馬太福音 13
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Traditional)
撒種的比喻
13 當天，耶穌離開房子，坐在湖邊。 2 有一大群人聚集到祂周圍，祂只好上船坐下，眾人都站在岸上。 3 祂用比喻向他們講許多道理，說：「有一個農夫出去撒種。 4 撒種的時候，有些種子落在路旁，被飛鳥吃掉了； 5 有些落在石頭地上，因為泥土不深，種子很快就發芽了，然而因為沒有根， 6 被太陽一曬，就枯萎了； 7 有些落在荊棘叢中，荊棘長起來便把嫩苗擠住了； 8 有些落在沃土裡，就結出果實，收成多達三十倍、六十倍、一百倍。 9 有耳朵的，都應當聽。」
用比喻的目的
10 門徒上前問耶穌：「你為什麼要用比喻來教導他們呢？」
11 耶穌回答說：「天國的奧祕只讓你們知道，不讓他們知道。 12 因為凡有的，還要給他更多，他就豐富有餘；凡沒有的，連他僅有的也要奪去。 13 我用比喻教導他們是因為他們視而不見，聽而不聞，聞而不悟。 14 以賽亞的預言正應驗在他們身上，
『你們聽了又聽，卻不明白；
看了又看，卻不領悟。
15 因為這些人心靈麻木，
耳朵發背，眼睛昏花，
以致眼睛看不見，耳朵聽不見，
心裡不明白，無法回心轉意，
得不到我的醫治。』
16 「但你們的眼睛是有福的，因為看得見；你們的耳朵也是有福的，因為聽得見。 17 我實在告訴你們，以前有許多先知和義人曾渴望看見你們所看見的，聽見你們所聽見的，卻未能如願。
解釋比喻
18 「所以，你們應當留心這撒種的比喻。 19 種子落在路旁，是指人聽了天國的道理卻不明白，魔鬼乘虛而入，把撒在他心裡的奪走了； 20 種子落在石頭地上，是指人聽了道後，立刻歡喜地接受了， 21 但因為他心裡沒有根基，不過是暫時接受，一旦為道遭受患難或迫害，就立刻放棄了信仰； 22 種子落在荊棘叢中，是指人雖然聽過道，但生活的憂慮和錢財的迷惑把道擠住了，以致不能結出果實； 23 種子落在沃土裡，是指人聽了道，並明白了道，就結出果實來，有的多達一百倍，有的六十倍，有的三十倍。」
毒麥的比喻
24 耶穌又給他們講了一個比喻，說：「天國就像一個人，將好種子撒在田裡。 25 人們睡覺的時候，仇敵過來把毒麥撒在他的麥田裡，就走了。 26 當麥子長苗吐穗時，毒麥也長起來了。 27 奴僕看見了就來問主人，『主人啊！你不是把好種子撒在田裡了嗎？從哪裡來的毒麥呢？』
28 「主人回答說，『這是仇敵做的。』奴僕問道，『要我們去拔掉它們嗎？』
29 「主人說，『不用了，因為拔毒麥會連麥子一起拔掉。 30 讓它們跟麥子一起生長吧，到收割的時候，我會吩咐收割的工人先把毒麥收集起來，紮成捆，留著燒，然後將麥子存入穀倉。』」
芥菜種和麵酵的比喻
31 耶穌又給他們講了一個比喻：「天國就像一粒芥菜種，人把它種在田裡。 32 它雖然是種子中最小的，卻長得比其他蔬菜都大，並且長成一棵樹，天空的飛鳥也來棲息。」
33 祂又對他們講了個比喻：「天國就像麵酵，婦人拿來摻在三斗麵裡，使整盆麵都發起來。」
34 耶穌總是用比喻對眾人講這些事，祂每次對他們講話時都用比喻。 35 這是要應驗先知的話：「我要開口講比喻，道出創世以來隱藏的事。」
解釋毒麥的比喻
36 後來，耶穌離開人群，進到屋裡。門徒也跟著進去，對耶穌說：「請為我們解釋毒麥的比喻。」
37 耶穌說：「那撒下好種子的就是人子， 38 麥田代表整個世界，那些好種子就是天國的子民。毒麥就是那些屬於魔鬼的人， 39 撒毒麥的仇敵就是魔鬼。收割的日子便是世界的末日，收割的工人就是天使。
40 「毒麥怎樣被拔出來丟在火裡燒，同樣，在世界末日的時候， 41 人子也將派天使把一切引人犯罪和作孽的人從祂國裡挑出來， 42 丟進火裡。那時，他們將在那裡哀哭切齒。 43 那時，義人要在他們天父的國度像太陽一樣發出光輝。有耳朵的，都應當聽。
寶藏與珍珠的比喻
44 「天國就像藏在地裡的寶貝，有人發現了，就把它埋好，然後歡然變賣他所有的財產去買那塊地。
45 「天國就像一個四處搜購貴重珍珠的商人。 46 他找到一顆極貴重的珍珠，就變賣了一切的產業，把它買下來。
撒網的比喻
47 「天國就像一張漁網，撒在海裡捕到了各種魚。 48 網滿了，人們把網拉上岸，然後坐下來挑選，好的就收起來，不好的就丟掉。 49 世界末日的時候也是這樣。天使必把惡人從義人中揀出來， 50 丟在火爐裡，讓惡人在那裡哀哭切齒。 51 你們明白這些事了嗎？」
他們回答說：「我們明白了。」
52 耶穌說：「律法教師成為天國的門徒後，就像一個家的主人，能從他的庫房裡拿出新的和舊的東西來。」
拿撒勒人厭棄耶穌
53 耶穌講完了這些比喻，就離開那裡， 54 回到自己的家鄉拿撒勒，在會堂裡教導人。人們很驚奇，說：「這個人從哪裡得到如此的智慧和神奇的能力呢？ 55 這不是那木匠的兒子嗎？祂母親不是瑪麗亞嗎？祂的弟弟不是雅各、約瑟、西門和猶大嗎？ 56 祂的妹妹們不也是住在我們這裡嗎？祂究竟從哪裡得來這一身本領呢？」 57 他們就對祂很反感。
耶穌對他們說：「先知到處受人尊敬，只有在本鄉本家例外。」 58 因為他們不信，耶穌就沒有在那裡多行神蹟。
Matei 13
Cornilescu 1924 - Revised 2010, 2014
