English Standard Version
Matthew 13:31
31He put another parable before them, saying, "The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field.
Matthew 13:31 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field:
- New International Version (NIV)He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field,
- New Living Translation (NLT)Here is another illustration Jesus used: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed planted in a field.
Context of Matthew 13:31
29But he said, 'No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. 30Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, "Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn."'" He put another parable before them, saying, "The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. 32It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches." 33He told them another parable. "The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened."
Read all of Matthew 13Matthew 13:31 word by word
Ἄλλην παραβολὴν παρέθηκεν αὐτοῖς λέγων· ὁμοία ἐστὶν ἡ βασιλεία τῶν οὐρανῶν κόκκῳ σινάπεως, ὃν λαβὼν ἄνθρωπος ἔσπειρεν ἐν τῷ ἀγρῷ αὐτοῦ·Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Anotherἄλλοςallos · anotherG243
- parableπαραβολήparabolē · parableG3850
- put he forthπαρατίθημιparatithēmi · to set beforeG3908
- unto themαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- sayingλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
- The kingdomὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- The kingdomβασιλείαbasileia · kingdomG932
- of heavenοὐρανόςouranos · heavenG3772
- isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- like toὅμοιοςhomoios · likeG3664
- a grainκόκκοςkokkos · seedG2848
- of mustard seedσίναπιsinapi · mustardG4615
- whichὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
- a manἄνθρωποςanthrōpos · a humanG444
- tookλαμβάνωlambanō · to takeG2983
- and sowedσπείρωspeirō · to sowG4687
- inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- fieldἀγρόςagros · fieldG68
Cross-references for Matthew 13:31
- Matthew 13:24He put another parable before them, saying, "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field,
- Luke 19:11As they heard these things, he proceeded to tell a parable, because he was near to Jerusalem, and because they supposed that the kingdom of God was to appear immediately.
- Luke 20:9And he began to tell the people this parable: "A man planted a vineyard and let it out to tenants and went into another country for a long while.
- Mark 4:30And he said, "With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it?
- Luke 13:18He said therefore, "What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it?
Commentaries on Matthew 13:31
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 31The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed - This parable is a representation of the progress of the Gospel in the world; and of the growth of grace in the soul. That grace which leads the soul to the fullness of glory may begin, and often does, in a single good desire - a wish to escape hell, or a desire to enjoy God in heaven.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 31See also Mark 4:30-32. The kingdom of heavens See the notes at Matthew 3:2. It means here either piety in a renewed heart or the church. In either case the commencement is small. In the heart it is at first feeble, easily injured, and much exposed. In the church there were few at first, ignorant, unknown, and unhonored; yet soon it was to spread through the world. Grain of mustard-seed - The plant here described was very different from that which is known…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 31-35Verses 31-35 The scope of the parable of the seed sown, is to show that the beginnings of the gospel would be small, but its latter end would greatly increase; in this way the work of grace in the heart, the kingdom of God within us, would be carried on. In the soul where grace truly is, it will grow really; though perhaps at first not to be discerned, it will at last come to great strength and usefulness. The preaching of the gospel works like leaven in…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 31-33Jesus used surprising and vivid images in these parables. He probably wanted to show how the kingdom of Heaven would grow through preaching the good news. More probably, he wanted to highlight the contrast between small beginnings and a glorious end. He also encouraged the disciples to be patient (see also Matthew 16:24–17:13).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 30-3930-39. Let both grow together--that is, in the visible Church. until the harvest--till the one have ripened for full salvation, the other for destruction. (See on Mt 13:39). and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers--(See on Mt 13:39). Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them--"in the fire" (Mt 13:40). but gather the wheat into my barn--Christ, as the Judge, will separate the two classes (as in Mt 25:32). It…Read the comment
Topics related to Matthew 13:31
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Matthew 13
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Catena Aurea
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- John Lightfoot Commentary
- Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
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