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 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 4word, immediately he 56falls away. 22And the one sown with seed among the thorns, this is the one who hears the word, and the anxiety of 7the 8world and the 9deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it 10becomes 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 11a hundred, some sixty, and some thirty times as much.”

24Jesus presented another parable to them, saying, “12The kingdom of heaven 13is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. 25But while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed 14weeds among the wheat, and left. 26And when the 15wheat 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? 16How then does it have weeds?’ 28And he said to them, ‘17An 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 18gather the wheat into my barn.”’”

31He presented another parable to them, saying, “19The kingdom of heaven is like 20a 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 21the birds of the sky come and nest in its branches.”

33He spoke another parable to them: “22The kingdom of heaven is like 23leaven, which a woman took and hid in 24three 25sata 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 26without a parable. 35This was so that what was spoken through the prophet would be 27fulfilled: “28I 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 29the house. And His disciples came to Him and said, “30Explain to us the parable of the 31weeds of the field.” 37And He said, “The one who sows the good seed is 32the Son of Man, 38and the field is the world; and as for the good seed, these are 33the sons of the kingdom; and the weeds are 34the sons of 35the evil one;