Matthew 13:24-50

The Parable of the Weeds

24 He put another parable before them, saying, w "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, 25 but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds 1 among the wheat and went away. 26 So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also. 27 And the servants 2 of the master of the house came and said to him, 'Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?' 28 He said to them, 'An enemy has done this.' So the servants said to him, 'Then do you want us to go and gather them?' 29 But he said, x 'No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, y Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.'"

The Mustard Seed and the Leaven

31 He put another parable before them, saying, z "The kingdom of heaven is like a a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. 32 It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches."

33 He told them another parable. b "The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and hid in c three measures of flour, till it was d all leavened."

Prophecy and Parables

34 e All these things Jesus said to the crowds in parables; indeed, he said nothing to them without a parable.

35 This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet: 3
f "I will open my mouth in parables;
g I will utter what has been hidden h since the foundation of the world."

The Parable of the Weeds Explained

36 Then he left the crowds and went into i the house. And his disciples came to him, saying, j "Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field." 37 He answered, "The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. 38 The field is the world, and the good seed is k the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are l the sons of the evil one, 39 and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. m The harvest is n the close of the age, and the reapers are angels. 40 Just as the weeds o are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at n the close of the age. 41 p The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all q causes of sin and r all law-breakers, 42 s and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place t there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then u the righteous will shine like the sun v in the kingdom of their Father. w He who has ears, let him hear.

The Parable of the Hidden Treasure

44 "The kingdom of heaven x is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy y he goes and sells all that he has and z buys that field.

The Parable of the Pearl of Great Value

45 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, 46 who, on finding a one pearl of great value, y went and sold all that he had and z bought it.

The Parable of the Net

47 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is b like a net that was thrown into the sea and c gathered fish of every kind. 48 When it was full, d men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into containers but threw away the bad. 49 So it will be at e the close of the age. The angels will come out and f separate the evil from the righteous 50 g and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place g there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

  1. Cross References
    Matthew 13:37 - 42
    He answered, "The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man.
    Mark 4:26 - 29
    And he said, "The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground.
  2. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 4:5
    Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.
  3. Cross References
    Matthew 3:12
    His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.
  4. Cross References
    Matthew 13:31 - 32
    He put another parable before them, saying, "The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field.
    Mark 4:30 - 32
    And he said, "With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it?
    Luke 13:18 - 19
    He said therefore, "What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it?
  5. Cross References
    Matthew 17:20
    He said to them, "Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.
    Luke 17:6
    And the Lord said, "If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it would obey you.
  6. Cross References
    Matthew 13:31 - 32
    He put another parable before them, saying, "The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field.
    Mark 4:30 - 32
    And he said, "With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it?
    Luke 13:18 - 19
    He said therefore, "What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it?
  7. Cross References
    Luke 13:20 - 21
    And again he said, "To what shall I compare the kingdom of God?
  8. Cross References
    Genesis 18:6
    And Abraham went quickly into the tent to Sarah and said, "Quick! Three seahs of fine flour! Knead it, and make cakes.
  9. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 5:6
    Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?
    Galatians 5:9
    A little leaven leavens the whole lump.
  10. Cross References
    Matthew 13:3
    And he told them many things in parables, saying: "A sower went out to sow.
    Mark 4:33 - 34
    With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it.
    John 16:25
    I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father.
    John 16:29
    His disciples said, "Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech!
  11. Cross References
    Psalms 78:2
    I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings from of old.
  12. Cross References
    Matthew 13:11
    And he answered them, "To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.
    Romans 16:25 - 26
    Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages
    1 Corinthians 2:7
    But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory.
  13. Cross References
    Matthew 25:34
    Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
    Luke 11:50
    So that the blood of all the prophets, shed from the foundation of the world, may be charged against this generation.
    John 17:24
    Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.
    Ephesians 1:4
    Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love
    1 Peter 1:20
    He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you
  14. Cross References
    Psalms 78:2
    I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings from of old.
  15. Cross References
    Matthew 13:1
    That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea.
  16. Cross References
    Matthew 13:24 - 30
    He put another parable before them, saying, "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field.
    Matthew 15:15
    But Peter said to him, "Explain the parable to us.
  17. Cross References
    Matthew 13:43
    Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.
  18. Cross References
    John 8:44
    You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
    Acts 13:10
    And said, "You son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and villainy, will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord?
    1 John 3:10
    By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.
    Matthew 23:15
    Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves.
    Matthew 13:19
    When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path.
  19. Cross References
    Joel 3:13
    Put in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Go in, tread, for the winepress is full. The vats overflow, for their evil is great.
    Revelation 14:15
    And another angel came out of the temple, calling with a loud voice to him who sat on the cloud, "Put in your sickle, and reap, for the hour to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is fully ripe.
  20. Cross References
    Matthew 13:49
    So it will be at the close of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous
    Matthew 24:3
    As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the close of the age?
    Matthew 28:20
    Teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.
    Daniel 12:13
    But go your way till the end. And you shall rest and shall stand in your allotted place at the end of the days.
    Hebrews 9:26
    For then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
  21. Cross References
    John 15:6
    If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.
    Matthew 3:12
    His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.
  22. Cross References
    Matthew 13:39
    And the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the close of the age, and the reapers are angels.
  23. Cross References
    Matthew 24:31
    And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
  24. Cross References
    Matthew 18:7
    Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes!
    Zephaniah 1:3
    I will sweep away man and beast; I will sweep away the birds of the heavens and the fish of the sea, and the rubble with the wicked. I will cut off mankind from the face of the earth," declares the Lord.
  25. Cross References
    Matthew 7:23
    And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.
  26. Cross References
    Matthew 13:50
    And throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
    Revelation 9:2
    He opened the shaft of the bottomless pit, and from the shaft rose smoke like the smoke of a great furnace, and the sun and the air were darkened with the smoke from the shaft.
    Revelation 19:20
    And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur.
    Revelation 20:10
    And the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
  27. Cross References
    Matthew 8:12
    While the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
  28. Cross References
    Proverbs 4:18
    But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day.
    Daniel 12:3
    And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.
    1 Corinthians 15:41 - 42
    There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory.
  29. Cross References
    Matthew 13:38
    The field is the world, and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one.
    Matthew 25:34
    Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
    Matthew 26:29
    I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.
    Luke 12:32
    Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
  30. Cross References
    Matthew 11:15
    He who has ears to hear, let him hear.
  31. Cross References
    Proverbs 2:4
    If you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures.
  32. Cross References
    Matthew 25:9
    But the wise answered, saying, 'Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.
    Proverbs 23:23
    Buy truth, and do not sell it; buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding.
    Philippians 3:7 - 8
    But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.
  33. Cross References
    Isaiah 55:1
    Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
    Revelation 3:18
    I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.
  34. Cross References
    Matthew 7:6
    Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.
  35. Cross References
    Matthew 13:44
    The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
  36. Cross References
    Matthew 13:44
    The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
  37. Cross References
    Matthew 4:19
    And he said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
  38. Cross References
    Matthew 13:38
    The field is the world, and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one.
    Matthew 22:10
    And those servants went out into the roads and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good. So the wedding hall was filled with guests.
    Matthew 25:2
    Five of them were foolish, and five were wise.
  39. Cross References
    John 21:11
    So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn.
  40. Cross References
    Matthew 13:39
    And the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the close of the age, and the reapers are angels.
  41. Cross References
    Matthew 25:32
    Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
    Matthew 13:41
    The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers.
  42. Cross References
    Matthew 13:42
    And throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
  43. Cross References
    Matthew 13:42
    And throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.