Matthew 13
Christian Standard Bible
The Parable of the Sower
13 On that day Jesus went out of the house and was sitting by the sea.(A) 2 Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat down, while the whole crowd stood on the shore.(B)
3 Then he told them many things in parables,(C) saying, “Consider the sower who went out to sow. 4 As he sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. 5 Other seed fell on rocky ground where it didn’t have much soil, and it grew up quickly since the soil wasn’t deep. 6 But when the sun came up, it was scorched, and since it had no root, it withered away. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns came up and choked it. 8 Still other seed fell on good ground and produced fruit: some a hundred, some sixty, and some thirty times what was sown.(D) 9 Let anyone who has ears[a] listen.”(E)
Why Jesus Used Parables
10 Then the disciples(F) came up and asked him, “Why are you speaking to them in parables?” (G)
11 He answered, “Because the secrets of the kingdom of heaven have been given for you to know,(H) but it has not been given to them. 12 For whoever has, more will be given to him, and he will have more than enough; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.(I) 13 That is why I speak to them in parables, because looking they do not see,(J) and hearing they do not listen or understand.(K) 14 Isaiah’s prophecy is fulfilled in them, which says:
You will listen and listen,
but never understand;
you will look and look,
but never perceive.(L)
15 For this people’s heart has grown callous;
their ears are hard of hearing,
and they have shut their eyes;
otherwise they might see with their eyes,
and hear with their ears, and
understand with their hearts,
and turn back—
and I would heal them.[b](M)
16 “Blessed are your eyes(N) because they do see, and your ears because they do hear.(O) 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.(P)
The Parable of the Sower Explained
18 “So listen to the parable of the sower: (Q) 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.(R) 20 And the one sown on rocky ground—this is one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy.(S) 21 But he has no root and is short-lived. When distress or persecution(T) 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(U) and the deceitfulness[c] of wealth(V) 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.(W) 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(X) 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(Y) presented another parable to them: “The kingdom of heaven(Z) 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.”(AA)
33 He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven[d] that a woman took and mixed into fifty pounds[e] of flour until all of it was leavened.”(AB)
Using Parables Fulfills Prophecy
34 Jesus told the crowds all these things in parables, and he did not tell them anything without a parable,(AC) 35 so that what was spoken through the prophet might be fulfilled:
I will open my mouth in parables;
I will declare things kept secret
from the foundation of the world.[f][g](AD)
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.”(AE)
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,(AF) 39 and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.(AG) 40 Therefore, just as the weeds are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age.(AH) 41 The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will gather from his kingdom all who cause sin[h] and those guilty of lawlessness.[i](AI) 42 They will throw them into the blazing furnace(AJ) where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.(AK) 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in their Father’s kingdom. Let anyone who has ears[j] listen.(AL)
The Parables of the Hidden Treasure and of the Priceless Pearl
44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure, buried in a field, that a man found and reburied. Then in his joy he goes and sells everything he has and buys that field.(AM)
45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls. 46 When he found one priceless[k] pearl, he went and sold everything he had and bought it.(AN)
The Parable of the Net
47 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a large net thrown into the sea. It collected every kind of fish,(AO) 48 and when it was full, they dragged it ashore, sat down, and gathered the good fish into containers, but threw out the worthless ones. 49 So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will go out, separate the evil people from the righteous,(AP) 50 and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.(AQ)
The Storehouse of Truth
51 “Have you understood all these things?”[l]
They answered him, “Yes.”
52 “Therefore,” he said to them, “every teacher of the law[m] who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom treasures new and old.”(AR)
Rejection at Nazareth
53 When Jesus had finished these parables, he left there. 54 He went to his hometown(AS) and began to teach them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?(AT) 55 Isn’t this the carpenter’s son?(AU) Isn’t his mother called Mary, and his brothers James,(AV) Joseph,[n] Simon, and Judas?(AW) 56 And his sisters, aren’t they all with us? So where does he get all these things?” 57 And they were offended by him.
Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his household.”(AX) 58 And he did not do many miracles there because of their unbelief.
Footnotes
- 13:9 Other mss add to hear
- 13:14–15 Is 6:9–10
- 13:22 Or pleasure
- 13:33 Or yeast
- 13:33 Lit three sata; about forty liters
- 13:35 Some mss omit of the world
- 13:35 Ps 78:2
- 13:41 Or stumbling
- 13:41 Or those who do lawlessness
- 13:43 Other mss add to hear
- 13:46 Or very precious
- 13:51 Other mss add Jesus asked them
- 13:52 Or every scribe
- 13:55 Other mss read Joses; Mk 6:3
Matthew 13
1599 Geneva Bible
13 1 The parable of the Sower. 11 and 34 Why Jesus spake in parables. 18 The exposition of the parable. 24 The parable of the tares. 31 Of the mustard seed. 33 Of the leaven. 44 Of the hidden treasure. 45 Of the pearl. 47 Of the draw net cast into the sea. 53 Christ is not received of his countrymen the Nazarites.
1 The (A)same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side.
2 [a]And great multitudes resorted unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat down: and the whole multitude stood on the shore.
3 Then he spake many things to them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow.
4 And as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up.
5 And some fell upon stony ground, where they had not much earth, and anon they sprung up, because they had no depth of earth.
6 And when the sun was up, they were parched, and for lack of rooting withered away.
7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprung up, and choked them.
8 And some again fell in good ground, and brought forth fruit, one corn an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, and another thirtyfold.
9 He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
10 ¶ Then the disciples came, and said to him, Why speakest thou to them in parables?
