Matthew 13
Common English Bible
Setting for the parables
13 That day Jesus went out of the house and sat down beside the lake. 2 Such large crowds gathered around him that he climbed into a boat and sat down. The whole crowd was standing on the shore.
Parable of the soils
3 He said many things to them in parables: “A farmer went out to scatter seed. 4 As he was scattering seed, some fell on the path, and birds came and ate it. 5 Other seed fell on rocky ground where the soil was shallow. They sprouted immediately because the soil wasn’t deep. 6 But when the sun came up, it scorched the plants, and they dried up because they had no roots. 7 Other seed fell among thorny plants. The thorny plants grew and choked them. 8 Other seed fell on good soil and bore fruit, in one case a yield of one hundred to one, in another case a yield of sixty to one, and in another case a yield of thirty to one. 9 Everyone who has ears should pay attention.”
Why Jesus speaks in parables
10 Jesus’ disciples came and said to him, “Why do you use parables when you speak to the crowds?”
11 Jesus replied, “Because they haven’t received the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but you have. 12 For those who have will receive more and they will have more than enough. But as for those who don’t have, even the little they have will be taken away from them. 13 This is why I speak to the crowds in parables: although they see, they don’t really see; and although they hear, they don’t really hear or understand. 14 What Isaiah prophesied has become completely true for them:
You will hear, to be sure, but never understand;
and you will certainly see but never recognize what you are seeing.
15 For this people’s senses have become calloused,
and they’ve become hard of hearing,
and they’ve shut their eyes
so that they won’t see with their eyes
or hear with their ears
or understand with their minds,
and change their hearts and lives that I may heal them.[a]
16 “Happy are your eyes because they see. Happy are your ears because they hear. 17 I assure you that many prophets and righteous people wanted to see what you see and hear what you hear, but they didn’t.
Explanation of the parable of the farmer
18 “Consider then the parable of the farmer. 19 Whenever people hear the word about the kingdom and don’t understand it, the evil one comes and carries off what was planted in their hearts. This is the seed that was sown on the path. 20 As for the seed that was spread on rocky ground, this refers to people who hear the word and immediately receive it joyfully. 21 Because they have no roots, they last for only a little while. When they experience distress or abuse because of the word, they immediately fall away. 22 As for the seed that was spread among thorny plants, this refers to those who hear the word, but the worries of this life and the false appeal of wealth choke the word, and it bears no fruit. 23 As for what was planted on good soil, this refers to those who hear and understand, and bear fruit and produce—in one case a yield of one hundred to one, in another case a yield of sixty to one, and in another case a yield of thirty to one.”
Parable of the weeds
24 Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like someone who planted good seed in his field. 25 While people were sleeping, an enemy came and planted weeds among the wheat and went away. 26 When the stalks sprouted and bore grain, then the weeds also appeared.
27 “The servants of the landowner came and said to him, ‘Master, didn’t you plant good seed in your field? Then how is it that it has weeds?’
28 “‘An enemy has done this,’ he answered.
“The servants said to him, ‘Do you want us to go and gather them?’
29 “But the landowner said, ‘No, because if you gather the weeds, you’ll pull up the wheat along with them. 30 Let both grow side by side until the harvest. And at harvesttime I’ll say to the harvesters, “First gather the weeds and tie them together in bundles to be burned. But bring the wheat into my barn.”’”
Parable of the mustard seed
31 He told another parable to them: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and planted in his field. 32 It’s the smallest of all seeds. But when it’s grown, it’s the largest of all vegetable plants. It becomes a tree so that the birds in the sky come and nest in its branches.”
Parable of the yeast
33 He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast, which a woman took and hid in a bushel of wheat flour until the yeast had worked its way through all the dough.”