Pilda semănătorului
13 În aceeaşi zi, Isus a ieşit din casă şi şedea(A) lângă mare. 2 O mulţime de noroade s-au(B) strâns la El, aşa că a trebuit să Se(C) suie să şadă într-o corabie, iar tot norodul stătea pe ţărm. 3 El le-a vorbit despre multe lucruri în pilde şi le-a zis: „Iată, semănătorul a ieşit să semene. 4 Pe când semăna el, o parte din sămânţă a căzut lângă drum şi au venit păsările şi au mâncat-o. 5 O altă parte a căzut pe locuri stâncoase, unde n-avea pământ mult: a răsărit îndată, pentru că n-a găsit un pământ adânc. 6 Dar, când a răsărit soarele, s-a pălit şi, pentru că n-avea rădăcini, s-a uscat. 7 O altă(D) parte a căzut între spini: spinii au crescut şi au înecat-o. 8 O altă parte a căzut în pământ bun şi a dat rod: un grăunte a dat o sută(E), altul, şaizeci şi altul, treizeci. 9 Cine(F) are urechi de auzit să audă.” 10 Ucenicii s-au apropiat de El şi I-au zis: „De ce le vorbeşti în pilde?” 11 Isus le-a răspuns: „Pentru că vouă(G) v-a fost dat să cunoaşteţi tainele Împărăţiei cerurilor, iar lor nu le-a fost dat. 12 Căci(H) celui ce are, i se va da şi va avea de prisos; iar de la cel ce n-are, se va lua chiar şi ce are. 13 De aceea le vorbesc în pilde, pentru că ei, măcar că văd, nu văd şi măcar că aud, nu aud, nici nu înţeleg. 14 Şi cu privire la ei se împlineşte prorocia lui Isaia, care zice: ‘Veţi(I) auzi cu urechile voastre şi nu veţi înţelege; veţi privi cu ochii voştri şi nu veţi vedea’. 15 Căci inima acestui popor s-a împietrit; au ajuns(J) tari de urechi, şi-au închis ochii, ca nu cumva să vadă cu ochii, să audă cu urechile, să înţeleagă cu inima, să se întoarcă la Dumnezeu şi să-i vindec. 16 Dar ferice(K) de ochii voştri că văd şi de urechile voastre că aud! 17 Adevărat vă spun că mulţi(L) proroci şi oameni neprihăniţi au dorit să vadă lucrurile pe care le vedeţi voi, şi nu le-au văzut; şi să audă lucrurile pe care le auziţi voi, şi nu le-au auzit. 18 Ascultaţi(M) dar ce înseamnă pilda semănătorului. 