Matthew 13
Expanded Bible
A Story About Planting Seed(A)
13 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake [C the Sea of Galilee]. 2 Large crowds gathered around him, so he got into a boat and sat down, while the people stood on the shore. 3 Then Jesus used ·stories [parables] to teach them many things. He said: “A ·farmer [sower] went out to ·plant [sow] his seed. 4 While he was ·planting [sowing], some seed fell ·by the road [along the path], and the birds came and ate it all up. 5 Some seed fell on rocky ground, where there wasn’t much dirt. That seed ·grew [sprang up] very fast, because the ground was not deep. 6 But when the sun rose, the plants ·dried up [were scorched and withered], because they did not have deep roots. 7 Some other seed fell among thorny weeds, which grew and choked the good plants. 8 Some other seed fell on good ground where it grew and produced ·a crop [grain]. Some plants made a hundred times more, some made sixty times more, and some made thirty times more. 9 ·Let those with ears use them and listen [L The one who has ears to hear, let him hear].”
Why Jesus Used Stories to Teach(B)
10 The ·followers [disciples] came to Jesus and asked, “Why do you ·use stories to teach the people [L speak to them in parables]?”
11 Jesus answered, “·You have been chosen [L It has been granted/given to you] to ·know [understand] the ·secrets [mysteries] about the kingdom of heaven, but ·others cannot know these secrets [L it has not been given/granted to those others]. 12 Those who ·have understanding [L have] will be given more, and they will have ·all they need [an abundance]. But those who do not ·have understanding [L have], even what they have will be taken away from them. 13 This is why I ·use stories to teach the people [L speak in parables]: [L Because] They ·see [look], but they don’t ·really see [perceive]. They hear, but they don’t really hear or understand. 14 ·So they show that the things Isaiah said about them are true [L In them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says]:
‘You will ·listen and listen [keep on hearing; or listen intently], but you will not understand.
You will ·look and look [keep on seeing; or look intently], but you will not ·learn [perceive; comprehend].
15 For the ·minds [hearts] of these people have become ·stubborn [dull; calloused; hardened].
They ·do not [hardly] hear with their ears,
and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes
and hear with their ears.
They might really understand ·in their minds [with their hearts]
and ·come back [turn; return] to me and ·be healed [I would heal them; Is. 6:9–10].’
16 But ·you [L your eyes] are blessed, because you see with your eyes and hear with your ears. 17 I tell you the truth, many prophets and ·good [righteous; just] people ·wanted [longed] to see the things that you now see, but they did not see them. And they ·wanted [longed] to hear the things that you now hear, but they did not hear them.
Jesus Explains the Seed Story(C)
18 “So listen to the ·meaning of that story about the farmer [parable of the sower]. 19 What is the seed that fell ·by the road [along the path]? That seed is like ·the person [anyone] who hears the ·message [word; teaching] about the kingdom but does not understand it. The Evil One comes and ·takes away [snatches] what was ·planted [sown] in that person’s heart. 20 And what is the seed ·that fell [sown] on rocky ground? That seed is like the person who hears the ·teaching [word; message] and quickly ·accepts [receives] it with joy. 21 But ·he does not let the teaching go deep into his life, so [L since he has no root in himself] ·he keeps it only a short time [he does not endure; it is shortlived]. When trouble or persecution comes because of the ·teaching he accepted [word, message], he ·quickly [immediately] ·gives up [falls away; stumbles]. 22 And what is the seed ·that fell [sown] among the thorny weeds? That seed is like the person who hears the ·teaching [word; message] but lets worries about this ·life [world; age] and the ·temptation [deceitfulness; seduction] of wealth ·stop that teaching from growing [L choke the word/message]. So the teaching does not produce fruit in that person’s life. 23 But what is the seed ·that fell [sown] on the good ground? That seed is like the person who hears the teaching and understands it. That person grows and produces ·fruit [a crop], sometimes a hundred times more, sometimes sixty times more, and sometimes thirty times more.”
A Story About Wheat and Weeds
24 Then Jesus ·told [presented to] them another ·story [parable]: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who ·planted [sowed] good seed in his field. 25 That night, when everyone was asleep, his enemy came and ·planted [sowed] ·weeds [T tares; C a noxious weed that looks like wheat] among the wheat and then left. 26 Later, the wheat sprouted and the heads of grain grew, but the ·weeds [T tares] also ·grew [appeared]. 27 Then the man’s ·servants [slaves] came to him and said, ‘[Master; Sir] ·You planted [L Didn’t you sow…?] good seed in your field. Where did the ·weeds [T tares] come from?’ 28 The man answered, ‘An enemy ·planted weeds [L did this].’ The ·servants [slaves] asked, ‘Do you want us to ·pull up the weeds [L go and gather them]?’ 29 The man answered, ‘No, because when you ·pull up [gather] the ·weeds [T tares], you might also ·pull up [uproot] the wheat. 30 Let ·the weeds and the wheat [L both] grow together until the harvest time. At harvest time I will tell the ·workers [reapers], “First gather the ·weeds [T tares] and tie them ·together [in bundles] to be burned. Then gather the wheat and bring it to my barn.”’”