Purpose of parables to the crowds
34 Jesus said all these things to the crowds in parables, and he spoke to them only in parables. 35 This was to fulfill what the prophet spoke:
I’ll speak in parables;
I’ll declare what has been hidden since the beginning of the world.[b]
Explanation of the parable of the weeds
36 Jesus left the crowds and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.”
37 Jesus replied, “The one who plants the good seed is the Human One.[c] 38 The field is the world. And the good seeds are the followers of the kingdom. But the weeds are the followers of the evil one. 39 The enemy who planted them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the present age. The harvesters are the angels. 40 Just as people gather weeds and burn them in the fire, so it will be at the end of the present age. 41 The Human One[d] will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all things that cause people to fall away and all people who sin. 42 He will throw them into a burning furnace. People there will be weeping and grinding their teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in their Father’s kingdom. Those who have ears should hear.”
Parable of the treasure
44 “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure that somebody hid in a field, which someone else found and covered up. Full of joy, the finder sold everything and bought that field.
Parable of the merchant
45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls. 46 When he found one very precious pearl, he went and sold all that he owned and bought it.
Parable of the net
47 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that people threw into the lake and gathered all kinds of fish. 48 When it was full, they pulled it to the shore, where they sat down and put the good fish together into containers. But the bad fish they threw away. 49 That’s the way it will be at the end of the present age. The angels will go out and separate the evil people from the righteous people, 50 and will throw the evil ones into a burning furnace. People there will be weeping and grinding their teeth.
Treasures new and old
51 “Have you understood all these things?”Jesus asked.
They said to him, “Yes.”
52 Then he said to them, “Therefore, every legal expert who has been trained as a disciple for the kingdom of heaven is like the head of a household who brings old and new things out of their treasure chest.”
Jesus in his hometown
53 When Jesus finished these parables, he departed. 54 When he came to his hometown, he taught the people in their synagogue. They were surprised and said, “Where did he get this wisdom? Where did he get the power to work miracles? 55 Isn’t he the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother named Mary? Aren’t James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas his brothers? 56 And his sisters, aren’t they here with us? Where did this man get all this?” 57 They were repulsed by him and fell into sin.
But Jesus said to them, “Prophets are honored everywhere except in their own hometowns and in their own households.” 58 He was unable to do many miracles there because of their disbelief.
Footnotes
- Matthew 13:15 Isa 6:9-10
- Matthew 13:35 Ps 78:2
- Matthew 13:37 Or Son of Man
- Matthew 13:41 Or Son of Man
Matthew 13
Mounce Reverse Interlinear New Testament
13 That ekeinos same en · ho day hēmera Jesus Iēsous went exerchomai out · ho of the ho house oikia and was sitting kathēmai by para the ho sea thalassa. 2 And kai great polys crowds ochlos gathered synagō around pros him autos so hōste that he autos got embainō into eis a boat ploion and sat kathēmai down , and kai all pas the ho crowd ochlos stood histēmi on epi the ho beach aigialos. 3 And kai he told laleō them autos many polys things in en parables parabolē, saying legō: “A sower speirō went exerchomai out · ho to ho sow speirō. 4 And kai as en · ho he autos sowed speirō, some hos seeds fell piptō along para the ho path hodos, and kai the ho birds peteinon came erchomai and devoured katesthiō them autos. 5 Other allos · de seed fell piptō on epi · ho rocky petrōdēs places , where hopou it did not ou have echō much polys soil gē; and kai immediately eutheōs it sprouted exanatellō because dia · ho it had echō no mē depth bathos of soil gē. 6 But de when the sun hēlios came anatellō up it was scorched kaumatizō; and kai because dia · ho it had echō no mē root rhiza, it withered xērainō away . 7 Other allos · de seed fell piptō among epi · ho thorns akantha, and kai the ho thorns akantha grew anabainō up and kai choked pnigō it autos. 8 Other allos · de seed fell piptō on epi · ho good kalos soil gē · ho and kai produced didōmi grain karpos, some hos a hundredfold hekaton, some hos · de sixty hexēkonta, and de some hos thirty triakonta. 9 He ho who has echō ears ous, let him hear akouō!”
