Matthew 13
13
The Parable of the Sower
1On that day Jesus went out of the house and was sitting by the sea.#Mk 4:1–12; Lk 8:4–10 2Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat down, while the whole crowd stood on the shore.#Mk 3:9; Lk 5:3
3Then he told them many things in parables,#Mt 13:10,34–36; 15:15; 21:33,45; 22:1; 24:32; Mk 4:2 saying, “Consider the sower who went out to sow. 4As he sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. 5Other seed fell on rocky ground where it didn’t have much soil, and it grew up quickly since the soil wasn’t deep. 6But when the sun came up, it was scorched, and since it had no root, it withered away. 7Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns came up and choked it. 8Still other seed fell on good ground and produced fruit: some a hundred, some sixty, and some thirty times what was sown.#Gn 26:12; Mt 13:23 9Let anyone who has ears#13:9 Other mss add to hear listen.”#Mt 11:15; 13:43; Lk 8:8; 14:35; Rv 2:7,11,17,29; 3:6,13,22
Why Jesus Used Parables
10Then the disciples#Mt 9:10; Mk 10:10; Lk 6:1; Jn 6:3; Ac 6:1 came up and asked him, “Why are you speaking to them in parables?” #Mt 13:35; 15:15; 21:33,45; 22:1; 24:32
11He answered, “Because the secrets of the kingdom of heaven have been given for you to know,#Mt 11:25; 19:11; Jn 6:65; 1Co 2:10; Col 1:27; 1Jn 2:20,27 but it has not been given to them. 12For 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.#Mt 25:29; Lk 8:18; 19:26; Jn 15:2; Jms 4:6 13That is why I speak to them in parables, because looking they do not see,#Dt 29:4; Is 42:19–20; Jr 5:21; Ezk 12:2 and hearing they do not listen or understand.#Mt 15:10; 16:12; 17:13; Mk 8:21 14Isaiah’s prophecy is fulfilled in them, which says:
You will listen and listen,
but never understand;
you will look and look,
but never perceive. #
Is 6:9; Mk 4:12; Lk 8:10; Jn 12:40; Ac 28:26–27; Rm 11:8
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. # 13:14–15 Is 6:9–10 #
Is 6:10; Mt 15:8; Heb 5:11
16 “Blessed are your eyes #
Lk 10:23–24
because they do see, and your ears because they do hear.#Mt 16:17; Jn 20:29 17For 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.#Jn 8:56; Heb 11:13; 1Pt 1:10–12
The Parable of the Sower Explained
18 “So listen to the parable of the sower: #
Mk 4:13–20; Lk 8:11–15 19When 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.#Mt 4:23; 5:37; 6:13 20And the one sown on rocky ground — this is one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy.#Is 58:2; Ezk 33:31–32; Mk 6:20; Jn 5:35 21But he has no root and is short-lived. When distress or persecution#Mk 4:17; 10:30; Ac 8:1; 13:50; Rm 8:35; 2Co 12:10 comes because of the word, immediately he falls away. 22Now the one sown among the thorns — this is one who hears the word, but the worries of this age#Rm 12:2; 2Tm 4:10; 1Jn 2:15 and the deceitfulness#13:22 Or pleasure of wealth#Mt 19:23; Mk 10:23; 1Tm 6:9–10; 2Tm 4:10 choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. 23But 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
24He presented another parable to them: “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field.#Mt 18:23; 20:1; 25:1; Mk 4:26,30 25But while people were sleeping, his enemy came, sowed weeds among the wheat, and left. 26When the plants sprouted and produced grain, then the weeds also appeared. 27The landowner’s servants#Mt 10:24; Col 3:11; 4:1; Rv 1:1 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. 30Let 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
31He#Mk 4:30–32; Lk 13:18–19 presented another parable to them: “The kingdom of heaven#Mt 13:24; 17:20; Lk 17:6 is like a mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. 32It’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.”#Ps 104:12; Ezk 17:23; 31:6; Dn 4:12
33He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven#13:33 Or yeast that a woman took and mixed into fifty pounds#13:33 Lit three sata; about forty liters of flour until all of it was leavened.”#Gn 18:6; Lk 13:21; Gl 5:9
Using Parables Fulfills Prophecy
34Jesus told the crowds all these things in parables, and he did not tell them anything without a parable,#Mk 4:34; Jn 10:6; 16:25 35so 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.#13:35 Some mss omit of the world#13:35 Ps 78:2#Ps 78:2; Rm 16:25–26; 1Co 2:7; Eph 3:9; Col 1:26
Jesus Interprets the Parable of the Wheat and the Weeds
36Then 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.”#Mt 13:3; 15:15; 21:33,45; 22:1; 24:32
37He replied, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man; 38the field is the world; and the good seed — these are the children of the kingdom. The weeds are the children of the evil one,#Mt 8:12; Jn 8:44; Ac 13:10; 1Jn 3:10 39and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.#Jl 3:13; Heb 9:26; Rv 14:15 40Therefore, just as the weeds are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age.#Mt 24:3; 28:20 41The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will gather from his kingdom all who cause sin#13:41 Or stumbling and those guilty of lawlessness.#13:41 Or those who do lawlessness#Zph 1:3; Mt 8:20; 18:7; 24:31 42They will throw them into the blazing furnace#Rv 1:15; 9:2 where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.#Mt 8:12; Rv 19:20; 20:10 43Then the righteous will shine like the sun in their Father’s kingdom. Let anyone who has ears#13:43 Other mss add to hear listen.#Dn 12:3; Mt 11:15; 1Co 15:42
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. #
Is 55:1; Php 3:7–8; Rv 3:18
45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls. 46When he found one priceless#13:46 Or very precious pearl, he went and sold everything he had and bought it.#Pr 2:4; Mt 7:6
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, #
Mt 3:2; 13:44; 22:10 48and when it was full, they dragged it ashore, sat down, and gathered the good fish into containers, but threw out the worthless ones. 49So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will go out, separate the evil people from the righteous,#Mt 13:39–40; 25:32 50and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.#Mt 8:12; 13:42
The Storehouse of Truth
51 “Have you understood all these things?” # 13:51 Other mss add Jesus asked them
They answered him, “Yes.”
52 “Therefore,” he said to them, “every teacher of the law#13:52 Or every scribe 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.”#Mt 12:35; 28:19
Rejection at Nazareth
53When Jesus had finished these parables, he left there. 54He went to his hometown#Mk 6:1–6; Lk 4:16–30 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?#Mt 2:23; 4:23; 7:28 55Isn’t this the carpenter’s son?#Mt 13:55; Mk 6:3; Lk 3:23; Jn 6:42 Isn’t his mother called Mary, and his brothers James,#Jms 1:1; Jd 1 Joseph,#13:55 Other mss read Joses; Mk 6:3 Simon, and Judas?#Mt 12:46; Jn 7:5 56And his sisters, aren’t they all with us? So where does he get all these things?” 57And they were offended by him.
Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his household.”#Jr 11:21; 12:6; Lk 4:24; Jn 4:44 58And he did not do many miracles there because of their unbelief.
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Matthew 13: CSB
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© 2017 Holman Bible Publishers
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 through 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 the 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 the 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, who 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 honor, 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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