Matthew 13:24–43
Parable of the Wheat and Tares
24 Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; 25 but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. 26 But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. 27 So the servants of the owner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’ 28 He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The servants said to him, ‘Do you want us then to go and gather them up?’ 29 But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but xgather the wheat into my barn.” ’ ”
31 Another parable He put forth to them, saying: y“The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, 32 which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a ztree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.”
33 aAnother parable He spoke to them: “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three 3measures of meal till bit was all leavened.”
34 cAll these things Jesus spoke to the multitude in parables; and without a parable He did not speak to them, 35 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying:
d“I will open My mouth in parables;
eI will utter things kept secret from the foundation of the world.”
Parable of the Tares Explained
36 Then Jesus sent the multitude away and went into the house. And His disciples came to Him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the tares of the field.”
37 He answered and said to them: “He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. 38 fThe field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are gthe sons of the wicked one. 39 The enemy who sowed them is the devil, hthe harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels. 40 Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. 41 The Son of Man will send out His angels, iand they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, 42 jand will cast them into the furnace of fire. kThere will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 43 lThen the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. mHe who has ears to hear, let him hear!