Matthew 13:36-43
New American Standard Bible
The Weeds Explained
36 Then He left the crowds and went into (A)the house. And His disciples came to Him and said, “(B)Explain to us the parable of the [a]weeds of the field.” 37 And He said, “The one who sows the good seed is (C)the Son of Man, 38 and the field is the world; and as for the good seed, these are (D)the sons of the kingdom; and the weeds are (E)the sons of (F)the evil one; 39 and the enemy who sowed them is the devil, and the harvest is (G)the [b]end of the age; and the reapers are angels. 40 So just as the weeds are gathered up and burned with fire, so shall it be at (H)the [c]end of the age. 41 (I)The Son of Man (J)will send forth His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom [d]all (K)stumbling blocks, and those who commit lawlessness, 42 and they (L)will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place (M)there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 (N)Then the righteous will shine forth like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. (O)The one who has ears, [e]let him hear.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Matthew 13:36 Prob. darnel, a weed resembling wheat
- Matthew 13:39 Or consummation
- Matthew 13:40 Or consummation
- Matthew 13:41 Or everything that is offensive
- Matthew 13:43 Or hear! Or listen!
Matthew 13:36-43
The Message
The Curtain of History
36 Jesus dismissed the congregation and went into the house. His disciples came in and said, “Explain to us that story of the thistles in the field.”
37-39 So he explained. “The farmer who sows the pure seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, the pure seeds are subjects of the kingdom, the thistles are subjects of the Devil, and the enemy who sows them is the Devil. The harvest is the end of the age, the curtain of history. The harvest hands are angels.
40-43 “The picture of thistles pulled up and burned is a scene from the final act. The Son of Man will send his angels, weed out the thistles from his kingdom, pitch them in the trash, and be done with them. They are going to complain to high heaven, but nobody is going to listen. At the same time, ripe, holy lives will mature and adorn the kingdom of their Father.
“Are you listening to this? Really listening?
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Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson