Matthew 13:18-52

18“1Listen then to the parable of the sower. 19When anyone hears 2the 3word of the kingdom and does not understand it, 4the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is the one sown with seed beside the road. 20The one sown with seed on the rocky places, this is the one 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 occurs because of the 5word, immediately he 67falls away. 22And the one sown with seed among the thorns, this is the one who hears the word, and the anxiety of 8the 9world and the 10deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it 11becomes unfruitful. 23But the one sown with seed on the good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces, some 12a hundred, some sixty, and some thirty times as much.”

24Jesus presented another parable to them, saying, “13The kingdom of heaven 14is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. 25But while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed 15weeds among the wheat, and left. 26And when the 16wheat sprouted and produced grain, then the weeds also became evident. 27And the slaves of the landowner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? 17How then does it have weeds?’ 28And he said to them, ‘18An enemy has done this!’ The slaves said to him, ‘Do you want us, then, to go and gather them up?’ 29But he said, ‘No; while you are gathering up the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. 30Allow both to grow together until the harvest; and at the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather up the weeds and bind them in bundles to burn them; but 19gather the wheat into my barn.”’”

31He presented another parable to them, saying, “20The kingdom of heaven is like 21a mustard seed, which a person took and sowed in his field; 32and this is smaller than all the other seeds, but when it is fully grown, it is larger than the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that 22the birds of the sky come and nest in its branches.”

33He spoke another parable to them: “23The kingdom of heaven is like 24leaven, which a woman took and hid in 25three 26sata of flour until it was all leavened.”

34All these things Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables, and He did not speak anything to them 27without a parable. 35This was so that what was spoken through the prophet would be 28fulfilled: “29I will open My mouth in parables; I will proclaim things hidden since the foundation of the world.”

36Then He left the crowds and went into 30the house. And His disciples came to Him and said, “31Explain to us the parable of the 32weeds of the field.” 37And He said, “The one who sows the good seed is 33the Son of Man, 38and the field is the world; and as for the good seed, these are 34the sons of the kingdom; and the weeds are 35the sons of 36the evil one; 39and the enemy who sowed them is the devil, and the harvest is 37the 38end of the age; and the reapers are angels. 40So just as the weeds are gathered up and burned with fire, so shall it be at 39the 40end of the age. 4141The Son of Man 42will send forth His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom 43all 44stumbling blocks, and those who commit lawlessness, 42and they 45will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place 46there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 4347Then the righteous will shine forth like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. 48The one who has ears, 49let him hear.

44“50The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from 51joy over it he goes and 52sells everything that he has, and buys that field.

45“Again, 53the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, 46and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold everything that he had and bought it.

47“Again, 54the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered fish of every kind; 48and when it was filled, they pulled 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 55the 56end of the age: the angels will come forth and remove the wicked from among the righteous, 50and they 57will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place 58there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

51“Have you understood all these things?” They said to Him, “Yes.” 52And 59Jesus said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has become a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like a head of a household, who brings out of his treasure new things and old.”