In the East, men sometimes took revenge upon an enemy by strewing his newly sown fields with the seeds of some noxious weed that, while growing, closely resembled wheat. Springing up with the wheat, it injured the crop and brought trouble and loss to the owner of the field. So it is from enmity to Christ that Satan scatters his evil seed among the good grain of the kingdom. The fruit of his sowing he attributes to the Son of God. By bringing into the church those who bear Christ's name while they deny His character, the wicked one causes that God shall be dishonored, the work of salvation misrepresented, and souls imperiled.

Kristi tjenere bedrøves, når de ser sande og falske troende sammen i menigheden. De længes efter at gøre noget, for at menigheden kan være ren. Lige som husbondens tjenere er de rede til at rykke rajgræsset op med rode. Men Kristus siger til dem: "Nej, for at I ikke, når I samler rajgræsset fra, skal rykke hveden op tillige med det. Lad kun begge dele gro side om side indtil høsten."