10 And kai the ho disciples mathētēs came proserchomai to him autos and said legō, “ Why dia tis do you speak laleō to them autos in en parables parabolē?” 11 He ho · de answered apokrinomai them autos, saying legō, “ Because hoti to you hymeis it has been given didōmi to know ginōskō the ho mysteries mystērion of the ho kingdom basileia of ho heaven ouranos, but de to them ekeinos it has not ou been given didōmi. 12 For gar to autos the one autos who hostis has echō, more will be given didōmi, and kai he will have an abundance perisseuō; but de from apo the one autos who hostis does not ou have echō, even kai what hos he has echō will be taken airō away . 13 This is why dia I speak laleō to them autos in en parables parabolē, because hoti seeing blepō they do not ou see blepō and kai hearing akouō they do not ou hear akouō nor oude do they understand syniēmi. 14 And kai in them autos the ho prophecy prophēteia of Isaiah ēsaias is being fulfilled anaplēroō that ho says legō: ‘ You will surely akoē hear akouō but kai never ou mē understand syniēmi, and kai you will surely blepō see blepō but kai never ou mē perceive. 15 For gar the ho heart kardia of ho this houtos people laos has become dull pachunō, and kai with their ho ears ous they scarcely bareōs hear akouō, and kai · ho their autos eyes ophthalmos they have closed kammyō, lest mēpote they should see with their ho eyes ophthalmos and kai hear akouō with their ho ears ous and kai understand syniēmi with their ho hearts kardia and kai turn epistrephō, and kai I would heal iaomai them autos.’ 16 But de blessed makarios are your hymeis · ho eyes ophthalmos, because hoti they see blepō, and kai · ho your hymeis ears ous, because hoti they hear akouō. 17 I tell legō you hymeis the truth amēn, many polys prophets prophētēs and kai righteous dikaios people longed epithumeō to see the hos things you are seeing blepō but kai did not ou see them, and kai to hear akouō the hos things you are hearing akouō but kai did not ou hear akouō them.
18 “ Hear akouō then oun the ho parable parabolē of the ho sower speirō: 19 When anyone pas hears akouō the ho message logos of the ho kingdom basileia and kai does not mē understand syniēmi it, the ho evil one ponēros comes erchomai and kai snatches harpazō away that ho which was sown speirō in en · ho his autos heart kardia. This houtos is eimi what ho was sown speirō along para the ho path hodos. 20 As for de the ho one who was sown speirō on epi · ho rocky petrōdēs places , this houtos is eimi the ho one who hears akouō the ho message logos and kai immediately receives lambanō it autos with meta joy chara; 21 yet de he has echō no ou root rhiza in en himself heautou but alla lasts eimi only a short time proskairos, and de when suffering thlipsis or ē persecution diōgmos arises ginomai on dia account of the ho message logos, immediately he falls skandalizō away . 22 As for de the ho one who was sown speirō among eis · ho thorns akantha, this houtos is eimi the ho one who hears akouō the ho message logos, but kai · ho worldly aiōn anxiety merimna · ho and kai the ho deception apatē of ho wealth ploutos choke sympnigō the ho message logos and kai it becomes ginomai unfruitful akarpos. 23 As for de the ho one who was sown speirō on epi · ho good kalos soil gē, this houtos is eimi the ho one who hears akouō the ho message logos and kai understands syniēmi it, who hos indeed dē bears karpophoreō fruit and kai produces poieō, some hos a hundredfold hekaton, some hos · de sixty hexēkonta, and de some hos thirty triakonta.”
