Matthew 13:24-35

New International Version

The Parable of the Weeds

²⁴ Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like^(A) a man who sowed good seed in his field. ²⁵ But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. ²⁶ When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, 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.

“The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’

²⁹ “‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may 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 and bring it into my barn.’”^(B)

The Parables of the Mustard Seed and the Yeast^(C)(D)

³¹ He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like^(E) a mustard seed,^(F) which a man took and planted in his field. ³² Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.”^(G)

³³ He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like^(H) yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds^[a] of flour^(I) until it worked all through the dough.”^(J)

³⁴ Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable.^{(K) 35} So was fulfilled^(L) what was spoken through the prophet: