Matthew 13
The Parable of the Sower
1 The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side.
2 And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore. Parallel theme: Matthew 4:25, 15:30, Genesis 49:10, Mark 4:1, Luke 5:3
3 And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow; Parallel theme: Matthew 13:53, 24:32, Psalms 49:4, 78:2, Mark 3:23, 4:13, 4:33, 12:1, 12:12, John 16:25 +5
4 And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:
5 Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: Parallel theme: Ezekiel 11:19, 36:26
6 And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. Parallel theme: Matthew 13:21, Isaiah 49:10, Luke 8:13, Ephesians 3:17, Colossians 1:23, 2:7, Revelation 7:16 +2
7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them: Parallel theme: Matthew 13:22, Genesis 3:18
8 But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. Good: Matthew 13:23, Luke 8:15. Parallel theme: Genesis 26:12, John 15:8, Philippians 1:11
9 Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. Parallel theme: Matthew 11:15, Mark 4:9, 4:23, Revelation 2:7, 2:11, 2:17, 2:29, 3:6, 3:13, 3:22 +5
The Purpose of Parables
10 And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.
13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:
15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. Parallel theme: Psalms 119:70, Isaiah 6:10, Jeremiah 17:14, Zechariah 7:11, Malachi 4:2, Mark 4:12, Acts 7:57, 2 Timothy 4:4, Hebrews 5:11 +4
16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.
17 For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them. Prophecy: Luke 10:24. Parallel theme: John 8:56, Hebrews 11:13
The Parable of the Sower Explained
18 Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.
19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side. Kingdom: Matthew 4:23, 13:38, Acts 20:25, 28:23. Evil: 1 John 3:12, 5:18. Word: Acts 18:15. Parallel theme: Acts 17:32, Romans 1:28, Hebrews 2:1 +5
20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;
21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.
22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
The Parable of the Weeds
24 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heavenHeaven: οὐρανός (Ouranos). The Greek ouranos (οὐρανός) denotes heaven—God's throne and the believer's eternal home. Jesus taught His disciples to pray 'Our Father which art in heaven' (Matthew 6:9) and promised to prepare a place there (John 14:2). is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: Kingdom: Matthew 13:31, 13:33, 13:47, 20:1, 22:2, 25:1, Luke 13:18, 13:20. Good: Matthew 13:37. Parallel theme: 1 Peter 1:23 +5
25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. Parallel theme: Matthew 13:39, 25:5, Galatians 2:4, Hebrews 12:15, 1 Peter 5:8, 2 Peter 2:1, Revelation 2:20, 12:9 +3
26 But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.
27 So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? Parallel theme: Romans 16:17, 1 Corinthians 16:10, 2 Corinthians 6:1, 6:4
28 He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?
29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.
30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.
The Parables of the Mustard Seed and Leaven
31 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field:
32 Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.
33 Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heavenHeaven: οὐρανός (Ouranos). The Greek ouranos (οὐρανός) denotes heaven—God's throne and the believer's eternal home. Jesus taught His disciples to pray 'Our Father which art in heaven' (Matthew 6:9) and promised to prepare a place there (John 14:2). is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened. Parallel theme: Proverbs 4:18, Luke 13:21, Galatians 5:9
34 All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them:
35 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophetProphet: προφήτης (Prophētēs). The Greek prophētēs (προφήτης) denotes a prophet—one who speaks forth God's message. Jesus was recognized as 'a prophet mighty in deed and word' (Luke 24:19), fulfilling and surpassing the prophetic office., saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.
The Parable of the Weeds Explained
36 Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field.
37 He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;
38 The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdomKingdom: βασιλεία (Basileia). The Greek basileia (βασιλεία) means kingdom—both the realm ruled and the exercise of royal authority. The 'kingdom of God' is central to Jesus' teaching, representing God's saving rule breaking into history.; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; Kingdom: Matthew 13:19. Evil: John 8:44, Acts 13:10. Parallel theme: Genesis 3:15, James 1:18, 1 Peter 1:23
39 The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. Evil: Matthew 13:49, Joel 3:13, Revelation 12:9. Parallel theme: Matthew 13:25, 24:3, 25:31, Ephesians 2:2, Hebrews 9:26, Revelation 13:14, 19:20 +5
40 As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.
41 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; Parallel theme: Matthew 13:49, 18:7, 24:31, Romans 2:16, Hebrews 1:14, Revelation 21:27
42 And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Parallel theme: Matthew 8:12, 13:50, 22:13, 25:41, Daniel 3:6, Revelation 14:10, 19:20, 20:10 +3
43 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdomKingdom: βασιλεία (Basileia). The Greek basileia (βασιλεία) means kingdom—both the realm ruled and the exercise of royal authority. The 'kingdom of God' is central to Jesus' teaching, representing God's saving rule breaking into history. of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
The Parables of Hidden Treasure and the Pearl
44 Again, the kingdom of heavenHeaven: οὐρανός (Ouranos). The Greek ouranos (οὐρανός) denotes heaven—God's throne and the believer's eternal home. Jesus taught His disciples to pray 'Our Father which art in heaven' (Matthew 6:9) and promised to prepare a place there (John 14:2). is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. Parallel theme: Matthew 6:21, 19:21, 19:27, 19:29, Proverbs 16:16, 23:23, Isaiah 55:1, Luke 14:33, Colossians 2:3, Revelation 3:18 +5
45 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Kingdom: Matthew 13:24. Parallel theme: Matthew 16:26, 22:5, Job 28:18, Ecclesiastes 12:13
46 Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it. Parallel theme: Matthew 13:44, Proverbs 2:4, Isaiah 33:6, Acts 20:24, Ephesians 3:8, Colossians 2:3
The Parable of the Net
47 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind: Kingdom: Acts 20:30. Parallel theme: Matthew 4:19, Mark 1:17, Luke 5:10, John 15:2, 15:6, 2 Corinthians 11:26, Galatians 2:4, Revelation 3:1 +4
48 Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away. Parallel theme: Matthew 3:12, 13:30
49 So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, Evil: Matthew 13:39. Parallel theme: Matthew 24:31
50 And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Parallel theme: Matthew 8:12, 13:42
51 Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord.
52 Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdomKingdom: βασιλεία (Basileia). The Greek basileia (βασιλεία) means kingdom—both the realm ruled and the exercise of royal authority. The 'kingdom of God' is central to Jesus' teaching, representing God's saving rule breaking into history. of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old. Kingdom: Ezra 7:21. Parallel theme: Matthew 12:35, 23:34, Ezra 7:10, Proverbs 15:7, 18:4, Luke 11:49, Colossians 1:7, 3:16, Titus 1:9 +5
Jesus Rejected at Nazareth
53 And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these parables, he departed thence.
54 And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?
55 Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? Parallel theme: Mark 6:3, Luke 3:23, 4:22, John 6:42, 19:25
56 And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?
57 And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophetProphet: προφήτης (Prophētēs). The Greek prophētēs (προφήτης) denotes a prophet—one who speaks forth God's message. Jesus was recognized as 'a prophet mighty in deed and word' (Luke 24:19), fulfilling and surpassing the prophetic office. is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house. Prophecy: Luke 4:24, John 4:44. References Jesus: John 6:42, 6:61. Parallel theme: Matthew 11:6, Isaiah 8:14, 49:7, 53:3, Luke 7:23 +4
58 And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief. Parallel theme: Romans 11:20