This verse, Matthew 13:29, is part of the Parable of the Wheat and the Tares (or Darnel). To understand the verse, you need to know the context of the parable:
The Setup: A farmer sows good wheat seed in his field. An enemy comes and sows darnel (a weed that looks very similar to wheat, especially when young) among the wheat.
The Problem: When the wheat and darnel grow, the servants notice the weeds and want to pull them up.
The Verse (Matthew 13:29): This is the master's response to the servants' suggestion. He says, "No, lest perhaps while you gather up the darnel weeds, you root up the wheat with them."
Meaning Explained:
The master (representing God or Jesus) is instructing his servants not to separate the wheat and the darnel immediately. The key reason for this is:
Protecting the Wheat: Darnel's roots become intertwined with the wheat's roots. If the servants try to pull out the darnel, they are very likely to damage or uproot the wheat alongside it. This would result in a loss of the good harvest.
Symbolic Interpretation (from the Parable):
In the parable, Jesus explains the meaning later:
Wheat: Represents the children of the Kingdom (believers).
Darnel: Represents the children of the evil one (unbelievers/those who cause harm).
Field: Represents the world.
Harvest: Represents the final judgment.
Harvesters: Represent the angels.
So, applying the verse to the parable:
Premature attempts to separate believers from unbelievers (or good from evil) in the world can cause harm to the righteous.
Trying to eliminate all "evil" from the world before the final judgment could result in the destruction of some who are actually good or have the potential for good.
It suggests patience and the understanding that God will ultimately handle the separation of good and evil perfectly at the appointed time (the harvest).
In essence, the verse cautions against hasty or forceful attempts to purify the world prematurely, as it could lead to unintended consequences and the destruction of the innocent. God's timing and methods are perfect, and the final judgment will sort everything out definitively.
This verse, Matthew 13:29, is part of the Parable of the Wheat and the Tares (or Darnel). To understand the verse, you need to know the context of the parable:
The Setup: A farmer sows good wheat seed in his field. An enemy comes and sows darnel (a weed that looks very similar to wheat, especially when young) among the wheat.
The Problem: When the wheat and darnel grow, the servants notice the weeds and want to pull them up.
The Verse (Matthew 13:29): This is the master's response to the servants' suggestion. He says, "No, lest perhaps while you gather up the darnel weeds, you root up the wheat with them."
Meaning Explained:
The master (representing God or Jesus) is instructing his servants not to separate the wheat and the darnel immediately. The key reason for this is:
Protecting the Wheat: Darnel's roots become intertwined with the wheat's roots. If the servants try to pull out the darnel, they are very likely to damage or uproot the wheat alongside it. This would result in a loss of the good harvest.
Symbolic Interpretation (from the Parable):
In the parable, Jesus explains the meaning later:
Wheat: Represents the children of the Kingdom (believers).
Darnel: Represents the children of the evil one (unbelievers/those who cause harm).
Field: Represents the world.
Harvest: Represents the final judgment.
Harvesters: Represent the angels.
So, applying the verse to the parable:
Premature attempts to separate believers from unbelievers (or good from evil) in the world can cause harm to the righteous.
Trying to eliminate all "evil" from the world before the final judgment could result in the destruction of some who are actually good or have the potential for good.
It suggests patience and the understanding that God will ultimately handle the separation of good and evil perfectly at the appointed time (the harvest).
In essence, the verse cautions against hasty or forceful attempts to purify the world prematurely, as it could lead to unintended consequences and the destruction of the innocent. God's timing and methods are perfect, and the final judgment will sort everything out definitively.