Matthew 13

The Story of the Farmer

1 That same day Jesus left the house and sat by the Sea of Galilee.2 Large crowds gathered around him. So he got into a boat. He sat down in it. All the people stood on the shore.3 Then he told them many things by using stories.
He said, "A farmer went out to plant his seed.4 He scattered the seed on the ground. Some fell on a path. Birds came and ate it up.5 Some seed fell on rocky places, where there wasn't much soil. The plants came up quickly, because the soil wasn't deep.6 When the sun came up, it burned the plants. They dried up because they had no roots.7 Other seed fell among thorns. The thorns grew up and crowded out the plants.8 Still other seed fell on good soil. It produced a crop 100, 60 or 30 times more than what was planted.9 Those who have ears should listen."
10 The disciples came to him. They asked, "Why do you use stories when you speak to the people?"
11 He replied, "You have been given the chance to understand the secrets of the kingdom of heaven. It has not been given to outsiders.12 Everyone who has that kind of knowledge will be given more. In fact, they will have very much. If anyone doesn't have that kind of knowledge, even what little he has will be taken away from him.

13 Here is why I use stories when I speak to the people. I say,
"They look, but they don't really see.
They listen, but they don't really hear or understand.

14 "In them the words of the prophet Isaiah come true. He said,
" 'You will hear but never understand.
You will see but never know what you are seeing.

15 The hearts of these people have become stubborn.
They can barely hear with their ears.
They have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes.
They might hear with their ears.
They might understand with their hearts.
They might turn to the Lord, and then he would heal them.' (Isaiah 6:9,10)
16 "But blessed are your eyes because they see. And blessed are your ears because they hear.17 What I'm about to tell you is true. Many prophets and godly people wanted to see what you see. But they didn't see it. They wanted to hear what you hear. But they didn't hear it.
18 "Listen! Here is the meaning of the story of the farmer.19 People hear the message about the kingdom but do not understand it. Then the evil one comes. He steals what was planted in their hearts. Those people are like the seed planted on a path.20 Others received the seed that fell on rocky places. They are those who hear the message and at once receive it with joy.21 But they have no roots. So they last only a short time. They quickly fall away from the faith when trouble or suffering comes because of the message.22 Others received the seed that fell among the thorns. They are those who hear the message. But then the worries of this life and the false promises of wealth crowd it out. They keep it from producing fruit.23 But still others received the seed that fell on good soil. They are those who hear the message and understand it. They produce a crop 100, 60 or 30 times more than the farmer planted."

The Story of the Weeds

24 Jesus told the crowd another story. "Here is what the kingdom of heaven is like," he said. "A man planted good seed in his field.25 But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came. The enemy planted weeds among the wheat and then went away.26 The wheat began to grow and form grain. At the same time, weeds appeared.
27 "The owner's servants came to him. They said, 'Sir, didn't you plant good seed in your field? Then where did the weeds come from?'
28 " 'An enemy did this,' he replied.
"The servants asked him, 'Do you want us to go and pull the weeds up?'
29 " 'No,' the owner answered. 'While you are pulling up the weeds, you might pull up the wheat with them.30 Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the workers what to do. Here is what I will say to them. First collect the weeds. Tie them in bundles to be burned. Then gather the wheat. Bring it into my storeroom.' "

The Stories of the Mustard Seed and the Yeast

31 Jesus told the crowd another story. He said, "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed. Someone took the seed and planted it in a field.32 It is the smallest of all your seeds. But when it grows, it is the largest of all garden plants. It becomes a tree. Birds come and rest in its branches."
33 Jesus told them still another story. "The kingdom of heaven is like yeast," he said. "A woman mixed it into a large amount of flour. The yeast worked its way all through the dough."
34 Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd by using stories. He did not say anything to them without telling a story.

35 So the words spoken by the prophet came true. He had said,
"I will open my mouth and tell stories.
I will speak about things that were hidden since the world was made." (Psalm 78:2)

Jesus Explains the Story of the Weeds

36 Then Jesus left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him. They said, "Explain to us the story of the weeds in the field."
37 He answered, "The one who planted the good seed is the Son of Man.38 The field is the world. The good seed stands for the people who belong to the kingdom. The weeds are the people who belong to the evil one.39 The enemy who plants them is the devil. The harvest is judgment day. And the workers are angels.
40 "The weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire. That is how it will be on judgment day.41 The Son of Man will send out his angels. They will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin. They will also get rid of all who do evil.42 They will throw them into the blazing furnace. There people will sob and grind their teeth.43 Then God's people will shine like the sun in their Father's kingdom. Those who have ears should listen.

