Matthew 13:28

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

Matthew 13:28 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 13:28

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 ) , (bywaw ru vya) , "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.

Matthew 13:28 In-Context

26 When the first green shoots appeared and the grain began to form, the thistles showed up, too.

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

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

29 "He said, 'No, if you weed the thistles, you'll pull up the wheat, too.

30 Let them grow together until harvest time. Then I'll instruct the harvesters to pull up the thistles and tie them in bundles for the fire, then gather the wheat and put it in the barn.'"