Matthew 13

The Parable of the Sower

1 That [same] day Jesus went out of the house [and] sat by the sea. 2 [Such] large crowds gathered around Him that He got into a boat [and] sat down, while all the people stood on the shore. 3 And He told them many things in parables, saying, “A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 And as he was sowing, some [seed] fell along the path, and the birds came [and] devoured it. 5 Some fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But [when the] sun rose, [the seedlings] were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other [seed] fell among thorns, [which] grew up and choked [the seedlings] . 8 Still other [seed] fell on good soil and produced a crop— a hundredfold, sixtyfold, [or] thirtyfold. 9 He who has ears, ▼

▼BYZ and TR ears to hear

let him hear.”

The Purpose of Jesus' Parables

10 Then the disciples came to [Jesus] [and] asked, “Why do You speak to [the people] in parables?” 11 He replied, “The knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. 12 Whoever has will be given [more] , and he will have an abundance. Whoever [does] not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. 13 This is why I speak to them in parables: ‘Though seeing, they do not see; [though] hearing, they do not hear [or] understand.’ 14 In them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled: ‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. 15 For this people’s heart has grown callous; they hardly hear with [their] ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with [their] eyes, hear with [their] ears, understand with [their] hearts, and turn, and I would heal them.’ ▼

▼Isaiah 6:9,10

16 But blessed [are] your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. 17 For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous [men] longed to see what you see [but] did not see [it] , and to hear what you hear [but] did not hear [it] .

The Parable of the Sower Explained

18 Consider, then, the parable of the sower: 19 When anyone hears the message of the kingdom but {does} not understand [it] , the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the [seed] sown along the path. 20 The [seed] sown on rocky ground is the [one who] hears the word and promptly receives it with joy. 21 But since he has no root, he remains for only a season. [When] trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. 22 The [seed] sown among the thorns is the [one who] hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. 23 But the [seed] sown on good soil is the [one who] hears the word [and] understands [it] . [He] indeed bears fruit and produces a crop— a hundredfold, sixtyfold, or thirtyfold.”

The Parable of the Weeds

24 [Jesus] presented another parable to them: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. 25 But while everyone was asleep, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and slipped away. 26 When the wheat sprouted and bore grain, then the weeds also appeared. 27 The owner’s servants came to him [and] said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did [the] weeds {come from} ?’ 28 ‘An enemy did this,’ he replied. [So] [the] servants asked him, ‘ - Do you want us to go [and] pull them up?’ 29 ‘No,’ he said, ‘if you pull the weeds [now] , you might uproot the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather [the] wheat into my barn.’”

The Parable of the Mustard Seed

31 [Jesus] put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a man planted in his field. 32 Although it is [the] smallest of all seeds, yet it grows into the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.”

The Parable of the Leaven

33 He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took [and] mixed into three measures of flour, until all of it was leavened.”

I will Open My Mouth in Parables

34 Jesus spoke all these things to the crowds in parables. He did not tell them anything without using a parable. 35 So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet: “I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things hidden since [the] foundation [of the] world.” ▼

▼Psalm 78:2

The Parable of the Weeds Explained

36 Then [Jesus] dismissed the crowds [and] went into the house. His disciples came to Him [and] said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.” 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 represents the sons of the kingdom. [The] weeds are the sons of the evil [one] , 39 and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is [the] end of the age, and [the] harvesters are angels. 40 As the weeds are collected and burned in the fire, so will it be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will weed out of His kingdom every cause of sin and all who practice lawlessness. 42 And they will throw them into the fiery furnace, [where] there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, ▼

▼BYZ and TR ears to hear

let him hear.

The Parables of the Treasure and the Pearl

44 The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. [When a] man found [it] , he hid [it again] , and in [his] joy he went and sold all he had and bought that field. 45 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls. 46 When he found one very precious pearl, he went away [and] sold all he had and bought it.

The Parable of the Net

47 Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was cast into the sea and caught all kinds [of fish] . 48 When it was full, [the men] pulled [it] ashore. Then they sat down [and] sorted the good [fish] into containers, but threw the bad away. 49 So will it be at the end of the age: The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous, 50 and throw them into the fiery furnace, [where] there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 51 Have you understood all these things?” “Yes,” they answered. 52 Then He told them, “For this reason, every scribe who has been discipled in the kingdom of heaven is like a homeowner who brings out of his storeroom new [treasures] as well as old.”

The Rejection at Nazareth

53 When Jesus had finished these parables, He withdrew from that place. 54 Coming to His hometown, He taught [the people] in their synagogue, and they were astonished. “Where did this man get such wisdom and miraculous powers?” they asked. 55 “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t His mother’s name Mary, and [aren’t] His brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? 56 Aren’t all His sisters with us as well? Where then [did] this [man] [get] all these things?” 57 And they took offense at Him. But Jesus said to them, “Only in [his] hometown and in his own household is a prophet without honor.” 58 And He did not do many miracles there, because of their unbelief.