The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field;

“The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way.” (Matthew 13:24-25)

During our Lord’s time on earth, it was basically an agricultural society and people depended upon their crops. Therefore, this parable of Christ’s was easily understood by everyone. If an enemy purposely sowed weeds (tares) in his neighbors’ crop, this would have sabotaged the farmer’s efforts. And without modern weed killers, what would a farmer do in such a dilemma? 

Instead of tearing out the wheat with the tares, the landowner in this parable wisely waited until the harvest. After harvesting the whole field, the tares could be separated and burned, while the wheat would be saved in the barn.

This parable is the answer to why God allows the sinful and righteous to coexist in the world. God planted good seed, but the devil sowed in evil, and God in His wisdom will sort it all out in the end.

Fr. John