11 [b]And he answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
12 (B)For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have 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, do not see: and hearing, they hear not, neither understand.
14 So in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, which prophecy saith, (C)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 fat, and their ears are dull of hearing, and with their eyes they have winked, lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their hearts, and should return, that I might heal them.
16 [c]But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.
17 (D)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 ¶ (E)Hear ye therefore the parable of the Sower.
19 Whensoever any man heareth the word of that kingdom, and understandeth it not, that evil one cometh, and catcheth away that which was sown in his [d]heart: and this is he which hath received the seed by the way side.
20 And he that received seed in the stony ground, is he which heareth the word, and incontinently with joy receiveth it,
21 Yet hath he no root in himself, and endureth but a season: for as soon as tribulation or persecution cometh because of the word, by and by he is offended.
22 And he that received the seed among thorns, is he that heareth the word: but the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he is made unfruitful.
23 But he that received the seed in the good ground, is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it, which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, and some thirtyfold.
24 ¶ [e]Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like unto a man which sowed good seed in his field.
25 But while men slept, there came his enemy and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.
26 And when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.
27 Then came the servants of the householder, and said unto him, Master, sowest thou not good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?
28 And he said unto them, Some envious man hath done this. Then the servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?
29 But he said, Nay, lest while ye go about to gather the tares, ye pluck up also with them the wheat.
30 Let both grow together until the harvest, and in time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye first the tares, and bind them in sheaves to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.
31 ¶ (F)[f]Another parable he put forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like unto a grain of mustard seed, which a man taketh and soweth in his field:
32 Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and it is a tree, so that the birds of heaven come and build in the branches thereof.
33 ¶ (G)Another parable spake he to them, The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman taketh and hideth in three pecks of meal, till all be leavened.
34 ¶ (H)All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables, and without parables spake he not unto them,
35 That it might be fulfilled, which was spoken by the Prophet, saying, (I)I will open my mouth in parables, and will utter the things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.
36 Then sent Jesus the multitude away, and went into the house. And his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of that field.
37 [g]Then answered he, and said to them, He that soweth the good seed, is the son of man,
38 And the field is the world, and the good seed are the children of the kingdom, and the tares are the children of that wicked one.
39 And the enemy that soweth them, is the devil, (J)and the harvest is the end of the world, and the reapers be the Angels.
40 As then 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 (K)Then shall the just men shine as the sun in the kingdom of their father. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
44 ¶ [h]Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a treasure hid in the field, which when a man hath found, he hideth it, and for joy thereof departeth, and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.
45 ¶ Again, the kingdom of heaven is like to a merchant man that seeketh good pearls,
46 Who having found a pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.
47 ¶ [i]Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a draw net cast into the sea, that gathereth of all kinds of things.
48 Which, when it is full, men draw to land, and sit and gather the good into vessels, and cast the bad away.
49 So shall it be at the end of the world. The Angels shall go forth, and sever the bad from among the just,
50 And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
51 ¶ [j]Jesus said unto them, Understand ye all these things? They said unto him, Yea, Lord.
52 Then said he unto them, Therefore every Scribe which is taught unto the kingdom of heaven, is like unto an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things both new and old.
53 ¶ And it came to pass, that when Jesus had ended these parables, he departed thence,
54 (L)[k]And came into his own country, and taught them in their Synagogue, so that they were astonied, and said, Whence cometh this wisdom and great works unto this man?
55 Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother called Mary, (M)and his brethren James and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?
56 And are not his sisters all with us? Whence then hath he all these things?
57 And they were offended with him. Then Jesus said to them, (N)A Prophet is not without honor, save in his own country, and in his own house.
58 And he did not many great works there, for their unbelief’s sake.
Footnotes
- Matthew 13:2 Christ showeth in putting forth this parable of the Sower, that the seed of life which is sown in the world, cometh not on so well in one as in another, and the reason is, for that men for the most part either do not receive it, or suffer it not to ripen.
- Matthew 13:11 The gift of understanding and of faith is proper to the elect, and all the rest are blinded through the just judgment of God.
- Matthew 13:16 The condition of the Church under and since Christ, is better than it was in the time of the Fathers under the Law.
- Matthew 13:19 Though there be mention made of the heart yet this sowing is referred to hearing without understanding. For whether the seed be received in the heart or no, yet he that soweth, soweth to the heart.
- Matthew 13:24 Christ showeth in another parable of the evil seed mixed with the good, that the Church shall never be free and quit from offences, both in doctrine and manners, until the day appointed for the restoring of all things to come, and therefore the faithful have to arm themselves with patience and constancy.
- Matthew 13:31 God beginneth his kingdom with very small beginnings, to the end that by the growing on of it, beside the expectation and hope of all men, his mighty power and working may be the more set forth.
- Matthew 13:37 He expoundeth the former parable of the good and evil seed.
- Matthew 13:44 Few men understand how great the riches of the kingdom of heaven are, and no man can be partaker of them, but he that redeemeth them with the loss of all his goods.
- Matthew 13:47 There are many in the Church, which notwithstanding are not of the Church, and therefore at length shall be cast out: but the full and perfect cleansing of them is deferred to the last day.
- Matthew 13:51 They ought to be diligent, which have not only to be wise for themselves, but to dispense the wisdom of God to others.
- Matthew 13:54 Men do not only sin of ignorance, but also wittingly and willfully lay stumbling blocks in their own ways, that when God calleth them, they may not obey, and so most plainly destroy and cast away themselves.
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