Jesus Interprets the Wheat and the Weeds

36 Then He dismissed the crowds and went into the house. His disciples approached Him and said, “Explain the parable of the weeds in the field to us.”(A)

37 He replied: “The One who sows the good seed is the Son of Man; 38 the field is the world; and the good seed—these are the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one,(B) 39 and the enemy who sowed them is the Devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.(C) 40 Therefore, just as the weeds are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age.(D) 41 The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather from His kingdom everything that causes sin[a] and those guilty of lawlessness.[b](E) 42 They will throw them into the blazing furnace(F) where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.(G) 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in their Father’s kingdom. Anyone who has ears[c] should listen!(H)

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 13:41 Or stumbling
  2. Matthew 13:41 Or those who do lawlessness
  3. Matthew 13:43 Other mss add to hear

The Parable of the Tares Explained

36 Then Jesus sent the multitude away and went into the house. And His disciples came to Him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the tares of the field.”

37 He answered and said to them: “He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. 38 (A)The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are (B)the sons of the wicked one. 39 The enemy who sowed them is the devil, (C)the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels. 40 Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. 41 The Son of Man will send out His angels, (D)and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, 42 (E)and will cast them into the furnace of fire. (F)There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 43 (G)Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. (H)He who has ears to hear, let him hear!

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