The Parable of the Mustard Seed(A)

31 Another parable He put forth to them, saying: (B)“The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, 32 which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a (C)tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.”

The Parable of the Leaven(D)

33 (E)Another parable He spoke to them: “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three [a]measures of meal till (F)it was all leavened.”

Prophecy and the Parables

34 (G)All these things Jesus spoke to the multitude in parables; and without a parable He did not speak to them, 35 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying:

(H)“I will open My mouth in parables;
(I)I will utter things kept secret from the foundation of the world.”

The Parable of the Tares Explained

36 Then Jesus sent the multitude away and went into the house. And His disciples came to Him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the tares of the field.”

37 He answered and said to them: “He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. 38 (J)The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are (K)the sons of the wicked one. 39 The enemy who sowed them is the devil, (L)the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels. 40 Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. 41 The Son of Man will send out His angels, (M)and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, 42 (N)and will cast them into the furnace of fire. (O)There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 43 (P)Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. (Q)He who has ears to hear, let him hear!

The Parable of the Hidden Treasure

44 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and (R)sells all that he has and (S)buys that field.

The Parable of the Pearl of Great Price

45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, 46 who, when he had found (T)one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 13:33 Gr. sata, same as a Heb. seah; approximately 2 pecks in all

The Parables of the Mustard Seed and the Yeast(A)(B)

31 He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like(C) a mustard seed,(D) 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.”(E)

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

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

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

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(L) of the weeds in the field.”

37 He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man.(M) 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,(N) 39 and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest(O) is the end of the age,(P) and the harvesters are angels.(Q)

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(R) will send out his angels,(S) 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.(T) 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun(U) in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear.(V)

The Parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl

44 “The kingdom of heaven is like(W) 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.(X)

45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like(Y) 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.

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 13:33 Or about 27 kilograms
  2. Matthew 13:35 Psalm 78:2