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:

(I)I will open My mouth in parables;
I will proclaim things hidden since the foundation of the world.”

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.

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 13:24 Lit has been compared to
  2. Matthew 13:25 Prob. darnel, a weed resembling wheat
  3. Matthew 13:26 Lit grass
  4. Matthew 13:27 Lit From where
  5. Matthew 13:28 Lit A hostile person
  6. Matthew 13:33 I.e., fermented dough
  7. Matthew 13:33 A Gr term for a Heb measure, totaling about 48 lb. or 22 kg of flour
  8. Matthew 13:35 Lit fulfilled, saying
  9. Matthew 13:36 Prob. darnel, a weed resembling wheat
  10. Matthew 13:39 Or consummation
  11. Matthew 13:40 Or consummation
  12. Matthew 13:41 Or everything that is offensive
  13. Matthew 13:43 Or hear! Or listen!
  14. Matthew 13:44 Or his joy, he goes
  15. Matthew 13:49 Or consummation

The Parable of the Weeds

24 Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like(A) a man who sowed good seed in his field. 25 But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. 26 When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.

27 “The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’

28 “‘An enemy did this,’ he replied.

“The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’

29 “‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’”(B)

The Parables of the Mustard Seed and the Yeast(C)(D)

31 He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like(E) a mustard seed,(F) which a man took and planted in his field. 32 Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.”(G)

33 He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like(H) yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds[a] of flour(I) until it worked all through the dough.”(J)

34 Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable.(K) 35 So was fulfilled(L) what was spoken through the prophet:

“I will open my mouth in parables,
    I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world.”[b](M)

The Parable of the Weeds Explained

36 Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, “Explain to us the parable(N) of the weeds in the field.”

37 He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man.(O) 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,(P) 39 and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest(Q) is the end of the age,(R) and the harvesters are angels.(S)

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(T) will send out his angels,(U) 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.(V) 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun(W) in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear.(X)

The Parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl

44 “The kingdom of heaven is like(Y) treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.(Z)

45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like(AA) a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46 When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.

The Parable of the Net

47 “Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like(AB) a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds(AC) of fish. 48 When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. 49 This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous(AD) 50 and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.(AE)

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 13:33 Or about 27 kilograms
  2. Matthew 13:35 Psalm 78:2