Matthew 13
Legacy Standard Bible
The Parable of the Sower
13 On that day Jesus went out of (A)the house and was sitting (B)by the sea. 2 And [a]large crowds gathered to Him, so (C)He got into a boat and sat down, and the whole crowd was standing on the beach.
3 And He spoke many things to them in (D)parables, saying, “Behold, the sower went out to sow; 4 and as he sowed, some seeds fell beside the road, and the birds came and ate them up. 5 And others fell on the rocky places, where they did not have much soil; and immediately they sprang up, because they had no depth of soil. 6 But when the sun had risen, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. 7 And others fell [b]among the thorns, and the thorns came up and choked them out. 8 And others fell on the good soil and were yielding [c]a crop, some a (E)hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty. 9 (F)He who has ears, [d]let him hear.”
The Purpose of the Parables
10 And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” 11 And [e]Jesus answered and said to them, “(G)To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 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 in them the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled, which says,
‘[f](J)You will keep on hearing, [g]but will not understand;
[h]You will keep on seeing, but will not perceive;
15 (K)For the heart of this people has become dull,
And with their ears they scarcely hear,
And they have closed their eyes,
Lest they would see with their eyes,
Hear with their ears,
And 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 men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.
The Parable of the Sower Explained
18 “(N)Hear then the parable of the sower. 19 When anyone hears (O)the 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 on whom seed was sown beside the road. 20 And the one on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, this is the man who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21 yet he has no root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he [i](Q)falls away. 22 And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the one who hears the word, and the worry of (R)the [j]world and the (S)deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. 23 And the one on whom seed was sown on the good soil, this is the man who hears the word and understands it; who indeed bears fruit and brings forth, some (T)a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty.”
The Parable of Tares Among Wheat
24 He presented another parable to them, saying, “(U)The kingdom of heaven [k]may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field. 25 But while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed [l]tares among the wheat, and went away. 26 But when the [m]wheat sprouted and bore grain, then the tares became evident also. 27 The slaves of the landowner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? [n]How then does it have tares?’ 28 And he said to them, ‘An [o]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; for while you are gathering up the tares, you may uproot the wheat with them. 30 Allow both to grow together until the harvest; and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather up the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them up; but (V)gather the wheat into my barn.”’”
Parables of the Mustard Seed and Leaven
31 He presented another parable to them, saying, “(W)The kingdom of heaven is like (X)a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field; 32 and this is the [p]smallest of all seeds, but when it is fully grown, it is the [q]largest of the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that (Y)the birds of the [r]air come and nest in its branches.”
33 He spoke another parable to them, “(Z)The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in [s](AA)three sata of flour until it was all leavened.”
34 All these things Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables, and He was not speaking to them (AB)without a parable 35 so that what was spoken through the prophet might be fulfilled, saying,
“(AC)I will open My mouth in parables;
I will utter things hidden since the foundation of the world.”
The Parable of Tares 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 [t]tares of the field.” 37 And He answered and 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 tares 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 [u]end of the age; and the reapers are angels. 40 So just as the tares are gathered up and burned with fire, so shall it be at (AK)the [v]end of the age. 41 (AL)The Son of Man (AM)will send forth His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom [w]all (AN)stumbling blocks, and those who commit lawlessness, 42 and (AO)will throw them into the fiery furnace; in that place (AP)there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 (AQ)Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. (AR)He who has ears, [x]let him hear.
A 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 joy over it he goes and (AT)sells all 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 all that he had and bought it.
A Dragnet
47 “Again, (AV)the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet cast into the sea, and gathering fish of every kind; 48 and when it was filled, they drew 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 [y]end of the age; the angels will come forth and [z]take out the wicked from among the righteous, 50 and (AX)will throw them into the fiery furnace; 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 He 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 things new and old.”
Jesus Rejected at Nazareth
53 [aa](AZ)Now it happened that when Jesus had finished these parables, He departed from there. 54 (BA)And He came to [ab]His hometown and (BB)began teaching them in their synagogue, so that (BC)they were astonished, and said, “Where did this man get this wisdom and these [ac]miraculous powers? 55 Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not (BD)His mother called Mary, and His (BE)brothers, James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? 56 And (BF)His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” 57 And they were taking (BG)offense at Him. But Jesus said to them, “(BH)A prophet is not without honor except in his [ad]hometown and in his own household.” 58 And He did not do many [ae]miracles there because of their unbelief.
