Matthew 13:31–53

The Parable of the Mustard Seed

31 He put before them another parable, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a man took and* sowed in his field. 32 ⌊It⌋m is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it is grown it is larger than the garden herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the sky come and nest in its branches.”

The Parable of the Yeast

33 He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and* put into three measures of wheat flour until the whole batch was leavened.”

Parables Fulfill Prophecy

34 Jesus spoke all these things to the crowds in parables, and he was saying nothing to them without a parable, 35 in order that what was spoken through the prophet would be fulfilled, who said,

“I will open my mouth in parables;

I will proclaim what has been hidden since the creation.”n o

The Parable of the Weeds Interpreted

36 Then he left the crowds and* came into the house, and his disciples came to him saying, “Explain the parable of the darnel in the field to us.” 37 So he answered and* said, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man, 38 and the field is the world. And the good seed—these are the sons of the kingdom, but the darnel are the sons of the evil one. 39 And the enemy who sowed them is the devil, and the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. 40 Thus just as the darnel is gathered and burnedp with fire, so it will be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send out his angels and they will gather out of his kingdom all the causes of sin and those who do lawless deeds, 42 and throw them into the fiery furnace.q In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth! 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.r The one who has ears, let him hear!

The Parable of the Treasure Hidden in a Field

44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, that a man found and* concealed, and in his joy he goes and sells everything that he has and buys that field.

The Parable of the Valuable Pearl

45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls. 46 And when he* found one very valuable pearl, he went and* sold everything that he possessed and purchased it.

The Parable of the Dragnet

47 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was thrown into the sea and gathered fish* of every kind, 48 which when it was filled they pulled to shore and sat down and* collected the good fish* into containers, but the bad they threw out. 49 Thus it will be at the end of the age. The angels will go out and separate the evil from among the righteous 50 and throw them into the fiery furnace.s In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth!

51 “Have you understood all these things?” They said to him, “Yes.” 52 And he said to them, “For this reason every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of the house who brings out of his storeroom new things and old things.”

Rejected at Nazareth

53 And it happened that when Jesus had finished these parables he went away from there.