Jesus Teaches in Parables

13 On that day Jesus had gone out of (A)the house and was sitting (B)by the sea. And large crowds gathered to Him, so (C)He got into a boat and sat down, and the whole crowd was standing on the beach.

And He told them many things in (D)parables, saying, “Behold, the sower went out to sow; and as he sowed, some seeds fell beside the road, and the birds came and ate them up. Others fell on the rocky places, where they did not have much soil; and they sprang up immediately, because they had no depth of soil. But after the sun rose, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. Others fell [a]among the thorns, and the thorns came up and choked them out. But others fell on the good soil and yielded a crop, some a (E)hundred, some sixty, and some thirty times as much. (F)The one who has ears, [b]let him hear.”

An Explanation for Parables

10 And the disciples came up and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” 11 And [c]Jesus answered them, (G)To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted. 12 (H)For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him. 13 Therefore I speak to them in parables; because while (I)seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. 14 And [d]in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled, which says,

[e](J)You shall keep on listening, [f]but shall not understand;
And [g]you shall keep on looking, [h]but shall not perceive;
15 (K)For the heart of this people has become dull,
With their ears they scarcely hear,
And they have closed their eyes,
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
Hear with their ears,
Understand with their heart, and return,
And I would heal them.’

16 (L)But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. 17 For truly I say to you that (M)many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.

The Sower Explained

18 (N)Listen then to the parable of the sower. 19 When anyone hears (O)the [i]word of the kingdom and does not understand it, (P)the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is the one sown with seed beside the road. 20 The one sown with seed on the rocky places, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21 yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution occurs because of the [j]word, immediately he [k](Q)falls away. 22 And the one sown with seed among the thorns, this is the one who hears the word, and the anxiety of (R)the [l]world and the (S)deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it [m]becomes unfruitful. 23 But the one sown with seed on the good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces, some (T)a hundred, some sixty, and some thirty times as much.”

Weeds among Wheat

24 Jesus presented another parable to them, saying, (U)The kingdom of heaven [n]is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. 25 But while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed [o]weeds among the wheat, and left. 26 And when the [p]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? [q]How then does it have weeds?’ 28 And he said to them, ‘[r]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 (V)gather the wheat into my barn.”’”

The Mustard Seed

31 He presented another parable to them, saying, (W)The kingdom of heaven is like (X)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 (Y)the birds of the sky come and nest in its branches.”

The Leaven

33 He spoke another parable to them: (Z)The kingdom of heaven is like [s]leaven, which a woman took and hid in (AA)three [t]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 (AB)without a parable. 35 This was so that what was spoken through the prophet would be [u]fulfilled:

(AC)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 (AD)the house. And His disciples came to Him and said, “(AE)Explain to us the parable of the [v]weeds of the field.” 37 And He said, “The one who sows the good seed is (AF)the Son of Man, 38 and the field is the world; and as for the good seed, these are (AG)the sons of the kingdom; and the weeds are (AH)the sons of (AI)the evil one; 39 and the enemy who sowed them is the devil, and the harvest is (AJ)the [w]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 (AK)the [x]end of the age. 41 (AL)The Son of Man (AM)will send forth His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom [y]all (AN)stumbling blocks, and those who commit lawlessness, 42 and they (AO)will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place (AP)there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 (AQ)Then the righteous will shine forth like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. (AR)The one who has ears, [z]let him hear.

Hidden Treasure

44 (AS)The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from [aa]joy over it he goes and (AT)sells everything that he has, and buys that field.

A Costly Pearl

45 “Again, (AU)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, (AV)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 (AW)the [ab]end of the age: the angels will come forth and remove the wicked from among the righteous, 50 and they (AX)will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place (AY)there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

51 “Have you understood all these things?” They *said to Him, “Yes.” 52 And [ac]Jesus said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has become a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like a head of a household, who brings out of his treasure new things and old.”

Jesus Revisits Nazareth

53 (AZ)When Jesus had finished these parables, He departed from there. 54 And (BA)He came to [ad]His hometown and (BB)began teaching them in their synagogue, with the result that (BC)they were astonished, and said, “Where did this man acquire this wisdom and these [ae]miraculous powers? 55 Is this not the carpenter’s son? Is (BD)His mother not called Mary, and His (BE)brothers, James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? 56 And (BF)His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this man acquire all these things?” 57 And they took (BG)offense at Him. But Jesus said to them, (BH)A prophet is not dishonored except in his [af]hometown and in his own household.” 58 And He did not do many [ag]miracles there because of their unbelief.

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 13:7 Lit upon
  2. Matthew 13:9 Or hear! Or listen!
  3. Matthew 13:11 Lit He
  4. Matthew 13:14 Lit for them
  5. Matthew 13:14 Lit With a hearing you shall hear; a Heb idiom
  6. Matthew 13:14 Lit and
  7. Matthew 13:14 Lit Seeing you shall see
  8. Matthew 13:14 Lit and
  9. Matthew 13:19 I.e., message
  10. Matthew 13:21 I.e., message
  11. Matthew 13:21 I.e., from the faith
  12. Matthew 13:22 Or age
  13. Matthew 13:22 Or proves to be unfruitful
  14. Matthew 13:24 Lit has been compared to
  15. Matthew 13:25 Prob. darnel, a weed resembling wheat
  16. Matthew 13:26 Lit grass
  17. Matthew 13:27 Lit From where
  18. Matthew 13:28 Lit A hostile person
  19. Matthew 13:33 I.e., fermented dough
  20. Matthew 13:33 A Gr term for a Heb measure, totaling about 48 lb. or 22 kg of flour
  21. Matthew 13:35 Lit fulfilled, saying
  22. Matthew 13:36 Prob. darnel, a weed resembling wheat
  23. Matthew 13:39 Or consummation
  24. Matthew 13:40 Or consummation
  25. Matthew 13:41 Or everything that is offensive
  26. Matthew 13:43 Or hear! Or listen!
  27. Matthew 13:44 Or his joy, he goes
  28. Matthew 13:49 Or consummation
  29. Matthew 13:52 Lit He
  30. Matthew 13:54 Or His own part of the country
  31. Matthew 13:54 Or miracles
  32. Matthew 13:57 Or own part of the country
  33. Matthew 13:58 Or works of power

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. 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. 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. 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. Other allos · de seed fell piptō on epi · ho rocky petrōdēs places , where hopou it did not ou have echō much polys soil ; and kai immediately eutheōs it sprouted exanatellō because dia · ho it had echō no depth bathos of soil . But de when the sun hēlios came anatellō up it was scorched kaumatizō; and kai because dia · ho it had echō no root rhiza, it withered xērainō away . 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. Other allos · de seed fell piptō on epi · ho good kalos soil · ho and kai produced didōmi grain karpos, some hos a hundredfold hekaton, some hos · de sixty hexēkonta, and de some hos thirty triakonta. 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 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 , this houtos is eimi the ho one who hears akouō the ho message logos and kai understands syniēmi it, who hos indeed 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.