ZIZANIA (τὰ ζιζάνια). - A weed very similar to wheat, which, in the parable of Jesus related in Mt. 13:20-30, 36-43, must be identified as darnel (Lolium temulentum of Linnaeus). It is clearly distinguished from wheat only when its ears develop (cf. Mt. 13:26). It has a narcotic effect on the human organism, producing dizziness, on account of a small fungus that nests beneath the husk of the seed.
When, as in the parable, the zizania grows together with the good grain, it is difficult to pull it up without damaging the wheat. Normally Eastern farmers wait for ripening, then, before harvesting the good grain, they pull up the zizania and destroy it with fire.
Jesus himself explained the parable of the zizania to the Apostles (Mt. 13:36-43), specifying that the sower is "the Son of Man" (v.), the field "the world," the good seed
"the sons of the kingdom," that is, those who accept the evangelical word announcing the Kingdom of God, the zizania are "the sons of the evil one," who have the devil for their father (Jn. 8:44); the enemy who sowed it is "the devil," the harvest is "the end of the world," the reapers are "the angels" who will be sent by the Son of Man to punish the wicked with the fire of hell and to reward the righteous who will shine in the heavenly Kingdom.
God permits the "mystery of iniquity" (II Thess. 2:7) to be at work in the history of the Church until the final parousia.
Bibliography
Pietro De Ambroggi