Matthew 13:24-50

24Jesus presented another parable to them, saying, “1The kingdom of heaven 2may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field. 25But while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed 3tares among the wheat, and went away. 26But when the 4wheat 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? 5How then does it have tares?’ 28And he said to them, ‘An 6enemy 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 7gather the wheat into my barn.”’”

31He presented another parable to them, saying, “8The kingdom of heaven is like 9a 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 10the birds of the 11air come and nest in its branches.”

33He spoke another parable to them, “12The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in 13three 14pecks of flour until it was all leavened.”

34All these things Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables, and He did not speak to them 15without a parable. 35This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: “16I 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 17the house. And His disciples came to Him and said, “18Explain to us the parable of the 19tares of the field.” 37And He said, “The one who sows the good seed is 20the Son of Man, 38and the field is the world; and as for the good seed, these are 21the sons of the kingdom; and the tares are 22the sons of 23the evil one; 39and the enemy who sowed them is the devil, and the harvest is 24the 25end of the age; and the reapers are angels. 40So just as the tares are gathered up and burned with fire, so shall it be at 26the 27end of the age. 4128The Son of Man 29will send forth His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom 30all 31stumbling blocks, and those who commit lawlessness, 42and 32will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place 33there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 4334Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. 35He who has ears, 36let him hear.

44“37The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and 38sells all that he has and buys that field.

45“Again, 39the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, 46and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.

47“Again, 40the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet cast into the sea, and gathering fish of every kind; 48and when it was filled, they drew it up on the beach; and they sat down and gathered the good fish into containers, but the bad they threw away. 49So it will be at 41the 42end of the age; the angels will come forth and 43take out the wicked from among the righteous, 50and 44will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place 45there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.