What does Matthew 13:40 mean?
The parable of the wheat and the weeds was previously taught to the crowds (Matthew 13:24–30). In that parable, an enemy snuck into a farmer's field by night and sowed weeds among his good wheat seeds. The result was that the wheat and the weeds grew together, side by side, until the time for harvest came. When it did, the farmer said he would have his reapers gather the weeds and bind them in bundles to be burned (Matthew 13:30). In the story, the farmer represents Jesus (Matthew 13:37) and the good wheat represents those who come to faith in Him (Matthew 13:38).The weeds represent the "sons of the evil one" who planted them (John 8:43–47). Those who belong to Satan will be gathered to be burned with fire at the end of the age. In the following verse, Jesus identifies the reapers as His angels who will carry out this task of separating "weeds" from the true believers of the world.