19 Când un om aude Cuvântul privitor la Împărăţie(N) şi nu-l înţelege, vine cel rău şi răpeşte ce a fost semănat în inima lui. Aceasta este sămânţa căzută lângă drum. 20 Sămânţa căzută în locuri stâncoase este cel ce aude Cuvântul şi-l primeşte îndată cu(O) bucurie, 21 dar n-are rădăcină în el, ci ţine până la o vreme; şi, cum vine un necaz sau o prigonire din pricina Cuvântului, se(P) leapădă îndată de el. 22 Sămânţa(Q) căzută între(R) spini este cel ce aude Cuvântul, dar îngrijorările veacului acestuia şi înşelăciunea bogăţiilor îneacă acest Cuvânt şi ajunge neroditor. 23 Iar sămânţa căzută în pământ bun este cel ce aude Cuvântul şi-l înţelege; el aduce rod: un grăunte dă o sută, altul, şaizeci, altul, treizeci.”
Pilda neghinei
24 Isus le-a pus înainte o altă pildă şi le-a zis: „Împărăţia cerurilor se aseamănă cu un om care a semănat o sămânţă bună în ţarina lui. 25 Dar, pe când dormeau oamenii, a venit vrăjmaşul lui, a semănat neghină între grâu şi a plecat. 26 Când au răsărit firele de grâu şi au făcut rod, a ieşit la iveală şi neghina. 27 Robii stăpânului casei au venit şi i-au zis: ‘Doamne, n-ai semănat sămânţă bună în ţarina ta? De unde are dar neghină?’ 28 El le-a răspuns: ‘Un vrăjmaş a făcut lucrul acesta’. Şi robii i-au zis: ‘Vrei dar să mergem s-o smulgem?’ 29 ‘Nu’, le-a zis el, ‘ca nu cumva, smulgând neghina, să smulgeţi şi grâul(S) împreună cu ea. 30 Lăsaţi-le să crească amândouă împreună până la seceriş; şi, la vremea secerişului, voi spune secerătorilor: «Smulgeţi întâi neghina şi legaţi-o în snopi, ca s-o ardem, iar grâul strângeţi-l în grânarul meu».’ ”
Pilda grăuntelui de muştar şi aluatului
31 Isus le-a pus înainte o altă pildă şi le-a zis: „Împărăţia(T) cerurilor se aseamănă cu un grăunte de muştar, pe care l-a luat un om şi l-a semănat în ţarina sa. 32 Grăuntele acesta, în adevăr, este cea mai mică dintre toate seminţele, dar, după ce a crescut, este mai mare decât zarzavaturile şi se face un copac, aşa că păsările cerului vin şi îşi fac cuiburi în ramurile lui.” 33 Le-a spus(U) o altă pildă, şi anume: „Împărăţia cerurilor se aseamănă cu un aluat pe care l-a luat o femeie şi l-a pus în trei măsuri de făină de grâu, până s-a dospit toată plămădeala”. 34 Isus a spus noroadelor toate aceste(V) lucruri în pilde şi nu le vorbea deloc fără pildă, 35 ca să se împlinească ce fusese vestit prin prorocul, care zice: „Voi(W) vorbi în pilde, voi(X) spune lucruri ascunse de la facerea lumii”.
