From the first verse of chapter 13 of the Gospel according to Matthew, we are presented with a series of parables through which Jesus revealed deep spiritual truths about the kingdom of God. These parables were not merely stories for entertainment, but illustrations filled with meaning, designed to reveal truth to those with humble hearts and to conceal it from those who were hardened and proud. Jesus often explained the meaning of these parables privately to His disciples, showing them the seriousness and weight of what He was teaching.
Among these parables is the parable of the wheat and the tares, which carries a strong warning about judgment, righteousness, and responsibility within the kingdom of God. In verses 41 and 42, the Lord explains the final outcome of those who live in opposition to God’s will. This is why the title of this article emphasizes a sobering truth: anyone who serves as a stumbling block to those who faithfully serve the Lord will face severe judgment.
Jesus makes it clear that causing others to stumble is not a small matter. A stumbling block is not merely someone who commits personal sin, but someone whose actions, teachings, or influence lead others away from truth, obedience, and faith. To hinder the spiritual walk of another is to stand against the purposes of God Himself.
For this reason, the warning is direct and serious. Do not be a stumbling block to your brother, because those who persist in such behavior will face the judgment described in the following words of Christ:
41 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;
42 And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
Matthew 13:41–42
These verses describe the final separation that will take place at the end of the age. Jesus speaks of angels carrying out His judgment, removing from His kingdom everything that causes offense and all who practice lawlessness. This judgment is not symbolic or metaphorical; it is real, final, and irreversible. The imagery of the furnace of fire emphasizes the severity of eternal separation from God.
The disciples, upon hearing this parable, were curious and even troubled by its meaning. They wanted Jesus to explain it more clearly. Scripture tells us that He entered the house and privately explained the parable to them. This moment reveals the grace of Christ toward His followers, as He patiently teaches them truths that would later shape their preaching and understanding of the kingdom.
Jesus explained that He Himself is the One who sows the good seed. He identifies Himself as the Son of Man, the divine sower who establishes His kingdom in the world. The good seed represents those who belong to God, those who receive His word and live according to it.
He then explains the symbolism in detail: “The field is the world, the good seed is the children of the kingdom of God, and the tares are the children of the enemy.” The enemy, identified elsewhere as Satan, sows tares among the wheat in an attempt to corrupt, confuse, and damage God’s work. These tares resemble wheat while they grow, making it difficult to distinguish between the two until the time of harvest.
This teaching reveals an important truth about life in the present age. Good and evil exist side by side. The children of God and the children of the enemy live in the same world, often appearing similar on the surface. Not everyone who claims to belong to God truly does. The true distinction is revealed over time through fruit, obedience, and faithfulness.
However, Jesus assures His disciples that there will be a final harvest. At that time, the righteous will be gathered into God’s eternal kingdom, while those who practiced iniquity and caused others to stumble will be removed. Those who serve as stumbling blocks are not merely passive sinners; they actively contribute to spiritual harm, deception, and rebellion.
This warning applies to false teachers, hypocrites, and all who live in open disobedience while claiming association with the people of God. It also applies to anyone whose lifestyle encourages sin, compromise, or unbelief in others. The responsibility is heavy, because influence carries accountability before God.
Jesus makes it clear that those who serve the Lord faithfully will inherit the kingdom, while those who oppose His work, whether openly or subtly, will face judgment. There is no neutral position. One either builds up the body of Christ or tears it down.
Therefore, the exhortation is repeated with urgency: do not be a stumbling block to your brother. Instead, be an instrument of encouragement, truth, and righteousness. Serve for good works, not for iniquity. Let your words, actions, and example point others toward Christ rather than away from Him.
The warning of the fiery furnace is not meant to inspire fear alone, but repentance and self-examination. Jesus spoke these words out of love, calling people to turn away from sin and align themselves with the truth of the kingdom. Judgment is real, but so is mercy for those who repent and believe.
In light of this teaching, every believer is called to examine his own life. Are we helping others grow in faith, or are we hindering them? Are our actions consistent with the gospel we profess? These are serious questions that require honest reflection before God.
May we choose to be wheat, not tares; builders, not stumbling blocks. Let us walk in obedience, humility, and love, knowing that our lives have eternal impact. Those who belong to the Lord will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father, while those who persist in iniquity will face the judgment spoken by Christ Himself.
Therefore, let us remain faithful, guarding our conduct and doctrine, so that we may be found among the children of the kingdom on that final day, and not among those cast into the fiery furnace. May God grant us grace to walk uprightly and to lead others toward salvation rather than destruction.