Matthew 13
13
The Parable of the Sower
1On the same day Jesus went out of the house #Matt. 13:1–15; Mark 4:1–12; Luke 8:4–10and sat by the sea. 2#Luke 8:4And great multitudes were gathered together to Him, so that #Luke 5:3He got into a boat and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.
3Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: #Luke 8:5“Behold, a sower went out to sow. 4And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them. 5Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth. 6But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away. 7And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them. 8But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some #Gen. 26:12; Matt. 13:23a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9#Matt. 11:15; Mark 4:9; Rev. 2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”
The Purpose of Parables
10And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?”
11He answered and said to them, “Because #(Matt. 11:25; 16:17); Mark 4:10, 11; (John 6:65; 1 Cor. 2:10; Col. 1:27; 1 John 2:20, 27)it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 12#Matt. 25:29; Mark 4:25; Luke 8:18; 19:26For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. 13Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. 14And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says:
#Is. 6:9, 10; Ezek. 12:2; Mark 4:12; Luke 8:10; John 12:40; Acts 28:26, 27; Rom. 11:8; (2 Cor. 3:14, 15)‘Hearing you will hear and shall not understand,
And seeing you will see and not #(John 3:36)perceive;
15For the hearts of this people have grown dull.
Their ears #Ps. 119:70; Zech. 7:11; 2 Tim. 4:4; Heb. 5:11are hard of hearing,
And their eyes they have #Luke 19:42closed,
Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears,
Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn,
So that I should #Acts 28:26, 27heal them.’
16But #(Prov. 20:12; Matt. 16:17); Luke 10:23, 24; (John 20:29)blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear; 17for assuredly, I say to you #John 8:56; Heb. 11:13; 1 Pet. 1:10, 11that 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#Mark 4:13–20; Luke 8:11–15“Therefore hear the parable of the sower: 19When anyone hears the word #Matt. 4:23of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. 20But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately #Is. 58:2; Ezek. 33:31, 32; John 5:35receives it with joy; 21yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when #(Acts 14:22)tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately #Matt. 11:6; 2 Tim. 1:15he stumbles. 22Now #Matt. 19:23; Mark 10:23; Luke 18:24; 1 Tim. 6:9; 2 Tim. 4:10he who received seed #Jer. 4:3among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. 23But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears #(John 15:5); Phil. 1:11; Col. 1:6fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”
The Parable of the Wheat and the Tares
24Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; 25but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. 26But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. 27So the servants of the owner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’ 28He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The servants said to him, ‘Do you want us then to go and gather them up?’ 29But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. 30Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but #Matt. 3:12gather the wheat into my barn.” ’ ”
The Parable of the Mustard Seed
31Another parable He put forth to them, saying: #(Is. 2:2, 3; Mic. 4:1); Mark 4:30; Luke 13:18, 19“The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, 32which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a #Ps. 104:12; Ezek. 17:22–24; 31:3–9; Dan. 4:12tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.”
The Parable of the Leaven
33#Luke 13:20, 21Another parable He spoke to them: “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till #(1 Cor. 5:6; Gal. 5:9)it was all leavened.”
Prophecy and the Parables
34#Mark 4:33, 34; John 10:6; 16:25All these things Jesus spoke to the multitude in parables; and without a parable He did not speak to them, 35that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying:
#Ps. 78:2“I will open My mouth in parables;
#Rom. 16:25, 26; 1 Cor. 2:7; Eph. 3:9; Col. 1:26I will utter things kept secret from the foundation of the world.”
The Parable of the Tares Explained
36Then Jesus sent the multitude away and went into the house. And His disciples came to Him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the tares of the field.”
37He answered and said to them: “He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. 38#Matt. 24:14; 28:19; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:47; Rom. 10:18; Col. 1:6The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are #Gen. 3:15; John 8:44; Acts 13:10the sons of the wicked one. 39The enemy who sowed them is the devil, #Joel 3:13; Rev. 14:15the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels. 40Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. 41The Son of Man will send out His angels, #Matt. 18:7; 2 Pet. 2:1, 2and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, 42#Matt. 3:12; Rev. 19:20; 20:10and will cast them into the furnace of fire. #Matt. 8:12; 13:50There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 43#(Dan. 12:3; 1 Cor. 15:42, 43, 58)Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. #Matt. 13:9He who has ears to hear, let him hear!
