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 was sowing, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and ate them up. 5Others fell on rocky ground, where there wasn’t much soil, and they sprang up quickly since the soil wasn’t deep. 6But when the sun came up they were scorched, and since they had no root, they withered. 7Others fell among thorns, and the thorns came up and choked them. 8Still others fell on good ground and produced a crop: some 100, some 60, and some 30 times what was sown. # Gn 26:12; Mt 13:23 9Anyone who has ears # Other mss add to hear should 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 do You speak to them in parables? ” # Mt 13:35; 15:15; 21:33,45; 22:1; 24:32
11He answered them, “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 13For this reason 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,
yet never understand;
and you will look and look,
yet never perceive. # Is 6:9; Mk 4:12; Lk 8:10; Jn 12:40; Ac 28:26-27; Rm 11:8
15For 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,
understand with their hearts
and turn back —
and I would cure them. # Is 6:10; Mt 15:8; Heb 5:11 # Is 6:9-10
16“But your eyes are blessed # Lk 10:23-24 because they do see, and your ears because they do hear! # Mt 16:17; Jn 20:29 17For I assure you: Many prophets and righteous people longed to see the things you see yet didn’t see them; to hear the things you hear yet didn’t hear them. # Jn 8:56; Heb 11:13; 1Pt 1:10-12
The Parable of the Sower Explained
18“You, then, listen to the parable of the sower: # Mk 4:13-20; Lk 8:11-15 19When anyone hears the word # Gk logos = word, or message, or saying, or thing 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 21Yet he has no root in himself, but is short-lived. When pressure 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 stumbles. 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 seduction # Or pleasure, or deceitfulness 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 bear fruit and yields: some 100, some 60, some 30 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 # Or darnel, a weed similar in appearance to wheat in the early stages among the wheat, and left. 26When the plants sprouted and produced grain, then the weeds also appeared. 27The landowner’s slaves # 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 gather them up? ’ the slaves asked him.
29“ ‘No,’ he said. ‘When you gather 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 store the wheat in my barn.’ ”
The Parables of the Mustard Seed and of the Yeast
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 vegetables 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 yeast that a woman took and mixed into 50 pounds # Lit 3 sata ; about 40 quarts of flour until it spread through all of it.” # Or 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 would not speak anything to them 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. # Ps 78:2; Rm 16:25-26; 1Co 2:7; Eph 3:9; Col 1:26 # Ps 78:2
Jesus Interprets the Wheat and the Weeds
36Then He dismissed the crowds and went into the house. His disciples approached Him and said, “Explain the parable of the weeds in the field to us.” # 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 sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons 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 everything that causes sin # Or stumbling and those guilty of lawlessness. # 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. Anyone who has ears # Other mss add to hear should 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 # 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. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. # Mt 8:12; 13:42
The Storehouse of Truth
51“Have you understood all these things? ” # Other mss add Jesus asked them
“Yes,” they told Him.
52“Therefore,” He said to them, “every student of Scripture # Or every scribe instructed in the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who brings out of his storeroom what is new and what is old.” # Mt 12:35; 28:19 53When Jesus had finished these parables, He left there.
Rejection at Nazareth
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, “How did this wisdom and these miracles come to Him? # 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, # 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.
But 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: HCSB
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© 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville, Tennessee. All rights reserved.
Matthew 13
13
The Parable of the Sower
(Mark 4.1-9; Luke 8.4-8)
1The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side. 2#Luke 5.1-3. And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore. 3And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow; 4and when he sowed, some seeds fell by the wayside, and the fowls came and devoured them up: 5some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: 6and 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 sprung up, and choked them: 8but other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some a hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. 9Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
The Purpose of the Parables
(Mark 4.10-12; Luke 8.9,10)
10And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? 11He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. 12#Matt 25.29; Mark 4.25; Luke 8.18; 19.26. For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. 13Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. 14#Isa 6.9,10. And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, which saith,
By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand;
and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:
15for this people's heart is waxed gross,
and their ears are dull of hearing,
and their eyes they have closed;
lest at any time they should see with their eyes,
and hear with their ears,
and should understand with their heart,
and should be converted, and I should heal them.
16 #
Luke 10.23,24. But 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 have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.
Jesus Explains the Parable of the Sower
(Mark 4.13-20; Luke 8.11-15)
18Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. 19When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the wayside. 20But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; 21yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. 22He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. 23But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
The Parable of the Wheat and the Tares
24Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which 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 blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. 27So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? 28He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? 29But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. 30Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.
The Parable of the Mustard Seed
(Mark 4.30-32; Luke 13.18,19)
31Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: 32which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.
The Parable of the Leaven
(Luke 13.20,21)
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 the whole was leavened.
Jesus' Use of Parables
(Mark 4.33,34)
34All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them: 35#Ps 78.2. that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying,
I will open my mouth in parables;
I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.
Jesus Explains the Parable of the Wheat and the Tares
36Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field. 37He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; 38the field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; 39the enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. 40As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. 41The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; 42and shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 43Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
The Hidden Treasure
44Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.
The Pearl of Great Price
45Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchantman, seeking goodly pearls: 46who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
The Net
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 full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away. 49So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, 50and shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
Treasures New and Old
51Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord. 52Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven, is like unto a man that is a householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.
Jesus Rejected at Nazareth
(Mark 6.1-6; Luke 4.16-30)
53And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these parables, he departed thence. 54And when he was come 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 Joses, and Simon, and Judas? 56And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things? 57#John 4.44. 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. 58And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.
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King James Version 1611, spelling, punctuation and text formatting modernized by ABS in 1962; typesetting © 2010 American Bible Society.