Stories of Mustard Seed and Yeast(D)
31 Then Jesus ·told [presented to them] another ·story [parable]: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a man ·planted [sowed] in his field. 32 That seed is the smallest of all seeds [C the mustard seed was the smallest seed known to Jesus’ hearers], but when it grows, it is one of the largest garden plants. It becomes ·big enough [L a tree] for the ·wild birds [L birds of the sky] to come and build nests in its branches.”
33 Then Jesus told another ·story [parable]: “The kingdom of heaven is like ·yeast [leaven] that a woman took and ·hid [mixed] in a large tub [C Greek: three sata; about fifty pounds] of flour until ·it made all the dough rise [L the whole was leavened; Luke 13:20–21].”
34 Jesus used ·stories [parables] to tell all these things to the people; he ·always used stories to teach them [L did not speak to them without parables; Mark 4:33–34]. 35 This ·is as [fulfills what] the prophet said:
“I will ·speak using [L open my mouth in] ·stories [parables];
I will ·tell [announce; utter] things ·that have been secret [hidden] since the ·world was made [creation/foundation of the world. Ps. 78:2].”
Jesus Explains About the Weeds
36 Then Jesus left the crowd and went into the house. His ·followers [disciples] came to him and said, “Explain to us the meaning of the ·story [parable] about the ·weeds [T tares] in the field.”
37 Jesus answered, “The man who ·planted [sowed] the good seed in the field is the Son of Man. 38 The field is the world, and the good seed are ·all of God’s children who belong to the kingdom [L the children/sons of the kingdom]. The ·weeds [T tares] are ·those people who belong to the Evil One [L the children/sons of the Evil One]. 39 And the enemy who ·planted [sowed] the bad seed is the devil. The harvest time is the end of the age, and the ·workers who gather [harvesters; reapers] are God’s angels.
40 “Just as the ·weeds [T tares] are ·pulled up [gathered] and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will ·gather [remove; weed] out of his kingdom ·all who [or all things that] ·cause sin [T are stumbling blocks] and all who ·do evil [break God’s law]. 42 The angels will throw them into the blazing furnace [Dan. 3:6], where ·the people will cry and grind their teeth with pain [L there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth; C indicating agony and remorse]. 43 Then the ·good people [righteous] will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father [Dan. 12:3]. ·Let those with ears use them and listen [L The one who has ears to hear, let him hear.].
Stories of a Treasure and a Pearl
44 “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field. One day a man found the treasure, and then he hid it in the field again. He was so ·happy [joyful; excited] that he went and sold everything he owned to buy that field.
45 “Also, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46 When he found a very valuable pearl, he went and sold everything he had and bought it.
A Story of a Fishing Net
47 “Also, the kingdom of heaven is like a ·net [dragnet; C a net dragged between two boats, or between a boat and the shore] that was put into the ·lake [sea] and caught many different kinds of fish. 48 When it was full, the fishermen pulled the net to the shore. They sat down and put all the good fish in baskets and threw away the ·bad [worthless] fish. 49 It will be this way at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the evil people from the ·good [righteous] people. 50 The angels will throw the evil people into the blazing furnace [Dan. 3:11, 19–30], where ·people will cry and grind their teeth with pain [L there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth; v. 42].”
51 Jesus asked his ·followers [disciples], “Do you understand all these things?”
They answered, “Yes.”
52 Then Jesus said to them, “So every ·teacher of the law [scribe] who has ·been taught about [become a disciple of] the kingdom of heaven is like the ·owner [head] of a house. He brings out both new things and old things ·he has saved [L from his treasure/storeroom; C knowledge of the Old Testament provides insight into Jesus’ “new” message of the kingdom of God].”
Jesus Goes to His Hometown(E)
53 When Jesus finished teaching [see 7:28] with these ·stories [parables], he left there. 54 He went to his hometown [C Nazareth; 2:23; Luke 2:39] and taught the people in their synagogue, and they were ·amazed [astonished]. They said, “Where did this man get this wisdom and this power to do miracles? 55 ·He is just [Isn’t this…?] the son of ·a [L the] carpenter. ·His mother is Mary [L Isn’t his mother called Mary…?], and his brothers are James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas. 56 And all his sisters are here with us. Where then does this man get all these things?” 57 So the people were ·upset with [offended by] Jesus.
But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is ·honored everywhere [not dishonored] except in his hometown and in his own ·home [family; household].”
58 So he did not do many miracles there because ·they had no faith [of their unbelief].
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.
The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.
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.
