The Parable of the Wheat and the Tares

²⁴ Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; ²⁵ but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. ²⁶ But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. ²⁷ So the servants of the owner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’ ²⁸ He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The servants said to him, ‘Do you want us then to go and gather them up?’ ²⁹ But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. ³⁰ Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but ^(A)gather the wheat into my barn.” ’ ”

²⁷ They did not understand that He spoke to them of the Father.

²⁸ Then Jesus said to them, “When you ^(A)lift^[a] up the Son of Man, ^(B)then you will know that I am He, and ^(C)that I do nothing of Myself; but ^(D)as My Father taught Me, I speak these things. ²⁹ And ^(E)He who sent Me is with Me. ^(F)The Father has not left Me alone, ^(G)for I always do those things that please Him.” ³⁰ As He spoke these words, ^(H)many believed in Him.

The Truth Shall Make You Free

³¹ Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you ^(I)abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. ³² And you shall know the ^(J)truth, and ^(K)the truth shall make you free.”

³³ They answered Him, ^(L)“We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will be made free’?”

³⁴ Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, ^(M)whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. ³⁵ And ^(N)a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. ^36 (O)Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.

Abraham’s Seed and Satan’s

³⁷ “I know that you are Abraham’s descendants, but ^(P)you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you. ^38 (Q)I speak what I have seen with My Father, and you do what you have ^[b]seen with your father.”