The Stories of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl

44 "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure that was hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again. He was very happy. So he went and sold everything he had. And he bought that field.
45 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a trader who was looking for fine pearls.46 He found one that was very valuable. So he went away and sold everything he had. And he bought that pearl.

The Story of the Net

47 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net. It was let down into the lake. It caught all kinds of fish.48 When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and gathered the good fish into baskets. But they threw the bad fish away.49 This is how it will be on judgment day. The angels will come. They will separate the people who did what is wrong from those who did what is right.50 They will throw the evil people into the blazing furnace. There the evil ones will sob and grind their teeth.
51 "Do you understand all these things?" Jesus asked.
"Yes," they replied.
52 He said to them, "Every teacher of the law who has been taught about the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house. He brings new treasures out of his storeroom as well as old ones."

A Prophet Without Honor

53 Jesus finished telling these stories. Then he moved on from there.54 He came to his hometown of Nazareth. There he began teaching the people in their synagogue. They were amazed.
"Where did this man get this wisdom? Where did he get this power to do miracles?" they asked.55 "Isn't this the carpenter's son? Isn't his mother's name Mary? Aren't his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas?56 Aren't all his sisters with us? Then where did this man get all these things?"57 They were not pleased with him at all.
But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not honored in his hometown. He doesn't receive any honor in his own home."
58 He did only a few miracles there because they had no faith.

Matthew 13

1 On that day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side.2 And there were gathered unto him great multitudes, so that he entered into a boat, and sat; and all the multitude stood on the beach.3 And he spake to them many things in parables, saying, Behold, the sower went forth to sow;4 and as he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the birds came and devoured them:5 and others fell upon the rocky places, where they had not much earth: and straightway they sprang up, because they had no deepness of earth:6 and when the sun was risen, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.7 And others fell upon the thorns; and the thorns grew up and choked them:8 and others fell upon the good ground, and yielded fruit, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.9 He that hath ears, let him hear.

10 And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?11 And he answered and said unto them, Unto you it is given 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 abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that which he hath.13 Therefore speak I to them in parables; because seeing they see not, and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.14 And unto them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall in no wise understand; And seeing ye shall see, and shall in no wise perceive:

15 For this people’s heart is waxed gross, And their ears are dull of hearing, And their eyes they have closed; Lest haply they should perceive with their eyes, And hear with their ears, And understand with their heart, And should turn again, 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 desired to see the things which ye see, and saw them not; and to hear the things which ye hear, and heard them not.18 Hear then ye the parable of the sower.19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the evil one, and snatcheth away that which hath been sown in his heart. This is he that was sown by the way side.20 And he that was sown upon the rocky places, this is he that heareth the word, and straightway with joy receiveth it;21 yet hath he not root in himself, but endureth for a while; and when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, straightway he stumbleth.22 And he that was sown among the thorns, this is he that heareth the word; and the care of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.23 And he that was sown upon the good ground, this is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; who verily beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

24 Another parable set he before them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man that sowed good seed in his field:25 but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares also among the wheat, and went away.26 But when the blade sprang up and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.27 And the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst thou not sow good seed in thy field? whence then hath it tares?28 And he said unto them, An enemy hath done this. And the servants say unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?29 But he saith, Nay; lest haply while ye gather up the tares, ye root up the wheat with them.30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather up first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them; but gather the wheat into my barn.

31 Another parable set he before them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like unto a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field:32 which indeed is less than all seeds; but when it is grown, it is greater than the herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the heaven 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 it was all leavened.

34 All these things spake Jesus in parables unto the multitudes; and without a parable spake he nothing unto them:35 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things hidden from the foundation of the world.

36 Then he left the multitudes, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Explain unto us the parable of the tares of the field.37 And he answered and said, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;38 and the field is the world; and the good seed, these are the sons of the kingdom; and the tares are the sons of the evil one;39 and the enemy that sowed them is the devil: and the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are angels.40 As therefore the tares are gathered up and burned with fire; so shall it be in the end of the world.41 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that cause stumbling, and them that do iniquity,42 and shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.43 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He that hath ears, let him hear.

44 The kingdom of heaven is like unto a treasure hidden in the field; which a man found, and hid; and in his joy he goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.

45 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is a merchant seeking goodly pearls:46 and having found one pearl of great price, he 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 filled, they drew up on the beach; and they sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but the bad they cast away.49 So shall it be in the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the righteous,50 and shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.

51 Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea.52 And he said unto them, Therefore every scribe who hath been made a disciple to the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is a householder, who bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.

53 And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished these parables, he departed thence.

54 And coming 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 Joseph, 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 honor, save in his own country, and in his own house.58 And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.