Matthew 13
1 The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side.
That same day, when Jesus had left the house and was sitting by the sea,
2 And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.
such great crowds gathered round him, that he got into a boat, and sat in it, while all the people stood on the beach.
3 And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;
Then he told them many truths in parables. ‘The sower,’ he began, ‘went out to sow; and,
4 And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:
as they were sowing, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.
5 Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:
Some fell on rocky places, where it had not much soil, and, because the soil wasn’t deep, sprang up at once.
6 And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.
As soon as the sun had risen, it was scorched, and, because their roots were not deep enough, withered away.
7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:
Some, again, fell into the brambles; but the brambles shot up and choked it.
8 But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.
Some, however, fell on good soil, and yielded a return, sometimes one hundred, sometimes sixty, sometimes thirty fold.
9 Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
Let those who have ears hear.’
10 And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
Afterwards his disciples came to him, and said, ‘Why do you speak to them in parables?’
11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
‘To you,’ answered Jesus, ‘the knowledge of the hidden truths of the kingdom of heaven has been imparted, but not to those.
12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.
For, to all who have, more will be given, and they will have abundance; but, from all who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away.
13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
That is why I speak to them in parables, because, though they have eyes, they do not see, and though they have ears, they do not hear or understand.
14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:
In them is being fulfilled that prophecy of Isaiah which says – “You will hear with your ears without ever understanding, and, though you have eyes, you will see without ever perceiving,
15 For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
for the mind of this nation has grown dense, and their ears are dull of hearing, their eyes also have they closed; otherwise some day they might perceive with their eyes, and with their ears they might hear, and in their mind they might understand, and might turn – and I might heal them.”
16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.
‘But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear;
17 For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.
for I tell you that many prophets and good people have longed for the sight of the things which you are seeing, yet never saw them, and to hear the things which you are hearing, yet never heard them.
18 Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.
‘Listen, then, yourselves to the parable of the sower.
19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.
When anyone hears the message of the kingdom without understanding it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in their mind. This is the person meant by the seed which was sown along the path.
20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;
By the seed which was sown on rocky places is meant the person who hears the message, and at once accepts it joyfully;
21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.
but, as they have no root, they stand for only a short time; and, when trouble or persecution arises because of the message, they fall away at once.
22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. (aiōn g165)
By the seed which was sown among the brambles is meant the person who hears the message, but the cares of life and the glamour of wealth completely choke the message, so that it gives no return. (aiōn g165)
23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
But by the seed which was sown on the good ground is meant the person who hears the message and understands it, and really yields a return, sometimes one hundred, sometimes sixty, sometimes thirty fold.’
24 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:
Another parable which Jesus told them was this – ‘The kingdom of heaven is compared to a person who sowed good seed in their field.
25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.
But, while everyone was asleep, their enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and then went away.
26 But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.
So, when the blades of corn shot up, and came into ear, the weeds made their appearance also.
27 So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?
The owner’s servants came to them, and said “Was not it good seed that you sowed in your field? Where, then, do the weeds in it come from?”
28 He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?
“An enemy has done this,” was the owner’s answer. “Do you wish us, then,” they asked, “to go and gather them together?”
29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.
“No,” said he, “because while you are pulling up the weeds you might uproot the wheat with them.
30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.
Let both grow side by side until harvest; and then I will say to the reapers, Gather the weeds together first, and tie them in bundles for burning; but bring all the wheat into my barn.”’
31 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field:
Another parable which he told them was this – ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a person took and sowed in his field.
32 Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.
This seed is smaller than all other seeds, but, when it has grown up, it is larger than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that “the wild birds come and roost in its branches.”’
33 Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.
This was another parable which Jesus related – ‘The kingdom of heaven is like some yeast which a woman took and covered up in three pecks of flour, until the whole had risen.’
34 All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them:
Of all this Jesus spoke to the crowd in parables; indeed to them he used never to speak at all except in parables,
35 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.
in fulfilment of these words in the prophet – “I will speak to them in parables; I will utter things kept secret since the foundation of the world.”
36 Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field.
Then Jesus left the crowd, and went into the house. Presently his disciples came to him, and said, ‘Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.’
37 He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;
He answered, ‘The sower of the good seed is the Son of Man.
38 The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;
The field is the world. By the good seed is meant the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the wicked,
39 The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the age; and the reapers are the angels. (aiōn g165)
and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest time is the close of the age, and the reapers are angels. (aiōn g165)
40 As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this age. (aiōn g165)
And, just as the weeds are gathered and burnt, so it will be at the close of the age. (aiōn g165)
41 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;
The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather from his kingdom all that hinders and those who live in sin,
42 And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
and will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.
43 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
Then will the righteous shine, like the sun, in the kingdom of their Father. If you have ears, listen.
44 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.
‘The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field, which a person found and hid again, and then, in their delight, went and sold everything that they had, and bought that field.
45 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:
‘Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of choice pearls.
46 Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
Finding one of great value, they went and sold everything that they had, and bought it.
47 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind:
Or again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net which was cast into the sea, and caught fish of all kinds.
48 Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.
When it was full, they hauled it up on the beach, and sat down and sorted the good fish into baskets, but threw the worthless ones away.
49 So shall it be at the end of the age: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, (aiōn g165)
So will it be at the close of the age. The angels will go out and separate the wicked from the righteous, (aiōn g165)
50 And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
and will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.
51 Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord.
‘Have you understood all this?’ Jesus asked. ‘Yes,’ they answered.
52 Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.
Then he added, ‘So every teacher of the Law, who has received instruction about the kingdom of heaven, is like a householder who produces from his stores things both new and old.’
53 And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these parables, he departed thence.
When Jesus had finished these parables, he withdrew from that place.
54 And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?
Going to his own part of the country, he taught the people in their synagogue in such a manner that they were deeply impressed. ‘Where did he get this wisdom?’ they said, ‘and the miracles?
55 Is not this the carpenter’s son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?
Isn’t he the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother called Mary, and his brothers James, and Joseph, and Simon, and Judas?
56 And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?
And his sisters, too – are not they all living among us? Where, then did he get all this?’
57 And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house.
These things proved a hindrance to their believing in him. But Jesus said, ‘A prophet is not without honour, except in his own country and in his own house.’
58 And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.
He did not work many miracles there, because of their want of faith.