Tâlcuirea pildei neghinei
36 Atunci, Isus a dat drumul noroadelor şi a intrat în casă. Ucenicii Lui s-au apropiat de El şi I-au zis: „Tâlcuieşte-ne pilda cu neghina din ţarină”. 37 El le-a răspuns: „Cel ce seamănă sămânţa bună este Fiul omului. 38 Ţarina(Y) este lumea; sămânţa bună sunt fiii Împărăţiei; neghina sunt fiii(Z) celui rău. 39 Vrăjmaşul care a semănat-o este Diavolul; secerişul(AA) este sfârşitul veacului; secerătorii sunt îngerii. 40 Deci cum se smulge neghina şi se arde în foc, aşa va fi şi la sfârşitul veacului. 41 Fiul omului va trimite pe îngerii Săi şi(AB) ei vor smulge din Împărăţia Lui toate lucrurile, care sunt pricină de păcătuire, şi pe cei ce săvârşesc fărădelegea 42 şi-i(AC) vor arunca în cuptorul aprins; acolo(AD) vor fi plânsul şi scrâşnirea dinţilor. 43 Atunci(AE), cei neprihăniţi vor străluci ca soarele în Împărăţia Tatălui lor. Cine(AF) are urechi de auzit să audă.
Pilda comorii ascunse şi a mărgăritarului
44 Împărăţia cerurilor se mai aseamănă cu o comoară ascunsă într-o ţarină. Omul care o găseşte o ascunde şi, de bucuria ei, se duce şi vinde(AG) tot ce are şi cumpără(AH) ţarina aceea. 45 Împărăţia cerurilor se mai aseamănă cu un negustor care caută mărgăritare frumoase. 46 Şi, când găseşte un(AI) mărgăritar de mare preţ, se duce de vinde tot ce are şi-l cumpără.
Pilda năvodului
47 Împărăţia cerurilor se mai aseamănă cu un năvod aruncat în mare, care prinde(AJ) tot felul de peşti. 48 După ce s-a umplut, pescarii îl scot la mal, şed jos, aleg în vase ce este bun şi aruncă afară ce este rău. 49 Tot aşa va fi şi la sfârşitul veacului. Îngerii vor ieşi, vor despărţi(AK) pe cei răi din mijlocul celor buni 50 şi-i(AL) vor arunca în cuptorul aprins; acolo vor fi plânsul şi scrâşnirea dinţilor. 51 ‘Aţi înţeles voi toate aceste lucruri?’ ” i-a întrebat Isus. „Da, Doamne”, I-au răspuns ei. 52 Şi El le-a zis: „De aceea, orice cărturar, care a învăţat ce trebuie despre Împărăţia cerurilor, se aseamănă cu un gospodar care scoate din vistieria lui lucruri noi(AM) şi lucruri vechi”.
Isus la Nazaret. Necredinţa locuitorilor
53 După ce a isprăvit Isus pildele acestea, a plecat de acolo. 54 A(AN) venit în patria Sa şi a început să înveţe pe oameni în sinagogă; aşa că cei ce-L auzeau, se mirau şi ziceau: „De unde are El înţelepciunea şi minunile acestea? 55 Oare(AO) nu este El fiul tâmplarului? Nu este Maria mama Lui? Şi Iacov(AP), Iosif, Simon şi Iuda nu sunt ei fraţii(AQ) Lui? 56 Şi surorile Lui nu sunt toate printre noi? Atunci de unde are El toate lucrurile acestea?” 57 Şi găseau astfel în El o pricină de poticnire(AR). Dar Isus le-a zis: „Nicăieri nu(AS) este preţuit un proroc mai puţin decât în patria şi în casa Lui”. 58 Şi n-a(AT) făcut multe minuni în locul acela din pricina necredinţei lor.
Matthew 13
King James Version
13 The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side.
2 And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.
3 And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;
4 And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:
5 Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:
6 And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.
7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:
8 But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.
9 Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
10 And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.
13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:
15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.
