Matthew 13:19-38

19When anyone hears 1the 2word of the kingdom and does not understand it, 3the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is the one on whom seed was sown beside the road. 20The one on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, this is the man who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the 4word, immediately he 56falls away. 22And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word, and the worry of 7the 8world and the 9deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. 23And the one on whom seed was sown on the good soil, this is the man who hears the word and understands it; who indeed bears fruit and brings forth, some 10a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty.”

24Jesus presented another parable to them, saying, “11The kingdom of heaven 12may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field. 25But while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed 13tares among the wheat, and went away. 26But when the 14wheat sprouted and bore grain, then the tares became evident also. 27The slaves of the landowner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? 15How then does it have tares?’ 28And he said to them, ‘An 16enemy has done this!’ The slaves said to him, ‘Do you want us, then, to go and gather them up?’ 29But he said, ‘No; for while you are gathering up the tares, you may uproot the wheat with them. 30Allow both to grow together until the harvest; and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather up the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them up; but 17gather the wheat into my barn.”’”

31He presented another parable to them, saying, “18The kingdom of heaven is like 19a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field; 32and this is smaller than all other seeds, but when it is full grown, it is larger than the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that 20the birds of the 21air come and nest in its branches.”

33He spoke another parable to them, “22The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in 23three 24pecks of flour until it was all leavened.”

34All these things Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables, and He did not speak to them 25without a parable. 35This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: “26I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things hidden since the foundation of the world.”

36Then He left the crowds and went into 27the house. And His disciples came to Him and said, “28Explain to us the parable of the 29tares of the field.” 37And He said, “The one who sows the good seed is 30the Son of Man, 38and the field is the world; and as for the good seed, these are 31the sons of the kingdom; and the tares are 32the sons of 33the evil one;