Matthew 13:13-43

Christian Standard Bible

¹³ That is why I speak to them in parables, because looking they do not see,^(A) and hearing they do not listen or understand.^{(B) 14} Isaiah’s prophecy is fulfilled in them, which says:

¹⁶ “Blessed are your eyes^(E) because they do see, and your ears because they do hear.^{(F) 17} For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see the things you see but didn’t see them, to hear the things you hear but didn’t hear them.^(G)

The Parable of the Sower Explained

¹⁸ “So listen to the parable of the sower: ^{(H) 19} When anyone hears the word about the kingdom and doesn’t understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the one sown along the path.^{(I) 20} And the one sown on rocky ground—this is one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy.^{(J) 21} But he has no root and is short-lived. When distress or persecution^(K) comes because of the word, immediately he falls away. ²² Now the one sown among the thorns—this is one who hears the word, but the worries of this age^(L) and the deceitfulness^[b] of wealth^(M) choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. ²³ But the one sown on the good ground—this is one who hears and understands the word, who does produce fruit and yields: some a hundred, some sixty, some thirty times what was sown.”

The Parable of the Wheat and the Weeds

²⁴ He presented another parable to them: “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field.^{(N) 25} But while people were sleeping, his enemy came, sowed weeds among the wheat, and left. ²⁶ When the plants sprouted and produced grain, then the weeds also appeared. ²⁷ The landowner’s servants^(O) came to him and said, ‘Master, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Then where did the weeds come from?’

²⁸ “‘An enemy did this,’ he told them.

“‘So, do you want us to go and pull them up?’ the servants asked him.

²⁹ “‘No,’ he said. ‘When you pull up the weeds, you might also uproot the wheat with them. ³⁰ Let both grow together until the harvest. At harvest time I’ll tell the reapers: Gather the weeds first and tie them in bundles to burn them, but collect the wheat in my barn.’”

The Parables of the Mustard Seed and of the Leaven

³¹ He^(P) presented another parable to them: “The kingdom of heaven^(Q) is like a mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. ³² It’s the smallest of all the seeds, but when grown, it’s taller than the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the sky come and nest in its branches.”^(R)

³³ He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven^[c] that a woman took and mixed into fifty pounds^[d] of flour until all of it was leavened.”^(S)

Using Parables Fulfills Prophecy

³⁴ Jesus told the crowds all these things in parables, and he did not tell them anything without a parable,^{(T) 35} so that what was spoken through the prophet might be fulfilled:

Jesus Interprets the Parable of the Wheat and the Weeds

³⁶ Then he left the crowds and went into the house. His disciples approached him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.”^(V)

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 children of the kingdom. The weeds are the children of the evil one,^{(W) 39} and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.^{(X) 40} Therefore, just as the weeds are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age.^{(Y) 41} The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will gather from his kingdom all who cause sin^[g] and those guilty of lawlessness.^{[h](Z) 42} They will throw them into the blazing furnace^(AA) where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.^{(AB) 43} Then the righteous will shine like the sun in their Father’s kingdom. Let anyone who has ears^[i] listen.^(AC)