Why Jesus Used Parables

¹⁰ Then the disciples^(A) came up and asked him, “Why are you speaking to them in parables?” ^(B)

¹¹ He answered, “Because the secrets of the kingdom of heaven have been given for you to know,^(C) 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.^{(D) 13} That is why I speak to them in parables, because looking they do not see,^(E) and hearing they do not listen or understand.^{(F) 14} Isaiah’s prophecy is fulfilled in them, which says:

¹⁶ “Blessed are your eyes^(I) because they do see, and your ears because they do hear.^{(J) 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.^(K)

The Parable of the Sower Explained

¹⁸ “So listen to the parable of the sower: ^{(L) 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.^{(M) 20} And the one sown on rocky ground—this is one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy.^{(N) 21} But he has no root and is short-lived. When distress or persecution^(O) 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^(P) and the deceitfulness^[b] of wealth^(Q) 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.”

Why Jesus Used Parables

⁹ Then his disciples asked him, “What does this parable mean?” ^{(A) 10} So he said, “The secrets of the kingdom of God have been given for you^(B) to know, but to the rest it is in parables, so that

The Parable of the Sower Explained

¹¹ “This is the meaning of the parable:^(D) The seed is the word of God.^{(E) 12} The seed along the path are those who have heard and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. ¹³ And the seed on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy. Having no root, these believe for a while and fall away in a time of testing.^{(F) 14} As for the seed that fell among thorns, these are the ones who, when they have heard, go on their way and are choked with worries, riches, and pleasures of life,^(G) and produce no mature fruit. ¹⁵ But the seed in the good ground—these are the ones who, having heard the word with an honest and good heart, hold on to it and by enduring,^(H) produce fruit.

Using Your Light

¹⁶ “No one, after lighting a lamp,^(I) covers it with a basket or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a lampstand so that those who come in may see its light.^{(J) 17} For nothing is concealed that won’t be revealed, and nothing hidden that won’t be made known and brought to light.^{(K) 18} Therefore take care how you listen. For whoever has, more will be given to him; ^(L) and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken away from him.”

Using Your Light

²¹ He^(A) also said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket or under a bed?^(B) Isn’t it to be put on a lampstand?^{(C) 22} For there is nothing hidden that will not be revealed,^(D) and nothing concealed that will not be brought to light. ²³ If anyone has ears to hear, let him listen.”^{(E) 24} And he said to them, “Pay attention to what you hear. By the measure^(F) you use,^(G) it will be measured to you—and more will be added^(H) to you. ²⁵ For whoever has, more will be given to him, and whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.”^(I)

The Parable of the Growing Seed

²⁶ “The kingdom of God^(J) is like this,” he said. “A man scatters seed on the ground. ²⁷ He sleeps^(K) and rises^(L) night^(M) and day; the seed sprouts and grows, although he doesn’t know how. ²⁸ The soil produces a crop^(N) by itself—first the blade, then the head, and then the full grain^(O) on the head. ²⁹ As soon as the crop is ready, he sends for the sickle,^(P) because the harvest^(Q) has come.”

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.^{(A) 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^(B) 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 Parable of the Mustard Seed

³⁰ And^(A) he said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God,^(B) or what parable^(C) can we use to describe it? ³¹ It’s like a mustard seed^(D) that, when sown upon the soil, is the smallest of all the seeds on the ground. ³² And when sown,^(E) it comes up and grows taller than all the garden plants,^(F) and produces large branches, so that the birds of the sky^(G) can nest in its shade.”

Using Parables

³³ He was speaking the word^(H) to them with many parables^(I) like these, as they were able to understand.^{(J) 34} He did not speak to them without a parable. Privately, however, he explained everything to his own disciples.^(K)

The Parables of the Mustard Seed and of the Leaven

³¹ He^(A) presented another parable to them: “The kingdom of heaven^(B) 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.”^(C)

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

Using Parables Fulfills Prophecy

³⁴ Jesus told the crowds all these things in parables, and he did not tell them anything without a parable,^{(E) 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.”^(G)

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,^{(H) 39} and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.^{(I) 40} Therefore, just as the weeds are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age.^{(J) 41} The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will gather from his kingdom all who cause sin^[e] and those guilty of lawlessness.^{[f](K) 42} They will throw them into the blazing furnace^(L) where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.^{(M) 43} Then the righteous will shine like the sun in their Father’s kingdom. Let anyone who has ears^[g] listen.^(N)

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.^(O)

⁴⁵ “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls. ⁴⁶ When he found one priceless^[h] pearl, he went and sold everything he had and bought it.^(P)

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,^{(Q) 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,^{(R) 50} and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.^(S)

The Storehouse of Truth

⁵¹ “Have you understood all these things?”^[i]

They answered him, “Yes.”

⁵² “Therefore,” he said to them, “every teacher of the law^[j] 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.”^(T)

Wind and Waves Obey Jesus

³⁵ On^(A) that day, when evening had come, he told them, “Let’s cross over to the other side of the sea.” ³⁶ So they left the crowd and took him along since he was in the boat. And other boats were with him. ³⁷ A great windstorm^(B) arose, and the waves^(C) were breaking over the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. ³⁸ He was in the stern, sleeping^(D) on the cushion. So they woke him up^(E) and said to him, “Teacher! Don’t you care that we’re going to die?” ^(F)

³⁹ He got up, rebuked^(G) the wind, and said to the sea, “Silence!^(H) Be still!” The wind ceased, and there was a great calm. ⁴⁰ Then he said to them, “Why are you afraid?^(I) Do you still have no faith?”

⁴¹ And they were terrified^[a](J) and asked one another, “Who then is this? Even the wind and the sea obey^(K) him!” ^(L)

Wind and Waves Obey Jesus

²³ As he got into the boat,^(A) his disciples^(B) followed him. ²⁴ Suddenly, a violent storm arose on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves—but Jesus kept sleeping. ²⁵ So the disciples came and woke him up, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to die!”

²⁶ He said to them, “Why are you afraid, you of little faith?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the sea,^(C) and there was a great calm.

²⁷ The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the sea obey^(D) him!”