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The Parable of the Sower

13 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach.(A) And he told them many things in parables, saying: “Listen! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell on a path, and the birds came and ate them up. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. But when the sun rose, they were scorched, and since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.(B) If you have ears,[a] hear!”(C)

The Purpose of the Parables

10 Then the disciples came and asked him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” 11 He answered, “To you it has been given to know the secrets[b] of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.(D) 12 For to those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance, but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away.(E) 13 The reason I speak to them in parables is that ‘seeing they do not perceive, and hearing they do not listen, nor do they understand.’(F) 14 With them indeed is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah that says:

‘You will indeed listen but never understand,
    and you will indeed look but never perceive.(G)
15 For this people’s heart has grown dull,
    and their ears are hard of hearing,
        and they have shut their eyes,
        so that they might not look with their eyes,
    and hear with their ears
and understand with their heart and turn—
    and I would heal them.’(H)

16 “But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear.(I) 17 Truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.(J)

The Parable of the Sower Explained

18 “Hear, then, the parable of the sower. 19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in the heart; this is what was sown on the path.(K) 20 As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, 21 yet such a person has no root but endures only for a while, and when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, that person immediately falls away.[c](L) 22 As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of this[d] age and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing.(M) 23 But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”(N)

The Parable of Weeds among the Wheat

24 He put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field,(O) 25 but while everybody was asleep an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and then went away. 26 So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared as well. 27 And the slaves of the householder came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where, then, did these weeds come from?’ 28 He answered, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The slaves said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ 29 But he replied, ‘No, for in gathering the weeds you would uproot the wheat along with them. 30 Let both of them grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Collect the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.’ ”(P)

The Parable of the Mustard Seed

31 He put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field;(Q) 32 it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.”(R)

The Parable of the Yeast

33 He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with[e] three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.”(S)

The Use of Parables

34 Jesus told the crowds all these things in parables; without a parable he told them nothing.(T) 35 This was to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet:[f]

“I will open my mouth to speak in parables;
    I will proclaim what has been hidden since the foundation.”[g](U)

Jesus Explains the Parable of the Weeds

36 Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples approached him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.” 37 He answered, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man; 38 the field is the world, and the good seed are the children of the kingdom; the weeds are the children of the evil one,(V) 39 and the enemy who sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels.(W) 40 Just as the weeds are collected and burned up with fire, so will it be at the end of the age.(X) 41 The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his kingdom all causes of sin[h] and all evildoers,(Y) 42 and they will throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.(Z) 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Let anyone with ears[i] listen!(AA)

Three Parables

44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and reburied; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.(AB)

45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; 46 on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.

47 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind;(AC) 48 when it was full, they drew it ashore, sat down, and put the good into baskets but threw out the bad. 49 So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous(AD) 50 and throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.(AE)

Treasures New and Old

51 “Have you understood all this?” They answered, “Yes.” 52 And he said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.” 53 When Jesus had finished these parables, he left that place.(AF)

The Rejection of Jesus at Nazareth

54 He came to his hometown and began to teach the people[j] in their synagogue, so that they were astounded and said, “Where did this man get this wisdom and these deeds of power?(AG) 55 Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas?(AH) 56 And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all this?” 57 And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “Prophets are not without honor except in their own hometown and in their own house.”(AI) 58 And he did not do many deeds of power there, because of their unbelief.

Footnotes

  1. 13.9 Other ancient authorities add to hear
  2. 13.11 Or mysteries
  3. 13.21 Or stumbles
  4. 13.22 Some ancient authorities read the
  5. 13.33 Gk hid in
  6. 13.35 Other ancient authorities read the prophet Isaiah
  7. 13.35 Other ancient authorities add of the world
  8. 13.41 Or stumbling
  9. 13.43 Other ancient authorities add to hear
  10. 13.54 Gk them

Liknelsen om såningsmannen

13 Samma dag gick Jesus hemifrån och satte sig vid sjön. Då samlades så mycket folk hos honom att han steg i en båt och satt i den medan allt folket stod på stranden. (A) Och han talade till dem i många liknelser. Han sade:

"En såningsman gick ut för att så. När han sådde föll en del vid vägen, och fåglarna kom och åt upp det. En del föll på stenig mark där det inte hade mycket mylla, och det kom upp snabbt eftersom det inte hade djup jord. Men när solen steg sveddes det, och eftersom det saknade rot vissnade det bort. En del föll bland tistlar, och tistlarna sköt upp och kvävde det. Men en del föll i god jord och gav skörd, hundrafalt[a] och sextiofalt och trettiofalt. (B) Hör, du som har öron!"

Endast liknelser åt folket

10 (C) Lärjungarna kom fram och frågade Jesus: "Varför talar du till dem i liknelser?" 11 Han svarade dem: "Ni har fått lära känna himmelrikets hemligheter, men de har inte fått det. 12 (D) Den som har ska få, och det i överflöd. Men den som inte har ska bli fråntagen också det han har.