24 Jesus put paratithēmi another allos parable parabolē before paratithēmi them autos, saying legō: “ The ho kingdom basileia of ho heaven ouranos is like homoioō a man anthrōpos sowing speirō good kalos seed sperma in en · ho his autos field agros. 25 But de while en · ho everyone anthrōpos was sleeping katheudō, · ho his autos enemy echthros came erchomai · ho and kai sowed epispeirō weeds zizanion among ana mesos the ho wheat sitos and kai went aperchomai away . 26 When hote · de the ho plants chortos came blastanō up and kai bore poieō grain karpos, then tote the ho weeds zizanion appeared phainō as kai well . 27 And de the ho servants of the ho master oikodespotēs of the house came proserchomai and said legō to him autos, ‘ Sir kyrios, did you speirō not ouchi sow speirō good kalos seed sperma in en · ho your sos field agros? Why pothen then oun does it have echō weeds zizanion?’ 28 And de he ho said phēmi to them autos, ‘An enemy echthros has done poieō this houtos!’ And de the ho servants said legō to him autos, ‘ So oun do you want thelō us to go aperchomai and gather syllegō them autos?’ 29 But de he ho replied phēmi, ‘ No ou, lest mēpote in gathering syllegō the ho weeds zizanion you uproot ekrizoō the ho wheat sitos along hama with them autos. 30 Let aphiēmi both amphoteroi grow synauxanō together until heōs the ho harvest therismos; and kai at en harvest therismos time kairos · ho I will tell legō the ho harvesters theristēs, “ First prōton gather syllegō the ho weeds zizanion and kai bind deō them autos into eis bundles desmē to pros · ho be burned katakaiō, then de gather synagō the ho wheat sitos into eis · ho my egō barn apothēkē.”’”
31 He gave paratithēmi them autos another allos parable parabolē, saying legō: “ The ho kingdom basileia of ho heaven ouranos is eimi like homoios a mustard sinapi seed kokkos that hos a man anthrōpos took lambanō and sowed speirō in en · ho his autos field agros. 32 It hos is eimi the smallest mikros of all pas the ho seeds sperma; but de when hotan it is grown auxanō, it is eimi larger megas than all the ho garden lachanon plants and kai becomes ginomai a tree dendron so hōste that the ho birds peteinon of the ho air ouranos come erchomai and kai nest kataskēnoō in en · ho its autos branches klados.” 33 He spoke laleō another allos parable parabolē to them autos: “ The ho kingdom basileia of ho heaven ouranos is eimi like homoios leaven zymē, which hos a woman gynē took lambanō and put enkryptō into eis three treis measures saton of flour aleuron, until heōs hos it was all holos leavened zymoō.”
34 All pas these houtos things Jesus Iēsous spoke laleō · ho to the ho crowds ochlos in en parables parabolē, and kai without chōris a parable parabolē he told laleō them autos nothing oudeis; 35 so hopōs that what ho was spoken legō by dia the ho prophet prophētēs might be fulfilled plēroō, saying legō, “ I will open anoigō my egō mouth stoma in en parables parabolē; · ho I will utter ereugomai things kept secret kryptō from apo the foundation katabolē of the world kosmos.”
36 Then tote he left aphiēmi the ho crowds ochlos and went erchomai into eis the ho house oikia. And kai his autos disciples mathētēs came proserchomai to him autos, · ho saying legō, “ Explain diasapheō to us hēmeis the ho parable parabolē of the ho weeds zizanion in the ho field agros.” 37 And de he ho answered apokrinomai, saying legō, “ The ho one who sows speirō the ho good kalos seed sperma is eimi the ho Son hyios of ho Man anthrōpos; 38 and de the ho field agros is eimi the ho world kosmos; and de as for the ho good kalos seed sperma, these houtos are eimi the ho sons hyios of the ho kingdom basileia; and de the ho weeds zizanion are eimi the ho sons hyios of the ho evil ponēros one ; 39 and de the ho enemy echthros who ho sowed speirō them autos is eimi the ho devil diabolos; and de the ho harvest therismos is eimi the end synteleia of the age aiōn; and de the ho harvesters theristēs are eimi the angels angelos. 40 Therefore oun just hōsper as the ho weeds zizanion are gathered syllegō and kai burned katakaiō in the fire pyr, so houtōs it will be eimi at en the ho end synteleia of the ho age aiōn. 41 The ho Son hyios of ho Man anthrōpos will send apostellō · ho his autos angels angelos, and kai they will gather syllegō out ek of ho his autos kingdom basileia everything pas that ho causes skandalon sin and kai those ho who break poieō his ho laws anomia. 42 And kai they will throw ballō them autos into eis the ho fiery pyr furnace kaminos, · ho where ekei there will be eimi · ho weeping klauthmos and kai · ho gnashing brygmos of ho teeth odous. 43 Then tote the ho righteous dikaios will shine eklampō like hōs the ho sun hēlios in en the ho kingdom basileia of ho their autos Father patēr. He ho who has echō ears ous, let him hear akouō!
