From the Pulpit...

Both the parable of the soils and the wheat/tares show that there is a difficulty in discerning false believers from true ones. The final judgment (pictured as harvest) will tell the tale. Both these parables indicate a preparatory phase for the kingdom, pictured by planting, followed by waiting, growing, and harvesting. The parables of the leaven and mustard seed fit well here, because they also are connected to this preparatory phase for the kingdom.