13 Därför talar jag till dem i liknelser, för de ser utan att se och hör utan att höra eller förstå. 14 (E) För dem uppfylls Jesajas profetia:[b]

Ni ska höra och höra
        men inte förstå,
    och ni ska se och se
        men ändå inte se,
15 för detta folks hjärta
        är förhärdat.
    De hör illa med sina öron
        och de sluter sina ögon,
    så att de inte ser med sina ögon
        eller hör med sina öron
    eller förstår med hjärtat
        och vänder om så att
            jag får bota dem.

16 (F) Men saliga är era ögon som ser och era öron som hör. 17 Jag säger er sanningen: Många profeter och rättfärdiga längtade efter att få se det ni ser, men fick inte se det, och höra det ni hör, men fick inte höra det.

Liknelsens innebörd

18 (G) Så hör nu vad som menas med liknelsen om såningsmannen. 19 När någon hör ordet om riket men inte förstår det, kommer den onde och rycker bort det som såddes i hans hjärta. Detta är sådden vid vägen. 20 Det som såddes på stenig mark är den som hör ordet och genast tar emot det med glädje, 21 men han har ingen rot inom sig utan tror bara för en tid. När han möter lidande eller förföljelse för ordets skull så kommer han genast på fall. 22 (H) Det som såddes bland tistlar är den som hör ordet, men världsliga bekymmer och bedräglig rikedom kväver ordet så att det blir utan frukt. 23 Men det som såddes i god jord är den som hör ordet och förstår och bär frukt, hundrafalt och sextiofalt och trettiofalt."

Liknelsen om ogräset

24 Han lade fram en annan liknelse för dem: "Himmelriket är som en man som sådde god säd i sin åker. 25 Men medan folket sov, kom hans fiende och sådde ogräs mitt bland vetet och gick sedan sin väg. 26 När säden växte upp och gick i ax, visade sig också ogräset.

27 Då gick tjänarna till sin herre och sade: Herre, visst sådde du god säd i din åker? Varifrån kommer då ogräset? 28 Han svarade: Detta har en fiende gjort. Tjänarna frågade honom: Vill du att vi ska gå och samla ihop det? 29 Nej, svarade han, då kan ni rycka upp vetet samtidigt som ni rensar ut ogräset. 30 (I) Låt båda växa tillsammans fram till skörden. När skördetiden är inne, ska jag säga till skördemännen: Samla först ihop ogräset och bind det i knippen för att brännas. Men vetet ska ni samla in i min lada."

Liknelsen om senapskornet

31 (J) Han lade fram en annan liknelse för dem: "Himmelriket är som ett senapskorn[c] som en man tar och sår i sin åker. 32 (K) Det är minst av alla frön, men när det har växt upp är det störst av alla köksväxter och blir ett träd, så att himlens fåglar kommer och bygger bo bland grenarna."

Liknelsen om surdegen

33 (L) Ännu en liknelse gav han dem: "Himmelriket är som en surdeg, som en kvinna tar och blandar in i tre mått[d] mjöl tills alltsammans blir syrat."

34 Allt detta talade Jesus till folket i liknelser. Han talade bara i liknelser till dem, 35 för att det skulle uppfyllas som var sagt genom profeten: Jag vill öppna min mun för att tala i liknelser, förkunna vad som varit dolt sedan världens skapelse.[e]

Jesus förklarar liknelsen om ogräset

36 Sedan lämnade Jesus folket och gick hem. Hans lärjungar kom då fram till honom och sade: "Förklara liknelsen om ogräset i åkern för oss." 37 Han svarade: "Den som sår den goda säden är Människosonen. 38 (M) Åkern är världen. Den goda säden är rikets barn, ogräset är den ondes barn. 39 (N) Fienden som sådde det är djävulen. Skörden är tidens slut, och skördemännen är änglar. 40 Som när ogräset samlas ihop och bränns upp i eld ska det bli vid tidens slut. 41 Människosonen ska sända ut sina änglar, och de ska samla ihop ur hans rike allt som förleder och alla som gör orätt 42 (O) och kasta dem i den brinnande ugnen. Där ska man gråta och gnissla tänder. 43 (P) Då ska de rättfärdiga lysa som solen i sin Fars rike. Hör, du som har öron!

Liknelsen om skatten och pärlan

44 (Q) Himmelriket är som en skatt som ligger gömd i en åker. En man finner den och gömmer den igen, och i sin glädje går han och säljer allt han äger och köper den åkern.

45 Himmelriket är också som en köpman som sökte efter fina pärlor. 46 När han fann en mycket dyrbar pärla gick han och sålde allt han ägde och köpte den.

