lectionary.com

Ordinary Time · Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time · Year A

Matthew 13:24-43 or Matthew 13:24-30

The Weeds Among the Wheat

July 19, 2026

Parable of the Wheat and the Tares, Abraham Bloemaert
Parable of the Wheat and the Tares, Abraham Bloemaert, 1624Walters Art Museum, Baltimore
Bloemaert gives the foreground to the sleeping servants and puts the enemy sowing weeds in the middle distance, which is the detail everyone forgets.While everybody was asleep, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat. The painting remembers who was asleep.Abraham BloemaertA Utrecht painter and the teacher of a whole generation, whose drawing book was used for training long after his death.Walters Art Museum, BaltimoreA father-and-son collection given to the city of Baltimore, running from Egypt to Art Nouveau, and free to enter.Walters Art Museum, Baltimore
Roman Lectionary
GospelMatt. 13:24-43Mt 13:24-43 orMatt. 13:24-30Mt 13:24-30
Second ReadingRom. 8:26-27Rom 8:26-27
First ReadingWis. 12:13, 16-19Wis 12:13, 16-19
Responsorial PsalmPs. 86:5-6, 9-10, 15-16 (5a)Ps 86:5-6, 9-10, 15-16 (5a)

Overview & Insights

“Let both grow together until the harvest.” (Matthew 13:30)

Jesus tells the parable of the weeds sown among the wheat, then the mustard seed and the yeast, to picture the kingdom of heaven. He later explains the parable of the weeds to his disciples, describing a final harvest at the close of the age.

From Sermons.com: Join Today to access the most scholarly & well written preaching resources anywhere.

Take it further: Matthew 13:24-43 or Matthew 13:24-30

Commentary

Working Preacher: Commentary on Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43Working Preacher: Commentary on Mt 13:24-30, 36-43 Working Preacher

A preaching focused reading of the weeds and the harvest.

Enduring Word: Matthew 13Enduring Word: Mt 13 Enduring Word · David Guzik

Verse by verse evangelical commentary on the whole chapter.

Precept Austin: Matthew 13 CommentaryPrecept Austin: Mt 13 Commentary Precept Austin

A deep gathering of study notes and cross references on the chapter.

Bible Hub: Matthew 13:24 CommentariesBible Hub: Mt 13:24 Commentaries BibleHub

Classic and modern commentaries lined up verse by verse.

Barnes' Notes on Matthew 13Barnes' Notes on Mt 13 StudyLight

A concise nineteenth century commentary on the chapter.

Loyola Press: 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A) Sunday Connection Loyola Press · Sunday Connection

Catholic reflection and discussion questions for the Sunday readings.

Brant Pitre: 16th Sunday of Ordinary Time (Year A) Catholic Productions · Brant Pitre

A Catholic scholar walks through all of this Sunday's readings together.

Background & Word Study

Bible Hub Interlinear: Matthew 13Bible Hub Interlinear: Mt 13 BibleHub

The Greek text with parsing and gloss for each word.

BibleProject: Overview of Matthew 1-13BibleProject: Overview of Mt 1-13 BibleProject

An animated walk through the first half of the Gospel.

The Church Fathers

Catena: Matthew 13Catena: Mt 13 Catena

Early church and patristic comment gathered under each verse.

Podcast

Sermon Brainwave 364: Sixth Sunday after Pentecost (Ordinary 16) Working Preacher

A lectionary podcast discussing the day's readings for preachers.

Art & Music

Art in the Christian Tradition Vanderbilt

A curated image index for this reading across the history of Christian art.

Prep at sermons.com

Ready to write?

  • Full sermons on Matthew 13:24-43 or Matthew 13:24-30
  • Illustrations cleared for use in worship
  • Commentary, quotes, and Bible dictionary
Open it at sermons.com →

Trusted by pastors since 1995.

Free every Tuesday

Illustrations & Sermon Prep in your inbox

The coming Sunday’s readings, a cleared-for-use illustration, and a sermon-prep head start. One email, free.