17 For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.
18 Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.
19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.
20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;
21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.
22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
24 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:
25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.
26 But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.
27 So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?
28 He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?
29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.
30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.
31 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field:
32 Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.
33 Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.
34 All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them:
35 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.
36 Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field.
37 He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;
38 The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;
39 The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.
40 As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.
41 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;
42 And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
43 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
44 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.
45 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:
46 Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
47 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind:
48 Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.
49 So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just,
50 And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
51 Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord.
52 Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.
53 And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these parables, he departed thence.
54 And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?
55 Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?
56 And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?
57 And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house.
58 And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.
Matthew 13
The Voice
13 That same day, Jesus left the house and went to sit by the sea. 2 Large crowds gathered around Him, and He got into a boat on the sea and sat there. The crowd stood on the shore waiting for His teaching.
This next sermon series, the third of Jesus’ five Mosaic-like sermons, is filled with parables or stories with a deeper meaning about the kingdom of heaven.
3 And so Jesus began to teach. On this day, He spoke in parables. Here is His first parable:
Jesus: Once there was a sower who scattered seeds. 4 One day he walked in a field scattering seeds as he went. Some seeds fell beside a road, and a flock of birds came and ate all those seeds. 5 So the sower scattered seeds in a field, one with shallow soil and strewn with rocks. But the seeds grew quickly amid all the rocks, 6 without rooting themselves in the shallow soil. Their roots got tangled up in all the stones. The sun scorched these seeds, and they died. 7 And so the sower scattered seeds near a path, this one covered with thorny vines. The seeds fared no better there—the thorns choked them, and they died. 8 And so finally the sower scattered his seeds in a patch of good earth. At home in the good earth, the seeds grew and grew. Eventually the seeds bore fruit, and the fruit grew ripe and was harvested. The harvest was immense—30, 60, 100 times what was sown.
9 He who has ears to hear, let him hear.
Disciples: 10 Why do You speak to the people in parables?
Jesus: 11 The knowledge of the secrets of heaven has been given to you, but it has not been given to them. 12 Those who have something will be given more—and they will have abundance. Those who have nothing will lose what they have—they will be destitute. 13 I teach in parables so the people may look but not see, listen but not hear or understand.[a] 14 They are fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecy:
You will listen, but you will not understand;
you will look, but you will not see.
15 The people’s hearts have turned to flab;
their ears are clogged;
their eyes are shut.
They will try to see, but they will not see;
they will try to hear, but they will not hear;
they will try to understand, but they will not comprehend.
If they, with their blindness and deafness, so choose, then I will heal them.[b]
16-17 Many holy prophets and righteous men and women and people of prayer and doers of good have wanted to see but did not see, and have wanted to hear but did not hear. Your eyes and ears are blessed.
18 This is what the parable of the sower means. 19 It is about the kingdom of heaven. When someone hears the story of the Kingdom and cannot understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away whatever goodness and holiness had been sown in the heart. This is like the seeds sown beside the road. 20-21 You know people who hear the word of God and receive it joyfully—but then, somehow, the word fails to take root in their hearts. It is temporary. As soon as there is trouble for those people, they trip: those people are the seeds strewn on the rocky soil. 22 And you know people who hear the word, but it is choked inside them because they constantly worry and prefer the wealth and pleasures of the world: they prefer drunken dinner parties to prayer, power to piety, and riches to righteousness. Those people are like the seeds sown among thorns. 23 The people who hear the word and receive it and grow in it—those are like the seeds sown on good soil. They produce a bumper crop, 30 or 60 or 100 times what was sown.
Our Father in heaven plants many seeds in order to ensure that some seeds bear fruit. The final harvest, however, is worth any amount of hard work.
24 Jesus told them another parable.
Jesus: The kingdom of heaven is like this: Once there was a farmer who sowed good seeds in his field. 25 While the farmer’s workers were sleeping, his enemy crept into the field and sowed weeds among all the wheat seeds. Then he snuck away again. 26 Eventually the crops grew—wheat, but also weeds. 27 So the farmer’s workers said to him, “Sir, why didn’t you sow good seeds in your field? Where did these weeds come from?”
