Matthew 13:24–46

Parable of the Wheat and Tares

²⁴Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; ²⁵but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. ²⁶But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. ²⁷So 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?’ ²⁸He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The servants said to him, ‘Do you want us then to go and gather them up?’ ²⁹But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. ³⁰Let 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.” ’ ”

Parable of the Mustard Seed

Mark 4:30–32; Luke 13:18, 19

³¹Another 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, ³²which 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.”

Parable of the Leaven

Luke 13:20, 21

^33aAnother 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.”

^34cAll these things Jesus spoke to the multitude in parables; and without a parable He did not speak to them, ³⁵that 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

³⁶Then 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.”

³⁷He answered and said to them: “He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. ^38fThe field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are ^gthe sons of the wicked one. ³⁹The enemy who sowed them is the devil, ^hthe harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels. ⁴⁰Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. ⁴¹The 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, ^42jand will cast them into the furnace of fire. ^kThere will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. ^43lThen the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. ^mHe who has ears to hear, let him hear!

Parable of the Hidden Treasure

⁴⁴“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and ⁿsells all that he has and ^obuys that field.

Parable of the Pearl of Great Price

⁴⁵“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, ⁴⁶who, when he had found ^pone pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.