weeds alone until harvest time. Then I'll tell my workers to gather the weeds and tie them up and burn them. But I'll have them store the wheat in my barn." ³¹ Jesus told them another story: The kingdom of heaven is like what happens when a farmer plants a mustard seed in a field. ³² Although it is the smallest of all seeds, it grows larger than any garden plant and becomes a tree. Birds even come and nest on its branches. ³³ Jesus also said: The kingdom of heaven is like what happens when a woman mixes a little yeast into three big batches of flour. Finally, all the dough rises.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Wilt: Luke 9:49-54, 1 Corinthians 5:3-7, 2 Corinthians 2:6-11, 1 Thessalonians 5:14, Jude 1:22, Jude 1:23

Reciprocal: Ecclesiastes 3:2 - a time to plant Matthew 13:39 - enemy Mark 9:39 - Forbid Luke 9:50 - Forbid

Gill's Notes on the Bible

He said unto them, an enemy has done this,.... This is the answer of the householder to the question of his servants. In the Greek text it is, "an enemy man"; and is so rendered in the several versions; meaning, not that the enemy was a man; for he was the devil, as in Matthew 13:39 but it is an Hebraism; such as in Esther 7:6, איש צר ואויב, "the man adversary and enemy" is this wicked Haman; and signifies a certain enemy, and one indeed that is an implacable enemy to man.

The servants said unto him, wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? which words express the concern of the ministers of Christ for the true members of the church, comparable to wheat, lest they should receive any damage by the ill examples, and pernicious principles of evil men among them; also their detestation and abhorrence of men of wicked lives and erroneous principles; they cannot bear them which are evil; likewise, they show great regard to the glory of God, and interest of religion, and their readiness to execute any orders Christ should give them; but not willing to proceed of themselves, ask counsel and advice of him.

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 13:28. An enemy hath done this — It is the interest of Satan to introduce hypocrites and wicked persons into religious societies, in order to discredit the work of God, and to favour his own designs.

Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? — A zeal which is rash and precipitate is as much to be feared as the total lack of strict discipline.