Matthew 13:24-53

New American Standard Bible

Weeds among Wheat

²⁴ Jesus presented another parable to them, saying, “^(A)The kingdom of heaven ^[a]is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. ²⁵ But while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed ^[b]weeds among the wheat, and left. ²⁶ And when the ^[c]wheat sprouted and produced grain, then the weeds also became evident. ²⁷ And the slaves of the landowner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? ^[d]How then does it have weeds?’ ²⁸ And he said to them, ‘^[e]An enemy has done this!’ The slaves *said to him, ‘Do you want us, then, to go and gather them up?’ ²⁹ But he *said, ‘No; while you are gathering up the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. ³⁰ Allow both to grow together until the harvest; and at the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather up the weeds and bind them in bundles to burn them; but ^(B)gather the wheat into my barn.”’”

The Mustard Seed

³¹ He presented another parable to them, saying, “^(C)The kingdom of heaven is like ^(D)a mustard seed, which a person took and sowed in his field; ³² and this is smaller than all the other seeds, but when it is fully grown, it is larger than the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that ^(E)the birds of the sky come and nest in its branches.”

The Leaven

³³ He spoke another parable to them: “^(F)The kingdom of heaven is like ^[f]leaven, which a woman took and hid in ^(G)three ^[g]sata of flour until it was all leavened.”

³⁴ All these things Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables, and He did not speak anything to them ^(H)without a parable. ³⁵ This was so that what was spoken through the prophet would be ^[h]fulfilled:

The Weeds Explained

³⁶ Then He left the crowds and went into ^(J)the house. And His disciples came to Him and said, “^(K)Explain to us the parable of the ^[i]weeds of the field.” ³⁷ And He said, “The one who sows the good seed is ^(L)the Son of Man, ³⁸ and the field is the world; and as for the good seed, these are ^(M)the sons of the kingdom; and the weeds are ^(N)the sons of ^(O)the evil one; ³⁹ and the enemy who sowed them is the devil, and the harvest is ^(P)the ^[j]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 ^(Q)the ^[k]end of the age. ^41 (R)The Son of Man ^(S)will send forth His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom ^[l]all ^(T)stumbling blocks, and those who commit lawlessness, ⁴² and they ^(U)will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place ^(V)there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. ^43 (W)Then the righteous will shine forth like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. ^(X)The one who has ears, ^[m]let him hear.

Hidden Treasure

⁴⁴ “^(Y)The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from ^[n]joy over it he goes and ^(Z)sells everything that he has, and buys that field.

A Costly Pearl

⁴⁵ “Again, ^(AA)the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, ⁴⁶ and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold everything that he had and bought it.

A Dragnet

⁴⁷ “Again, ^(AB)the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered fish of every kind; ⁴⁸ and when it was filled, they pulled it up on the beach; and they sat down and gathered the good fish into containers, but the bad they threw away. ⁴⁹ So it will be at ^(AC)the ^[o]end of the age: the angels will come forth and remove the wicked from among the righteous, ⁵⁰ and they ^(AD)will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place ^(AE)there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

⁵¹ “Have you understood all these things?” They *said to Him, “Yes.” ⁵² And ^[p]Jesus said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has become a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like a head of a household, who brings out of his treasure new things and old.”

Jesus Revisits Nazareth

^53 (AF)When Jesus had finished these parables, He departed from there.