Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Matthew 13:26

"But when the blade sprang up and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also." — Matthew 13:26 (ASV)

“Sleeping” does not imply that the servants were neglectful but that the enemy was stealthy and malicious. What he sowed in the field was almost certainly bearded darnel, which is botanically close to wheat and difficult to distinguish from it when the plants are young. The roots of the two plants entangle themselves around each other; but when the heads of grain appear on the wheat, there is no doubt which plant is which. As the growing takes place, the servants tell their master or the head of the house about the weeds.