Tares
Summary
Tares (Greek zizania) refers to the bearded darnel, a poisonous weed virtually indistinguishable from wheat until both plants produce grain, featured prominently in Jesus' parable.
☩Botanical Identification
The tares of Jesus' parable are identified as the bearded darnel (Lolium temulentum), a widely distributed grass and the only species of its order with deleterious properties. The name derives from the Arabic zuwan, related to zan meaning 'nausea,' aptly describing its effects. The grains, if consumed, produce vomiting, purging, convulsions, dizziness, and can even cause death. When not separated from wheat, bread made from the flour causes dizziness in those who eat it.
☩Resemblance to Wheat
Before the ear appears, darnel is nearly identical in appearance to wheat, which explains Jesus' command to leave the tares until harvest. Once the grain heads out, even a child can distinguish them, but in earlier stages the closest scrutiny often fails to detect the difference. Palestinian farmers believe the darnel is actually degenerate wheat, though botanically this is incorrect. Women and children are sometimes employed to pick out the tall green stalks of zuwan from wheat fields near harvest time.
☩Parable Interpretation
In Jesus' parable, the tares represent those who make a false profession of faith—appearing among God's people, drawing near with their mouths, but with hearts far from Him. Both wheat and tares grow together, initially seeming alike, and human judgment cannot accurately distinguish between true and false believers. The parable teaches that premature attempts to purify the church by separating the seeming from the real have always failed, tending only to foster spiritual pride and hypocrisy. At the great harvest, the Lord Himself will separate them—gathering the wheat into His garner while the tares are consumed.
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Tares," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. X (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.F. N. Peloubet & M. A. Peloubet (ed.), "Tares," in Smith's Bible Dictionary (Porter & Coates, 1884).
- 3.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Tares," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).