Footnotes
- Matthew 13:2 Lit many
- Matthew 13:7 Lit upon
- Matthew 13:8 Lit fruit
- Matthew 13:9 Or hear!, listen!; Gr imperative
- Matthew 13:11 Lit He
- Matthew 13:14 Lit With a hearing you will hear
- Matthew 13:14 Lit and
- Matthew 13:14 Lit Seeing you will see
- Matthew 13:21 Lit is caused to stumble
- Matthew 13:22 Or age
- Matthew 13:24 Lit was compared to
- Matthew 13:25 Or darnel, a weed resembling wheat
- Matthew 13:26 Lit grass
- Matthew 13:27 Lit From where
- Matthew 13:28 Lit enemy man
- Matthew 13:32 Lit smaller
- Matthew 13:32 Lit larger
- Matthew 13:32 Or sky
- Matthew 13:33 Approx. 48 lb. or 39 l, a saton was approx. 16 lb. or 13 l
- Matthew 13:36 Or darnel, a weed resembling wheat
- Matthew 13:39 Or consummation
- Matthew 13:40 Or consummation
- Matthew 13:41 Or everything that is offensive
- Matthew 13:43 Or hear!, listen!; Gr imperative
- Matthew 13:49 Or consummation
- Matthew 13:49 Or separate
- Matthew 13:53 Lit And
- Matthew 13:54 Or His own part of the country
- Matthew 13:54 Or miracles
- Matthew 13:57 Or own part of the country
- Matthew 13:58 Or works of power
Matthew 13
King James Version
13 The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side.
2 And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.
3 And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;
4 And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:
5 Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:
6 And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.
7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:
8 But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.
9 Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
10 And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.
13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:
15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.
17 For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.
18 Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.
19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.
20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;
21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.
22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
24 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which 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 blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.
27 So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?
28 He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?
29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.
30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.
31 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field:
32 Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.
33 Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.
34 All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them:
35 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.
36 Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field.
37 He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;
38 The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;
39 The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.
40 As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.
41 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;
42 And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
43 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
44 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.
45 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:
46 Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
47 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind:
48 Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.
49 So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just,
50 And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
51 Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord.
52 Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.
53 And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these parables, he departed thence.
54 And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?
55 Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?
56 And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?
57 And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house.
58 And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.
Matteo 13
La Nuova Diodati
13 Ora, in quello stesso giorno Gesú, uscito di casa, si pose a sedere presso il mare.
2 E grandi folle si radunarono intorno a lui, cosí che egli, salito su una barca, si pose a sedere; e tutta la folla stava in piedi sulla riva.
3 Ed egli espose loro molte cose in parabole, dicendo: «Ecco, un seminatore uscí a seminare.
4 Mentre seminava, una parte del seme cadde lungo la strada; e gli uccelli vennero e lo mangiarono.
5 Un'altra cadde in luoghi rocciosi, dove non c'era molta terra, e subito germogliò perché il terreno non era profondo
6 ma, levatosi il sole, fu riarso e, perché non aveva radice, si seccò.
7 Un'altra cadde tra le spine; e le spine crebbero e la soffocarono.
8 E un'altra cadde in buona terra e portò frutto dando il cento, il sessanta, ed il trenta per uno.
9 Chi ha orecchi da udire, oda!».
10 Allora i discepoli, accostatisi, gli dissero: «Perché parli loro in parabole?».
11 Ed egli, rispondendo, disse loro: «Perché a voi è dato di conoscere i misteri del regno dei cieli, ma a loro non è dato.
12 Perché a chiunque ha sarà dato, e sarà nell'abbondanza, ma a chiunque non ha, gli sarà tolto anche quello che ha.
13 Perciò io parlo loro in parabole, perché vedendo non vedano, e udendo non odano né comprendano.
14 Cosí si adempie in loro la profezia d'Isaia, che dice: "Voi udirete ma non intenderete; guarderete ma non vedrete".
15 Perché il cuore di questo popolo è divenuto insensibile, essi sono diventati duri d'orecchi e hanno chiuso gli occhi, perché non vedano con gli occhi e non odano con gli orecchi, e non intendano col cuore e non si convertano, e io li guarisca
16 Ma, beati i vostri occhi perché vedono, e i vostri orecchi perché odono.
17 Perché in verità vi dico che molti profeti e giusti desiderarono vedere le cose che voi vedete e non le videro, e udire le cose che voi udite e non le udirono!
18 Voi dunque intendete la parabola del seminatore.
19 Quando qualcuno ode la parola del regno e non la comprende, il maligno viene e porta via ciò che era stato seminato nel suo cuore. Questi è colui che ha ricevuto il seme lungo la strada.
