Matthew’s addition of the parable of the weeds is an expansion of Mk 4:26-29. Mark’s parable about seeds explains to those how the kingdom of God is interpreted in a simple way. We are born, seeds our sown. The seeds would sprout and grow, he does not know how; this is talking about the miraculous growth as talked about in many parables. After we are sown, we grow miraculously until the grain is ripe, and we are cut down with his sickle. This is referring to the judgment, when the grain is ripe, when one becomes worthy, judgment will follow. Matthew’s expansion incorporates weeds along with the seeds that are sown. An enemy, the devil, has sown weeds in the same field that has been sown with seeds for grain. It would uproot the grain if they pulled the weeds out too soon. In order to have a successful harvest they must wait until both are full grown, then separate the grain and weeds. The weeds in this parable resemble sinners, those not with Christ. The harvest resembles a judgment kind of action, both the grains and weeds will meet death, the sickle, and then be judged on whether it is grain and will be saved, or it is weeds and will be burned. This symbolism is if you are grain you have been judged as worthy and will make it into the kingdom of God, while if you have gone against the grain (no pun intended) you are deemed a weed planted by the devil and will be burned.

Matthew depicts Jesus as a non-judgmental divine man! Matthew talks about when the harvest is happening, the reapers will be angles, and the weeds will be separated from the grain. Though one day there will be a harvest, a judgment day, Jesus will not be handpicking who is of grain or weed. It has already been decided who have been sown from the kingdom and the evil one. There is no opinion based system for the reapers, angels, when it is time for the harvest of our world.

I believe the pearl parable was placed after the interpretation of the weeds and the parable of the net because there were a small percentage of people who could not relate to grain, weeds, and fishing. I believe Matthew was targeting the more wealthy and powerful people to try and give them a parable that they could relate to and understand. Give them more of a reason that everyone can find the kingdom of god if they sacrifice enough.

I believe the treasure and pearl parables do not gain more of a specific meaning with a larger apocalyptic context. I personally think the weed interpretation is actually the best parable because it entails more realistic demands. A person has either been sown from the kingdom of God, or by the hand of the devil. When the harvest comes it will be cut and dry who is going to the furnace. When talking about treasure hidden in a field and one great pearl, I feel that there is more of a stretch of the interpretation. Being seen a seed of the devil is a lot more clear than not wanting to sell all of your possessions to obtain a pearl, where the pearl represents the kingdom of God. The grain and weed do not require the selling/trading of material items to reach the kingdom, that is why I do not think the pearl and treasure parables gain more.