Matthew 13:27-52

27“The owner’s workers came to him and asked, ‘Sir, didn’t you plant good seed in your field? Where did the weeds come from?’

28“He told them, ‘An enemy did this.’ “His workers asked him, ‘Do you want us to pull out the weeds?’

29“He replied, ‘No. If you pull out the weeds, you may pull out the wheat with them.

30Let both grow together until the harvest. When the grain is cut, I will tell the workers to gather the weeds first and tie them in bundles to be burned. But I’ll have them bring the wheat into my barn.’ ”

31Jesus used another illustration. He said, “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone planted in a field.

32It’s one of the smallest seeds. However, when it has grown, it is taller than the garden plants. It becomes a tree that is large enough for birds to nest in its branches.”

33He used another illustration. “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman mixed into a large amount of flour until the yeast worked its way through all the dough.”

34Jesus used illustrations to tell the crowds all these things. He did not tell them anything without illustrating it with a story.

35So what the prophet had said came true: “I will open my mouth to illustrate points. I will tell what has been hidden since the world was made.”

36When Jesus had sent the people away, he went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, “Explain what the illustration of the weeds in the field means.”

37He answered, “The one who plants the good seeds is the Son of Man.

38The field is the world. The good seeds are those who belong to the kingdom. The weeds are those who belong to the evil one.

39The enemy who planted them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the world. The workers are angels.

40Just as weeds are gathered and burned, so it will be at the end of time.

41The Son of Man will send his angels. They will gather everything in his kingdom that causes people to sin and everyone who does evil.

42The angels will throw them into a blazing furnace. People will cry and be in extreme pain there.

43Then the people who have God’s approval will shine like the sun in their Father’s kingdom. Let the person who has ears listen!

44“The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field. When a man discovered it, he buried it again. He was so delighted with it that he went away, sold everything he had, and bought that field.

45“Also, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant who was searching for fine pearls.

46When he found a valuable pearl, he went away, sold everything he had, and bought it.

47“Also, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea. It gathered all kinds of fish.

48When it was full, they pulled it to the shore. Then they sat down, gathered the good fish into containers, and threw the bad ones away.

49The same thing will happen at the end of time. The angels will go out and separate the evil people from people who have God’s approval.

50Then the angels will throw the evil people into a blazing furnace. They will cry and be in extreme pain there.

51“Have you understood all of this?” “Yes,” they answered.

52So Jesus said to them, “That is why every student of the Scriptures who has become a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like a home owner. He brings new and old things out of his treasure chest.”