20 E quello che ha ricevuto il seme in luoghi rocciosi, è colui che ode la parola e subito la riceve con gioia
21 ma non ha radice in sé, ed è di corta durata; e quando sopraggiunge la tribolazione o persecuzione, a causa della parola, ne è subito scandalizzato.
22 E quello che ha ricevuto il seme fra le spine è colui che ode la parola, ma le sollecitudini di questo mondo e l'inganno delle ricchezze soffocano la parola; ed essa diviene infruttuosa.
23 Quello invece che riceve il seme nella buona terra, è colui che ode la parola, la comprende e porta frutto; e produce uno il cento, un altro il sessanta e un altro il trenta per uno».
24 Egli propose loro un'altra parabola dicendo: «Il regno dei cieli è simile a un uomo, che seminò buon seme nel suo campo.
25 Ma, mentre gli uomini dormivano, venne il suo nemico e seminò della zizzania in mezzo al grano, e se ne andò.
26 Quando poi il grano germogliò e mise frutto, apparve anche la zizzania.
27 E i servi del padrone di casa vennero a lui e gli dissero: "Signore, non hai seminato buon seme nel tuo campo? Come mai, dunque, c'è della zizzania?".
28 Ed egli disse loro: "un nemico ha fatto questo". Allora i servi gli dissero: "Vuoi dunque che andiamo e la estirpiamo?"
29 Ma egli disse: "No, per timore che estirpando la zizzania, non sradichiate insieme ad essa anche il grano.
30 Lasciate che crescano entrambi insieme fino alla mietitura; e al tempo della mietitura io dirò ai mietitori: Raccogliete prima la zizzania e legatela in fasci per bruciarla; il grano, invece, riponetelo nel mio granaio».
31 Egli propose loro un'altra parabola, dicendo: «Il regno dei cieli è simile a un granello di senape che un uomo prende e semina nel suo campo.
32 Esso è certamente il piú piccolo di tutti i semi, ma una volta cresciuto è il piú grande di tutte le erbe e diventa un albero, tanto che gli uccelli del cielo vengono a ripararsi tra i suoi rami».
33 Egli disse loro un'altra parabola: «Il regno dei cieli è simile al lievito, che una donna prende ed impasta con tre misure di farina finché tutta la pasta sia lievitata».
34 Gesú disse alle folle tutte queste cose in parabole, e parlava loro solo in parabole,
35 affinhé si adempisse ciò che fu detto dal profeta: «Io aprirò la mia bocca in parabole e rivelerò cose nascoste fin dalla fondazione del mondo».
36 Allora Gesú, licenziate le folle, se ne ritornò a casa e i suoi discepoli gli si accostarono, dicendo: «Spiegaci la parabola della zizzania a nel campo».
37 Ed egli, rispondendo disse loro: «Colui che semina il buon seme è il Figlio dell'uomo.
38 Il campo è il mondo, il buon seme sono i figli del regno, e la zizzania sono i figli del maligno,
39 e il nemico che l'ha seminata è il diavolo, mentre la mietitura è la fine del mondo, e i mietitori sono gli angeli.
40 Come dunque si raccoglie la zizzania e si brucia nel fuoco, cosí avverrà alla fine del mondo.
41 Il Figlio dell'uomo manderà i suoi angeli, ed essi raccoglieranno dal suo regno tutti gli scandali e gli operatori d'iniquità,
42 e li getteranno nella fornace del fuoco. Lì sarà pianto e stridor di denti.
43 Allora i giusti risplenderanno come Il sole nel regno del Padre loro. Chi ha orecchi da udire, oda!».
44 «Di nuovo, il regno dei cieli è simile ad un tesoro nascosto in un campo, che un uomo, avendolo trovato. nasconde; e, per la gioia che ne ha, va, vende tutto ciò che ha e compera quel campo.
45 Ancora, il regno dei cieli è simile ad un mercante che va in cerca di belle perle.
46 E, trovata una perla di grande valore, va, vende tutto ciò che ha, e la compera.
47 Il regno dei cieli è pure simile ad una rete gettata in mare, che raccoglie ogni sorta di cose.
48 Quando è piena, i pescatori la tirano a riva e, postisi a sedere, raccolgono ciò che è buono nelle ceste, mentre gettano via quello non buono.
49 Cosí avverrà alla fine del mondo, gli angeli verranno e separeranno i malvagi dai giusti
50 e li getteranno nella fornace del fuoco. Lí sarà pianto e stridor di denti.
51 Gesú disse loro: «Avete capito tutte queste cose?». Essi gli dissero: «Sì Signore».
52 Ed egli disse loro: «Perciò ogni scriba, ammaestrato per il regno dei cieli è simile a un padrone di casa che trae fuori dal suo tesoro cose nuove e vecchie».
53 Ora, quando Gesú ebbe finito queste parabole, se ne andò di là.
54 E, venuto nella sua patria, li ammaestrava nella loro sinagoga, sicché essi stupivano e dicevano: «Da dove ha ricevuto costui questa sapienza e queste potenti operazioni?
55 Non è costui il figlio del falegname? Sua madre non si chiama Maria e i suoi fratelli Giacomo, Iose, Simone e Giuda?
56 E le sue sorelle non sono tutte fra noi? Da dove ha egli dunque ricevuto queste cose?».
57 E si scandalizzavano di lui. Ma Gesú disse loro: «Nessun profeta è disprezzato, se non nella sua patria e in casa sua».
58 Ed egli non fece lí molte opere potenti a causa della loro incredulità.
Matthew 13
Revised Standard Version
The Parable of the Sower
13 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. 2 And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat there; and the whole crowd stood on the beach. 3 And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. 5 Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they had not much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, 6 but when the sun rose they were scorched; and since they had no root they withered away. 7 Other seeds fell upon thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. 8 Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9 He who has ears,[a] let him hear.”
The Purpose of the Parables
10 Then the disciples came and said to him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” 11 And he answered them, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 12 For to him who has will more be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 13 This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. 14 With them indeed is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah which says:
‘You shall indeed hear but never understand,
and you shall indeed see but never perceive.
15 For this people’s heart has grown dull,
and their ears are heavy of hearing,
and their eyes they have closed,
lest they should perceive with their eyes,
and hear with their ears,
and understand with their heart,
and turn for me to heal them.’
16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. 17 Truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.
The Parable of the Sower Explained
18 “Hear then the parable of the sower. 19 When any one hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in his heart; this is what was sown along the path. 20 As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away.[b] 22 As for what was sown among thorns, this is he who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the delight in riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. 23 As for what was sown on good soil, this is he who hears the word and understands it; he indeed bears fruit, and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”
The Parable of Weeds among the Wheat
24 Another parable he put before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field; 25 but while men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. 26 So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also. 27 And the servants[c] of the householder came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then has it weeds?’ 28 He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The servants[d] said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ 29 But he said, ‘No; lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.’”
The Parable of the Mustard Seed
31 Another parable he put before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed which a man took and sowed in his field; 32 it is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.”
The Parable of the Yeast
33 He told them another parable. “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven which a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened.”
The Use of Parables
34 All this Jesus said to the crowds in parables; indeed he said nothing to them without a parable. 35 This was to fulfil what was spoken by the prophet:[e]
“I will open my mouth in parables,
I will utter what has been hidden since the foundation of the world.”
Jesus Explains the Parable of the Weeds
36 Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples came to him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.” 37 He answered, “He who sows the good seed is the Son of man; 38 the field is the world, and the good seed means the sons of the kingdom; the weeds are the sons of the evil one, 39 and the enemy who sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the close of the age, and the reapers are angels. 40 Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the close of the age. 41 The Son of man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all evildoers, 42 and throw them into the furnace of fire; there men will weep and gnash their teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.
Three Parables
44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, 46 who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.
47 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net which was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind; 48 when it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into vessels but threw away the bad. 49 So it will be at the close of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous, 50 and throw them into the furnace of fire; there men will weep and gnash their teeth.
Treasures New and Old
51 “Have you understood all this?” They said to him, “Yes.” 52 And he said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.”
The Rejection of Jesus at Nazareth
53 And when Jesus had finished these parables, he went away from there, 54 and coming to his own country he taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished, and said, “Where did this man get this wisdom and these mighty works? 55 Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? 56 And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all this?” 57 And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house.” 58 And he did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief.
Footnotes
- Matthew 13:9 Other ancient authorities add here and in verse 43 to hear
- Matthew 13:21 Or stumbles
- Matthew 13:27 Or slaves
- Matthew 13:28 Or slaves
- Matthew 13:35 Other ancient authorities read the prophet Isaiah
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Copyright © 1991 by La Buona Novella s.c.r.l.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1946, 1952, and 1971 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.