44 “ The ho kingdom basileia of ho heaven ouranos is eimi like homoios treasure thēsauros hidden kryptō in en a ho field agros that hos a man anthrōpos found heuriskō and covered kryptō up . Then kai in apo · ho his autos joy chara he goes hypagō and kai sells pōleō all pas that hosos he has echō and kai buys agorazō · ho that ekeinos field agros. 45 Again palin, the ho kingdom basileia of ho heaven ouranos is eimi like homoios a merchant emporos searching zēteō for fine kalos pearls margaritēs; 46 and de when he found heuriskō one heis pearl margaritēs of great value polytimos, he went aperchomai away and sold pipraskō all pas that hosos he had echō and kai bought agorazō it autos. 47 Again palin, the ho kingdom basileia of ho heaven ouranos is eimi like homoios a dragnet sagēnē that was cast ballō into eis the ho sea thalassa and kai caught synagō fish of ek every pas kind genos; 48 and when hote it was full plēroō, they pulled anabibazō it up onto epi the ho shore aigialos; and kai they sat kathizō down and put syllegō the ho good kalos fish into eis baskets angos, but de the ho bad sapros they threw ballō away exō. 49 So houtōs it will be eimi at en the ho end synteleia of the ho age aiōn; the ho angels angelos will go exerchomai out and kai separate aphorizō the ho wicked ponēros from ek mesos the ho righteous dikaios 50 and kai cast ballō them autos into eis the ho fiery pyr furnace kaminos, · ho where ekei there will be eimi · ho weeping klauthmos and kai · ho gnashing brygmos of ho teeth odous.
51 “ Have you understood syniēmi all pas these houtos things ?” They said legō to him autos, “ Yes nai.” 52 And de he ho said legō to them autos, “ Therefore dia houtos every pas scribe grammateus who has become a disciple mathēteuō in the ho kingdom basileia of ho heaven ouranos is eimi like homoios the master oikodespotēs of a house who hostis brings ekballō out of ek · ho his autos treasure thēsauros things new kainos and kai old palaios.”
53 Now kai when hote Jesus Iēsous had finished teleō · ho · ho these houtos parables parabolē, he moved metairō on from there ekeithen. 54 And kai upon arriving erchomai at eis · ho his autos hometown patris, he taught didaskō them autos in en · ho their autos synagogue synagōgē so hōste that they autos were amazed ekplēssō and kai said legō, “ Where pothen did this houtos man get such houtos · ho wisdom sophia and kai · ho miraculous dynamis powers ? 55 Is eimi not ou this houtos the ho · ho carpenter’ s tektōn son hyios? Is not ou · ho his autos mother mētēr called legō Mary Mariam, and kai · ho his autos brothers adelphos James Iakōbos and kai Joseph Iōsēph and kai Simon Simōn and kai Judas Ioudas? 56 And kai · ho his autos sisters adelphē, are they eimi not ouchi all pas with pros us hēmeis? Where pothen then oun did this houtos man get all pas these houtos things ?” 57 And kai they were deeply offended skandalizō at en him autos. · ho But de Jesus Iēsous said legō to them autos, “A prophet prophētēs is eimi not ou without atimos honor except ei mē in en his ho hometown patris and kai in en his autos own ho household oikia.” 58 And kai he did not ou do poieō many polys miracles dynamis there ekei because dia of · ho their autos unbelief apistia.
Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible
The Mounce Reverse Interlinear™ New Testament (MOUNCE)
Copyright © 2011 by William D. Mounce. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
“Reverse Interlinear” is a trademark of William D. Mounce.
