⁹ For it is written in the Law of Moses: “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.”^[a](A) Is it about oxen that God is concerned?^{(B) 10} Surely he says this for us, doesn’t he? Yes, this was written for us,^(C) because whoever plows and threshes should be able to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest.^(D)

⁹ For we are co-workers in God’s service;^(A) you are God’s field,^(B) God’s building.^(C)

²⁴ Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies,^(A) it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.

³⁷ He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man.^{(A) 38} The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one,^{(B) 39} and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest^(C) is the end of the age,^(D) and the harvesters are angels.^(E)

⁴⁰ “As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. ⁴¹ The Son of Man^(F) will send out his angels,^(G) and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. ⁴² They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.^{(H) 43} Then the righteous will shine like the sun^(I) in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear.^(J)

¹² His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”^(A)

³¹ “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked^(A) to sift all of you as wheat.^{(B) 32} But I have prayed for you,^(C) Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”^(D)