28 “My enemy must have done this,” replied the farmer.
“Should we go pull up all the weeds?” asked his workers.
29 “No,” said the farmer. “It’s too risky. As you pull up the weeds, you would probably pull up some wheat as well. 30 We’ll let them both grow until harvesttime. I will tell the harvesters to collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned, and only then to harvest the wheat and bring it to my barn.”
31 Jesus told them another parable.
Jesus: The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a sower took and planted in his field. 32 Mustard seeds are minute, tiny—but the seeds grow into trees. Flocks of birds can come and build their nests in the branches.
33 And Jesus told a fourth parable.
Jesus: Imagine a woman preparing a loaf of bread. The kingdom of heaven is like the leaven she folds into her dough. She kneads and kneads until the leaven is worked into all the dough.
Without the leaven, the dough remains flat. But the secret is the almost invisible leaven making her loaves fluff and rise.
34 Jesus gave all these teachings to the crowd in parables. Indeed, He spoke only in parables 35 in fulfillment of the prophetic words of the psalms:
I will open My mouth in parables;
I will tell them things that have been hidden and obscure since the very beginning of the world.[c]
36 Then Jesus left the crowds and returned to His house. His disciples followed Him.
Disciples: Explain to us the story You told about the weeds.
Jesus: 37 The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. 38 The field is the world; the good seed represents the children of the Kingdom. The weeds—who do you think the weeds are? They are the children of the evil one, 39 and the enemy who threw the weeds among the wheat is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the workers are God’s heavenly messengers. 40 In the parable, I told you the weeds would be pulled up and burned—well, that is how it will be at the end of this age. 41 The Son of Man will send His messengers out into the world, and they will root out from His kingdom everything that is poisonous, ugly, and malicious, and everyone who does evil. 42 They will throw all that wickedness into the fiery furnace where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth. 43 And the righteous will shine like the sun in their Father’s kingdom. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.
44 The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure that is hidden in a field. A crafty man found the treasure buried there and buried it again so no one would know where it was. Thrilled, he went off and sold everything he had, and then he came back and bought the field with the hidden treasure part of the bargain.
45 Or the kingdom of heaven is like a jeweler on the lookout for the finest pearls. 46 When he found a pearl more beautiful and valuable than any jewel he had ever seen, the jeweler sold all he had and bought that pearl, his pearl of great price.
47 Or think of it this way: the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was cast into the sea, a net that caught a world of flickering fish. 48 When the net was full, the fishermen hauled it to shore. They separated the good fish from the bad, placing the good fish in a bucket and throwing out the inedible fish. 49 That is what the end of time will be like. The heavenly messengers will separate the good from the bad, the righteous from the wicked, the repentant from the prideful, the faithful from the hard-hearted. 50 The bad, the wicked, the prideful, and the hard-hearted will be thrown into the fiery furnace where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.
51 Do you understand?
Disciples: Yes, we understand.
Jesus: 52 Every scribe and teacher of the law who has become a student of the ways of the Kingdom is like the head of the household who brings some new things and some old things, both out of the storeroom.
53 With that Jesus finished teaching His parables, and He moved on. 54-56 He came to Nazareth, the town where He had grown up. He taught at the local synagogue, and the people were astonished.
People: Is this our little Jesus? Is this Mary’s son? Is this the carpenter’s son? Is this Jesus, brother of James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? Didn’t we just see His sisters yesterday at the market? Where did He learn all this? Whence His power?
57 They were offended by Him—by His teachings, by who He was.
Jesus: Prophets are respected—except in their hometowns and in their own households. There the prophet is dishonored.
58 Jesus didn’t bother to work wondrous miracles there in Nazareth because the people did not believe.
Footnotes
Copyright of the Cornilescu Bible © 1924 belongs to British and Foreign Bible Society. Copyright © 2010, 2014 of the revised edition in Romanian language belongs to the Interconfessional Bible Society of Romania, with the approval of the British and Foreign Bible Society.
The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.