Topical Encyclopedia Wheat holds significant symbolic meaning in the Bible, often representing the righteous, the Kingdom of God, and the fruits of spiritual labor. In the parables of Jesus, wheat is used to convey profound spiritual truths and moral lessons. These parables are found primarily in the Gospels and serve to illustrate the nature of God's Kingdom and the final judgment.The Parable of the Weeds (Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43) In this parable, Jesus compares the Kingdom of Heaven to a man who sowed good seed in his field. While everyone was sleeping, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat. When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, the weeds also appeared. The servants asked the owner if they should pull up the weeds, but he replied, "No, because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. 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" (Matthew 13:29-30). Jesus later explains the parable to His disciples, identifying the sower as the Son of Man, the field as the world, the good seed as the sons of the kingdom, and the weeds as the sons of the evil one. The enemy who sows the weeds is the devil, and the harvest is the end of the age. The reapers are angels who will separate the righteous from the wicked, gathering the wheat into the barn and burning the weeds in the fire (Matthew 13:37-43). The Parable of the Growing Seed (Mark 4:26-29) This parable, unique to the Gospel of Mark, describes the mysterious and autonomous growth of the Kingdom of God. Jesus says, "The kingdom of God is like a man who scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come" (Mark 4:26-29). Here, wheat symbolizes the growth and maturation of God's Kingdom, which occurs independently of human understanding or intervention. The parable emphasizes the divine power and mystery inherent in the Kingdom's expansion and the inevitability of the harvest, representing the final judgment. The Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:3-9, 18-23; Mark 4:3-9, 13-20; Luke 8:5-15) While not exclusively about wheat, this parable involves the sowing of seed, which can be understood as wheat. Jesus describes a sower who scatters seed on different types of soil: the path, rocky places, among thorns, and good soil. Only the seed that falls on good soil produces a crop, yielding thirty, sixty, or a hundred times what was sown. Jesus explains that the seed represents the word of God, and the various soils symbolize the different responses of human hearts. The good soil, which produces a bountiful harvest, represents those who hear the word, understand it, and bear fruit through perseverance and faithfulness (Matthew 13:23). Symbolism and Themes In these parables, wheat serves as a metaphor for the righteous and the fruitful work of God's Kingdom. The imagery of sowing, growing, and harvesting wheat underscores themes of patience, divine sovereignty, and the ultimate separation of good and evil. The parables highlight the importance of spiritual readiness and the assurance of God's just and final judgment. Through the symbol of wheat, Jesus communicates the transformative power of the Gospel and the hope of eternal life for those who remain faithful. Nave's Topical Index Matthew 13:25But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. Nave's Topical Index Luke 16:7 Library The First Great Group of Parables. On the Words of the Gospel, Matt. xiii. 19, Etc. , Where the Lord ... New Teaching in Parables' - the Parables to the People by the Lake ... Parable of the Various Kinds of Fish in the Net. --Of the Wheat ... Second Great Group of Parables. The First Great Group of Parables. The Parables of the Kingdom. The Parables Exemplified in the Early History of the Church. And He Set Forth to them Another Parable, and Said... The Teaching of Matthew 13 Proves that no Era of Millennial ... Resources What is the Parable of the Wheat and the Tares? | GotQuestions.orgIf our salvation is eternally secure, why does the Bible warn so strongly against apostasy? | GotQuestions.org What was the significance of the commands against mixing different things in Deuteronomy 22:9 11? | GotQuestions.org Wheat: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus |