Matthew 13:31–58
The Parables of the Mustard Seed and the Yeast
13:31,32pp—Mk 4:30–32
13:31–33pp—Lk 13:18–21
31 He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is liken a mustard seed,o which a man took and planted in his field. 32 Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.”p
33 He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is likeq yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty poundsb of flourr until it worked all through the dough.”s
34 Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable.t 35 So was fulfilledu what was spoken through the prophet:
“I will open my mouth in parables,
I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world.”c v
The Parable of the Weeds Explained
36 Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, “Explain to us the parablew of the weeds in the field.”
37 He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man.x 38 The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one,y 39 and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvestz is the end of the age,a and the harvesters are angels.b
40 “As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Manc will send out his angels,d and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. 42 They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.e 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sunf in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear.g
The Parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl
44 “The kingdom of heaven is likeh treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.i
45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is likej a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46 When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.
47 “Once again, the kingdom of heaven is likek a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kindsl of fish. 48 When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. 49 This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteousm 50 and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.n
51 “Have you understood all these things?” Jesus asked.
“Yes,” they replied.
52 He said to them, “Therefore every teacher of the law who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.”
53 When Jesus had finished these parables,o he moved on from there. 54 Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue,p and they were amazed.q “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?” they asked. 55 “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son?r Isn’t his mother’ss name Mary, and aren’t his brotherst James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? 56 Aren’t all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” 57 And they took offenseu at him.
But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town and in his own home.”v
58 And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.