Matthew 13:28

28 “ ‘An enemy did this,’ he replied. “The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’

Matthew 13:28 in Other Translations

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

28 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?'

28 “‘An enemy has done this!’ the farmer exclaimed. “‘Should we pull out the weeds?’ they asked.

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

28 " 'An enemy did this!' he told them. " 'So, do you want us to go and gather them up?' the slaves asked him.

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 wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.

27 “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?’

28 “ ‘An enemy did this,’ he replied. “The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’

29 “ ‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them.

30 Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’ ”