Matthew 13:19-38

19When anyone hears the word about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches what was sown in his heart; this is the seed sown along the path.

20The seed sown on rocky ground is the person who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy.

21But he has no root in himself and does not endure; when trouble or persecution comes because of the word, immediately he falls away.

22The seed sown among thorns is the person who hears the word, but worldly cares and the seductiveness of wealth choke the word, so it produces nothing.

23But as for the seed sown on good soil, this is the person who hears the word and understands. He bears fruit, yielding a hundred, sixty, or thirty times what was sown.”

24He presented them with another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a person who sowed good seed in his field.

25But while everyone was sleeping, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away.

26When the plants sprouted and bore grain, then the weeds also appeared.

27So the slaves of the owner came and said to him, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Then where did the weeds come from?’

28He said, ‘An enemy has done this.’ So the slaves replied, ‘Do you want us to go and gather them?’

29But he said, ‘No, since in gathering the weeds you may uproot the wheat with them.

30Let both grow together until the harvest. At harvest time I will tell the reapers, “First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned, but then gather the wheat into my barn.”’”

31He gave them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field.

32It is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest garden plant and becomes a tree, so that the wild birds come and nest in its branches.”

33He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed with three measures of flour until all the dough had risen.”

34Jesus spoke all these things in parables to the crowds; he did not speak to them without a parable.

35This fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet: “I will open my mouth in parables, I will announce what has been hidden from the foundation of the world.”

36Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples came to him saying, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.”

37He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man.

38The field is the world and the good seed are the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one,