Liknelsen om fisknätet

47 (R) Himmelriket är också som ett nät som kastas i sjön och fångar fisk av alla de slag. 48 När det blir fullt drar man upp det på stranden och sätter sig och samlar de goda fiskarna i kärl, men de dåliga kastar man bort. 49 (S) Så ska det bli vid tidens slut. Änglarna ska gå ut och skilja de onda från de rättfärdiga 50 och kasta dem i den brinnande ugnen. Där ska man gråta och gnissla tänder. 51 Har ni förstått allt detta?" De svarade honom: "Ja."

52 Då sade han till dem: "Därför är varje skriftlärd som har blivit en himmelrikets lärjunge som en husbonde som ur sitt förråd hämtar fram både nytt och gammalt."

Jesus avvisas i Nasaret

53 När Jesus hade avslutat dessa liknelser gick han därifrån. 54 (T) Han kom till sin hemstad och undervisade dem i deras synagoga, och de blev häpna och sade: "Var får han den visheten och kraftgärningarna ifrån? 55 (U) Är det inte snickarens son? Heter inte hans mor Maria och hans bröder Jakob[f] och Josef och Simon och Judas[g]? 56 Och bor inte alla hans systrar[h] här hos oss? Så varifrån får han allt detta?" 57 (V) Och de tog anstöt av honom. Men Jesus sade till dem: "En profet föraktas inte utom i sin hemstad och i sin egen familj." 58 Och han gjorde inte många kraftgärningar där, eftersom de inte trodde på honom.

Footnotes

  1. 13:8 hundrafalt   En övernaturligt rik skörd (jfr 1 Mos 26:12). I förmodern tid har svenska skördar normalt gett mindre än tiofalt jämfört med utsädet.
  2. 13:14f Jes 6:9f.
  3. 13:31 senapskorn   Det minsta (1-2 mm) av alla frön som såddes av jordbrukare i Israels land. Senapsplantan (brassica nigra) kan fullvuxen nå en höjd av nästan tre meter.
  4. 13:33 tre mått   Grek. sáton eller seamått (se 1 Mos 18:6). Tre seamått motsvarade ca 36 liter mjöl.
  5. 13:35 Ps 78:2.
  6. 13:55 Jakob   Halvbror till Jesus, troligen troende först efter uppståndelsen (Joh 7:5, 1 Kor 15:7). Han blev sedan ledare för församlingen i Jerusalem (Apg 15:13) och författare till Jakobsbrevet.
  7. 13:55 Judas   Annan halvbror till Jesus, längre fram en kristen ledare och författare till Judasbrevet.
  8. 13:56 alla hans systrar   Enligt senare fornkyrklig tradition hette två systrar Maria och Salome.

The Parable of the Sower(A)(B)(C)

13 That same day Jesus went out of the house(D) and sat by the lake. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat(E) and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred,(F) sixty or thirty times what was sown. Whoever has ears, let them hear.”(G)

10 The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?”

11 He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven(H) has been given to you,(I) but not to them. 12 Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.(J) 13 This is why I speak to them in parables:

“Though seeing, they do not see;
    though hearing, they do not hear or understand.(K)

14 In them is fulfilled(L) the prophecy of Isaiah:

“‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding;
    you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.
15 For this people’s heart has become calloused;
    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.’[a](M)

16 But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear.(N) 17 For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see(O) but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.

18 “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom(P) and does not understand it, the evil one(Q) comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 20 The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.(R) 22 The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth(S) choke the word, making it unfruitful. 23 But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”(T)

The Parable of the Weeds

24 Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like(U) 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.’”(V)

The Parables of the Mustard Seed and the Yeast(W)(X)

31 He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like(Y) a mustard seed,(Z) 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.”(AA)

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

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

“I will open my mouth in parables,
    I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world.”[c](AG)

The Parable of the Weeds Explained

36 Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, “Explain to us the parable(AH) of the weeds in the field.”

37 He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man.(AI) 38 The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one,(AJ) 39 and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest(AK) is the end of the age,(AL) and the harvesters are angels.(AM)

40 “As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man(AN) will send out his angels,(AO) and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. 42 They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.(AP) 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun(AQ) in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear.(AR)

The Parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl

44 “The kingdom of heaven is like(AS) treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.(AT)

45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like(AU) a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46 When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.

The Parable of the Net

47 “Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like(AV) a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds(AW) of fish. 48 When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. 49 This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous(AX) 50 and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.(AY)

51 “Have you understood all these things?” Jesus asked.

“Yes,” they replied.

52 He said to them, “Therefore every teacher of the law who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.”

A Prophet Without Honor(AZ)

53 When Jesus had finished these parables,(BA) he moved on from there. 54 Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue,(BB) and they were amazed.(BC) “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?” they asked. 55 “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son?(BD) Isn’t his mother’s(BE) name Mary, and aren’t his brothers(BF) James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? 56 Aren’t all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” 57 And they took offense(BG) at him.

But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town and in his own home.”(BH)

58 And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 13:15 Isaiah 6:9,10 (see Septuagint)
  2. Matthew 13:33 Or about 27 kilograms
  3. Matthew 13:35 Psalm 78:2