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The Gospel According to St. Matthew

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- Chapter 13 -

(Mark 4:1–9; Luke 8:4–8)
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,(a) let him hear.”

The Purpose of Jesus’ Parables

(Isaiah 6:1–13; Mark 4:10–12; Luke 8:9–10)
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.’(b)
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.’(c)
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

(Mark 4:13–20; Luke 8:11–15)
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 (d) along the path.
20
The seed sown on rocky ground is the one who hears the word and at once 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

(Ezekiel 17:1–10)
24
Jesus put before them another parable: “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

(Mark 4:30–34; Luke 13:18–19)
31
He 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

(Luke 13:20–21)
33
He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and mixed into three measures of flour, until all of it was leavened.”

I Will Open My Mouth in Parables

(Psalm 78:1–72)
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.”(e)

The Parable of the Weeds Explained

(Zephaniah 1:1–6)
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.(f) He who has ears, 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

(Mark 6:1–6; Luke 4:16–30)
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,(g) 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.

Footnotes

(a)13:9 BYZ and TR ears to hear; also in verse 43
(b)13:13 See Deuteronomy 29:4, Isaiah 42:20, Jeremiah 5:21, and Ezekiel 12:2.
(c)13:15 Isaiah 6:9–10 (see also LXX)
(d)13:19 Literally the one sown; also in verses 20, 22, and 23
(e)13:35 Psalms 78:2 (see also LXX); SBL, NE, and WH do not include of the world.
(f)13:43 See Daniel 12:3.
(g)13:55 BYZ and TR Joses; see Mark 6:3.
(Mark 4:1–9; Luke 8:4–8)
1
On that day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the seaside.
2
Great multitudes gathered to him, so that he entered into a boat and sat; and all the multitude stood on the beach.
3
He spoke to them many things in parables, saying, “Behold, a farmer went out to sow.
4
As he sowed, some seeds fell by the roadside, and the birds came and devoured them.
5
Others fell on rocky ground, where they didn’t have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, because they had no depth of earth.
6
When the sun had risen, they were scorched. Because they had no root, they withered away.
7
Others fell among thorns. The thorns grew up and choked them.
8
Others fell on good soil and yielded fruit: some one hundred times as much, some sixty, and some thirty.
9
He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

The Purpose of Jesus’ Parables

(Isaiah 6:1–13; Mark 4:10–12; Luke 8:9–10)
10
The disciples came, and said to him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?”
11
He answered them, “To you it is given to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, but it is not given to them.
12
For whoever has, to him will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever doesn’t have, from him will be taken away even that which he has.
13
Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they don’t see, and hearing, they don’t hear, neither do they understand.
14
In them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says, ‘By hearing you will hear, and will in no way understand; Seeing you will see, and will in no way perceive;
15
for this people’s heart has grown callous, their ears are dull of hearing, and they have closed their eyes; or else perhaps they might perceive with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their heart, and would turn again, and I would heal them.’ (a)
16
“But blessed are your eyes, for they see; and your ears, for they hear.
17
For most certainly I tell you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see the things which you see, and didn’t see them; and to hear the things which you hear, and didn’t hear them.

The Parable of the Sower Explained

(Mark 4:13–20; Luke 8:11–15)
18
“Hear, then, the parable of the farmer.
19
When anyone hears the word of the Kingdom and doesn’t understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away that which has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown by the roadside.
20
What was sown on the rocky places, this is he who hears the word and immediately with joy receives it;
21
yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while. When oppression or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles.
22
What was sown among the thorns, this is he who hears the word, but the cares of this age and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.
23
What was sown on the good ground, this is he who hears the word and understands it, who most certainly bears fruit and produces, some one hundred times as much, some sixty, and some thirty.”

The Parable of the Weeds

(Ezekiel 17:1–10)
24
He set another parable before them, saying, “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field,
25
but while people slept, his enemy came and sowed darnel weeds (b) also among the wheat, and went away.
26
But when the blade sprang up and produced grain, then the darnel weeds appeared also.
27
The servants of the householder came and said to him, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where did these darnel weeds come from?’
28
“He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ “The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and gather them up?’
29
“But he said, ‘No, lest perhaps while you gather up the darnel weeds, you root up the wheat with them.
30
Let both grow together until the harvest, and in the harvest time I will tell the reapers, “First, gather up the darnel weeds, and bind them in bundles to burn them; but gather the wheat into my barn.”’”

The Parable of the Mustard Seed

(Mark 4:30–34; Luke 13:18–19)
31
He set another parable before them, saying, “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a grain of mustard seed which a man took, and sowed in his field,
32
which indeed is smaller than all seeds. But when it is grown, it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in its branches.”

The Parable of the Leaven

(Luke 13:20–21)
33
He spoke another parable to them. “The Kingdom of Heaven is like yeast which a woman took and hid in three measures (c) of meal, until it was all leavened.”

I Will Open My Mouth in Parables

(Psalm 78:1–72)
34
Jesus spoke all these things in parables to the multitudes; and without a parable, he didn’t speak to 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.”(d)

The Parable of the Weeds Explained

(Zephaniah 1:1–6)
36
Then Jesus sent the multitudes away, and went into the house. His disciples came to him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the darnel weeds of the field.”
37
He answered them, “He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man,
38
the field is the world, the good seeds are the children of the Kingdom, and the darnel weeds are the children of the evil one.
39
The enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels.
40
As therefore the darnel weeds are gathered up and burned with fire; so will it be at the end of this age.
41
The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will gather out of his Kingdom all things that cause stumbling and those who do iniquity,
42
and will cast them into the furnace of fire. 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 to hear, let him hear.

The Parables of the Treasure and the Pearl

44
“Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid. In his joy, he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
45
“Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who is a merchant seeking fine pearls,
46
who having found one pearl of great price, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.

The Parable of the Net

47
“Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some fish of every kind,
48
which, when it was filled, fishermen drew up on the beach. They sat down and gathered the good into containers, but the bad they threw away.
49
So it will be in the end of the world. (e) The angels will come and separate the wicked from among the righteous,
50
and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
51
Jesus said to them, “Have you understood all these things?” They answered him, “Yes, Lord.”
52
He said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has been made a disciple in the Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who is a householder, who brings out of his treasure new and old things.”

The Rejection at Nazareth

(Mark 6:1–6; Luke 4:16–30)
53
When Jesus had finished these parables, he departed from there.
54
Coming into 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
Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother called Mary, and his brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas?(f)
56
Aren’t all of his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all of these things?”
57
They were offended by him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country and in his own house.”
58
He didn’t do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

Footnotes

(a)13:15 ℘ Isaiah 6:9-10
(b)13:25 darnel is a weed grass (probably bearded darnel or lolium temulentum) that looks very much like wheat until it is mature, when the difference becomes very apparent.
(c)13:33 literally, three sata. Three sata is about 39 liters or a bit more than a bushel
(d)13:35 ℘ Psalms 78:2
(e)13:49 or, end of the age.
(f)13:55 or, Judah
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