Matthew 13:31-46

New King James Version

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:

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.