The Mustard Seed and the Leaven

^18 (A)He said therefore, “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it?

The Parable of the Mustard Seed

^30 (A)And he said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it? ³¹ It is like ^(B)a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown on the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth, ³² yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and puts out large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.”

^33 (C)With many such parables he spoke ^(D)the word to them, ^(E)as they were able to hear it. ³⁴ He did not speak to them ^(F)without a parable, but ^(G)privately to his own disciples he ^(H)explained everything.

The Mustard Seed and the Leaven

³¹ He put another parable before them, saying, ^(A)“The kingdom of heaven is like ^(B)a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. ³² It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.”

²¹ nor ^(A)will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.”^[a]

²⁰ And again he said, “To what shall I compare the kingdom of God?

The Parable of the Seed Growing

²⁶ And he said, ^(A)“The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground.

The Parable of the Weeds

²⁴ He put another parable before them, saying, ^(A)“The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field,

³¹ “To what then shall I compare the people of this generation, and what are they like?