The Parable of the Hidden Treasure
44“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and #Phil. 3:7, 8sells all that he has and #(Is. 55:1; Rev. 3:18)buys that field.
The Parable of the Pearl of Great Price
45“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, 46who, when he had found #Prov. 2:4; 3:14, 15; 8:10, 19one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.
The Parable of the Dragnet
47“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and #Matt. 22:9, 10gathered some of every kind, 48which, when it was full, they drew to shore; and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but threw the bad away. 49So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, #Matt. 25:32separate the wicked from among the just, 50and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”
51Jesus said to them, “Have you understood all these things?”
They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.”
52Then He said to them, “Therefore every scribe instructed concerning the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure #Song 7:13things new and old.”
Jesus Rejected at Nazareth
53Now it came to pass, when Jesus had finished these parables, that He departed from there. 54#Ps. 22:22; Matt. 2:23; Mark 6:1; Luke 4:16; John 7:15When He had come 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. 49:7; Mark 6:3; (Luke 3:23); John 6:42Is this not the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary? And #Matt. 12:46His brothers #Mark 15:40James, Joses, Simon, and Judas? 56And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this Man get all these things?” 57So they #Matt. 11:6; Mark 6:3, 4were offended at Him.
But Jesus said to them, #Luke 4:24; John 4:44“A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house.” 58Now #Mark 6:5, 6; John 5:44, 46, 47He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.
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Matthew 13: NKJV
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The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.
S. Matthew 13
13
1On that day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side. 2And there were gathered unto him great multitudes, so that he entered into a boat, and sat; and all the multitude stood on the beach. 3And he spake to them many things in parables, saying, Behold, the sower went forth to sow; 4and as he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the birds came and devoured them: 5and others fell upon the rocky places, where they had not much earth: and straightway they sprang up, because they had no deepness of earth: 6and when the sun was risen, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. 7And others fell upon the thorns; and the thorns grew up, and choked them: 8and others fell upon the good ground, and yielded fruit, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9He that hath ears, let him hear. 10And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? 11And 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. 12For 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. 13Therefore speak I to them in parables; because seeing they see not, and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. 14And 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: 15For 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. 16But blessed are your eyes, for they see; and your ears, for they hear. 17For 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. 18Hear then ye the parable of the sower. 19When 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. 20And he that was sown upon the rocky places, this is he that heareth the word, and straightway with joy receiveth it; 21yet hath he not root in himself, but endureth for a while; and when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, straightway he stumbleth. 22And 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. 23And 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.
24Another parable set he before them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man that sowed good seed in his field: 25but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares also among the wheat, and went away. 26But when the blade sprang up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. 27And 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? 28And 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? 29But he saith, Nay; lest haply while ye gather up the tares, ye root up the wheat with them. 30Let 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. 31Another 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: 32which 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. 33Another 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. 34All these things spake Jesus in parables unto the multitudes; and without a parable spake he nothing unto them: 35that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things hidden from the foundation of the world. 36Then 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. 37And he answered and said, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; 38and 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; 39and the enemy that sowed them is the devil: and the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are angels. 40As therefore the tares are gathered up and burned with fire; so shall it be in the end of the world. 41The 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, 42and shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be the weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He that hath ears, let him hear.
44The 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. 45Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is a merchant seeking goodly pearls: 46and having found one pearl of great price, he went and sold all that he had, and bought it. 47Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind: 48which, 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. 49So shall it be in the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the righteous, 50and shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be the weeping and gnashing of teeth. 51Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea. 52And 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, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.
53And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished these parables, he departed thence. 54And 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? 55Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joseph, and Simon, and Judas? 56And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things? 57And 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. 58And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.
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historical text maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society