25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. 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? 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 dgather the wheat into my barn.

31 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, eThe kingdom of heaven is like to fa 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, ffit is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that gthe birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.

33 Another parable spake he unto them; hThe kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in ithree †measures of meal, till the whole was leavened. 34 kAll 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 prophet, saying, lI will open my mouth in parables; mI will utter things which have been kept secret nfrom the foundation of the world.

36 Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into othe house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us pthe 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 qthe world; the good seed are rthe children of the kingdom; but the tares are sthe children of tthe wicked one; 39 The enemy that sowed them is the devil; uthe harvest is xthe end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. 40 As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in xthe end of this world.