Matthew 13:36–53

The Parable of the Weeds Explained

³⁶Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, “Explain to us the parable^w of the weeds in the field.”

³⁷He 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 harvest^z 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. ⁴¹The Son of Man^c will send out his angels,^d and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. ⁴²They 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 sun^f 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 like^h 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 like^j a merchant looking for fine pearls. ⁴⁶When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.

The Parable of the Net

⁴⁷“Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like^k a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds^l of fish. ⁴⁸When 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. ⁴⁹This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous^{m 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.

⁵²He 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.”

A Prophet Without Honor

13:54–58pp—Mk 6:1–6

⁵³When Jesus had finished these parables,^o he moved on from there.