The Parable of the Weeds

13:24 He presented them with another parable:35 “The kingdom of heaven is like a person who sowed good seed in his field. 13:25 But while everyone was sleeping, an enemy came and sowed weeds36 among the wheat and went away. 13:26 When37 the plants sprouted and bore grain, then the weeds also appeared. 13:27 So the slaves38 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?’ 13:28 He said, ‘An enemy has done this.’ So39 the slaves replied, ‘Do you want us to go and gather them?’ 13:29 But he said, ‘No, since in gathering the weeds you may uproot the wheat with them. 13:30 Let both grow together until the harvest. At40 harvest time I will tell the reapers, “First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned, but then41 gather42 the wheat into my barn.” ’ ”