Matthew 13

1That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake.

2Such large crowds gathered around Jesus that He got into a boat and sat down, while all the people stood on the shore.

3Then Jesus told them many things using teaching stories. He said: A farmer went out to plant his seed.

4As the farmer scattered the seed, some fell on the path, and the birds came and ate it up.

5Some fell on rocky ground, where there was not much soil. It grew quickly, because the soil was not deep.

6But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they dried up because they had no roots.

7Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked the plants.

8But some seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop — a hundred, sixty, or thirty times what was planted.

9Anyone who has ears should listen.

10The disciples came to Jesus and asked: Why do You speak to the people in teaching stories?

11Jesus answered: You have been allowed to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but they have not.

12Those who have something will be given more, and they will have plenty. But those who have nothing will lose even what they have.

13This is why I speak to them in teaching stories: Though they see, they do not really see; though they hear, they do not really hear or understand.

14In them the words of the prophet Isaiah come true: You will hear and hear, but never understand. You will look and look, but never see.

15For these people have become stubborn. They hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, turn to me, and be healed.

16But blessed are your eyes, because they see, and your ears, because they hear.

17I tell you the truth, many prophets and good people wanted to see what you see, but they did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but they did not hear it.

18So listen to what the teaching story of the farmer means.

19When people hear the message about the kingdom and do not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was planted in their hearts. This is the seed planted on the path.

20The seed planted on rocky ground is the person who hears the message and right away receives it with joy.

21But since that person has no root, that person lasts only a short time. When trouble or suffering comes because of the message, that person quickly gives up.

22The seed planted among thorns is the person who hears the message, but the worries of this life and the love of money choke it, so that it produces nothing.

23But the seed planted on good soil is the person who hears the message and understands it. That person produces a crop — a hundred, sixty, or thirty times what was planted.

24Jesus told them another teaching story: The kingdom of heaven is like a man who planted good seed in his field.

25But while everyone was sleeping, an enemy came. The enemy planted weeds that looked like wheat among the good wheat, and then went away.

26The wheat grew tall and produced heads of grain. Then the harmful weeds also produced heads. The weed heads looked completely different. Now the servants could finally tell them apart!

27The owner's servants came to him and said: Sir, did you not plant good seed in your field? Where did the weeds come from?

28He answered: An enemy did this. The servants asked: Do you want us to go and pull up the weeds?

29No, he said, because while you are pulling up the weeds, you might pull up the wheat with them.

30Let both grow together until the harvest. At harvest time, I will tell the harvest workers: First, gather the harmful weeds. Tie them into bundles and burn them! Then gather the good wheat into my barn.

31Jesus told them another teaching story: The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a man planted in his field.

32It is the smallest of all seeds. But it grows into the largest garden plant. It becomes a tree. Birds come and rest in its branches.

33Jesus told them still another teaching story: The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough.

34Jesus said all these things to the crowds using teaching stories. He did not say anything to them without using a teaching story.

35This happened so that the words of the prophet would come true: I will open my mouth in teaching stories. I will tell things that have been kept secret since the creation of the world.

36Then Jesus left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to Him and said: Explain to us the teaching story about the weeds in the field.

37Jesus answered: The one who plants the good seed is the Son of Man.

38The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people who belong to the evil one.

39The enemy who plants them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the world, and the workers are the angels.

40Just as the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the world.

41The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather 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 crying and grinding of teeth.

43Then the good people will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Anyone who has ears should listen.

44The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again. He was so happy that he went and sold everything he had and bought that field.

45Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls.

46When he found one very valuable pearl, he went and sold everything he had and bought it.

47Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish.

48When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and put the good fish into baskets, but threw the bad fish away.

49This is how it will be at the end of the world. The angels will come and separate the wicked people from the good

50And throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be crying and grinding of teeth.

51Jesus asked: Have you understood all these things? They answered: Yes.

52Jesus said to them: So every teacher of the law who has been taught about the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom both new treasures and old.

53When Jesus had finished these teaching stories, He went on from there.

54Jesus came to His hometown and began teaching the people in their synagogue. They were amazed and asked: Where did this man get this wisdom and these miracles?

55Is this not the carpenter's son? Is not His mother named Mary, and are not His brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas?

56Are not all His sisters here with us? Where then did this man get all these things?

57And they were not willing to accept Him. But Jesus said to them: A prophet is honored everywhere except in that prophet's hometown and in that prophet's own home.

58And He did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.