Font Size
Matthew 13:31-52
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Matthew 13:31-52
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
The Parable of the Mustard Seed
31 He put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field;(A) 32 it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.”(B)
The Parable of the Yeast
33 He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with[a] three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.”(C)
The Use of Parables
34 Jesus told the crowds all these things in parables; without a parable he told them nothing.(D) 35 This was to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet:[b]
“I will open my mouth to speak in parables;
I will proclaim what has been hidden since the foundation.”[c](E)
Jesus Explains the Parable of the Weeds
36 Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples approached him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.” 37 He answered, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man; 38 the field is the world, and the good seed are the children of the kingdom; the weeds are the children of the evil one,(F) 39 and the enemy who sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels.(G) 40 Just as the weeds are collected and burned up with fire, so will it be at the end of the age.(H) 41 The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his kingdom all causes of sin[d] and all evildoers,(I) 42 and they will throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.(J) 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Let anyone with ears[e] listen!(K)
Three Parables
44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and reburied; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.(L)
45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; 46 on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.
47 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind;(M) 48 when it was full, they drew it ashore, sat down, and put the good into baskets but threw out the bad. 49 So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous(N) 50 and throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.(O)
Treasures New and Old
51 “Have you understood all this?” They answered, “Yes.” 52 And he said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.”
Read full chapter
Matthew 13:31-52
New International Version
Matthew 13:31-52
New International Version
The Parables of the Mustard Seed and the Yeast(A)(B)
31 He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like(C) a mustard seed,(D) 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.”(E)
33 He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like(F) yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds[a] of flour(G) until it worked all through the dough.”(H)
34 Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable.(I) 35 So was fulfilled(J) 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](K)
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(L) of the weeds in the field.”
37 He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man.(M) 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,(N) 39 and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest(O) is the end of the age,(P) and the harvesters are angels.(Q)
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(R) will send out his angels,(S) 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.(T) 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun(U) in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear.(V)
The Parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl
44 “The kingdom of heaven is like(W) 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.(X)
45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like(Y) 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(Z) a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds(AA) 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(AB) 50 and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.(AC)
51 “Have you understood all these things?” Jesus asked.
“Yes,” they replied.
52 He said to them, “Therefore every teacher of the law who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.”
Footnotes
- Matthew 13:33 Or about 27 kilograms
- Matthew 13:35 Psalm 78:2
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition (NRSVUE)
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.