The Parable of the Wheat and the Tares

While everyone is asleep, the farmer's enemy sows tares among the wheat. When the wheat springs up, the servants notice the tare, which also appears. The owner of the land decides to let it be. At harvest the servants are to gather the tares and burn them. Only proper wheat may be stored in the barn.

In this parable the barn is the Kingdom of Heaven, where only the chosen ones are allowed in. The others are to burn in hell: "And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth."

Jesus explaines the parable to his followers in Matthew 13:36-50. He points out that the enemy is the devil; Bloemaert depicts that clearly by giving the sower in the background horns and a tail.