08/05/2026
In the Gospel of Matthew 13:25, Jesus says:
“But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.”
This verse is from the Parable of the Wheat and the Tares. Jesus later explains that:
The wheat represents the children of the Kingdom.
The tares (weeds) represent the children of the evil one.
The enemy is the devil.
The field is the world.
The harvest is the end of the age.
(See Matthew 13:36–43.)
Meaning of “while men slept”
Spiritually, “sleep” represents:
Lack of vigilance
Spiritual carelessness
Prayerlessness
Ignorance of truth
Moral compromise
Failure of watchmen and leaders
The enemy sowed counterfeit seeds secretly, not openly. The damage began unnoticed.
This is being fulfilled in these days we are living in.
These are some of the ways it is being fulfilled in modern society and even within religious spaces.
1. False teachings mixed with truth
Jesus warned that deception would increase before the end times.
Examples people point to include:
Teachings that remove repentance from the Gospel
Commercialization of ministry
Distortion of Scripture for personal gain
Mixing biblical doctrine with ungodly practices
Preachers who appear righteous outwardly but produce harmful fruit
This reflects tares growing among wheat — imitation that looks similar at first.
2. Moral corruption spreading quietly
Just as tares were planted secretly, destructive influences often enter gradually through:
Entertainment
Social media influence
Political manipulation
Greed and corruption
Normalization of sin
Attacks on truth and integrity
Many believers interpret this as spiritual contamination spreading while society is spiritually “asleep.”
3. Counterfeit Christianity
The parable teaches that not everyone within the visible community of believers truly belongs to Christ.
Jesus emphasized outward appearance is not enough:
Some profess faith but reject obedience
Some use religion for status, money, or influence
Some appear spiritual but oppose truth internally
The wheat and tares grow together for a season, making discernment necessary.
4. Spiritual negligence in believers
The verse is also applied personally.
“While men slept” can describe:
Neglecting prayer
Lack of Bible study
Spiritual complacency
Losing sensitivity to God
Allowing compromise into one’s life
When vigilance decreases, destructive influences can enter unnoticed.
5. End-times deception
It is also connected with broader end-times warnings from Jesus about deception increasing globally.
Other passages often connected to this include:
Matthew 24
2 Timothy 3
2 Thessalonians 2
The idea is that truth and deception will coexist increasingly until final judgment.
Important balance in interpreting this passage
Jesus also gave an important instruction in the same parable:
People were not told to uproot the tares immediately, because they might damage the wheat.
This teaches:
God is the final Judge.
Believers should practice discernment without becoming hateful or paranoid.
Not every weakness or immature believer is a “tare.”
The focus should remain on faithfulness, spiritual fruit, and truth.
Practical application for believers today
Many Christians take this passage as a call to:
Stay spiritually alert
Pray consistently
Study Scripture carefully
Test teachings
Walk in holiness
Develop discernment
Remain faithful even in a corrupt environment
Conclusion
I have noticed a growing trend in many places within our country and even beyond: whenever a godly church is established, a deceptive or false church often emerges nearby.
At first, they appear genuine and begin in a way that does not easily reveal their true intentions. They mix false teachings with truth, making it difficult for people to discern the difference. If someone is not firmly grounded in Christ Jesus and led by the Holy Spirit, they may fail to recognize the deception.
The danger today is that some of these deceptive church leaders are now using public platforms to condemn Christianity itself. Ironically, they use the harmful behaviors within their own circles as examples to portray the entire Christian faith negatively. Some even push for governments to heavily regulate churches in ways that could interfere with genuine Christian worship and teaching.
Their goal is to create a negative image of Christianity and convince people that the faith is false and that God does not exist.
Do not be easily persuaded to abandon your salvation. Remain steadfast in Christ, seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit, study the Scriptures carefully, and choose wisely the church you attend.
