Plant science: tares

The tares of the parable are most likely a species of annual ryegrass: Lolium temulentum, also known as darnel. It is a member of the family of true grasses: Poaceae; ryegrass makes up the genus Lolium. Wheat is also a member of this family, but in a different genus: Triticum.

Both are similar in appearance during growth, but differentiate as they mature. Wheat bears a tufted head of kernals; darnel bears a zigzagged head of smaller seeds. The plants are easily distinguished by their seed heads.

"But when the wheat sprang up and bore grain, then the tares became evident also." Matthew 13:26

Weeds in general look different than wheat from the time they first sprout. Most are broad leafed plants, very different than grasses. Thistles look like thistles from the first true leaf.

But this parable refers to a plant that looks like wheat until it is mature. The picture is not one of obvious good versus obvious bad. Rather it is a picture of similar things that yield differ results.

Ryegrass is a host to a fungal endophyte that is carried on its seeds. It can act as a poison if consumed. The owner's plan to harvest first the tares, keeping them separate, reflects this concern. They understood tares were poisonous.

But darnel is also a competitive weed; it can seriously reduce the yield of wheat. Today, various types of annual ryegrass are a major problem for wheat growers in the US and Australia.

The parable of the tares pictures a spiritual competition in us. Plants compete for light, nutrients, and water. What one plant takes will not be available to the plant next to it. It is the same for us; what is taken by the evil growing in us is being taken away from the good.

This is a picture of the kingdom of God; this is a reality within us. We have the good seed growing within us; we also have tares competing with the wheat. The tares even look like wheat for a time. But the harvest that comes from the tares is poisonous; if mixed with the wheat, the tares will poison the wheat as well.

The clever lies that seem to be good for a time can make us unfruitful in the end. Tares have been sown with the wheat; a spiritual struggle is present within us.

It isn't all good; God did not sow the tares.