New King James Version

English Standard Version

1On the same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the sea.

1That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea.

2And great multitudes were gathered together to Him, so that He got into a boat and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.

2And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat down. And the whole crowd stood on the beach.

3Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: “Behold, a sower went out to sow.

3And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow.

4And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them.

4And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them.

5Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth.

5Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil,

6But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away.

6but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away.

7And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them.

7Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them.

8But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

8Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

9He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”

9He who has ears, let him hear.”

10And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?”

10Then the disciples came and said to him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?”

11He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.

11And 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.

12For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.

12For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.

13Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.

13This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.

14And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says: ‘Hearing you will hear and shall not understand, And seeing you will see and not perceive;

14Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says: “‘“You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive.”

15For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, And their eyes they have closed, Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.’

15For this people’s heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.’

16But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear;

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

17for assuredly, I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.

17For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.

18“Therefore hear the parable of the sower:

18“Hear then the parable of the sower:

19When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside.

19When 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.

20But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy;

20As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy,

21yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles.

21yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away.

22Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.

22As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.

23But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”

23As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”

24Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field;

24He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to 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.

25but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away.

26But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared.

26So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also.

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?’

27And the servants 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?’

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?’

28He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ So the servants said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’

29But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them.

29But he said, ‘No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along 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 gather the wheat into my barn.” ’ ”

30Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, “Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.”’”

31Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field,

31He 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.

32which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.”

32It 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.”

33Another parable He spoke to them: “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened.”

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

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

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

35that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: “I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things kept secret from the foundation of the world.”

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

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.”

36Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples came to him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.”

37He answered and said to them: “He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man.

37He answered, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man.

38The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one.

38The field is the world, and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one,

39The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels.

39and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels.

40Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age.

40Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the end of the age.

41The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness,

41The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers,

42and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

42and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

43Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!

43Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.

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 sells all that he has and buys that field.

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.

45“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls,

45“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls,

46who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.

46who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.

47“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind,

47“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind.

48which, when it was full, they drew to shore; and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but threw the bad away.

48When it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into containers but threw away the bad.

49So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just,

49So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous

50and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”

50and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

51Jesus said to them, “Have you understood all these things?” They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.”

51“Have you understood all these things?” They said to him, “Yes.”

52Then He said to them, “Therefore every scribe instructed concerning the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure things new and old.”

52And he said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house, who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.”

53Now it came to pass, when Jesus had finished these parables, that He departed from there.

53And when Jesus had finished these parables, he went away from there,

54When He had come to His own country, He taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, “Where did this Man get this wisdom and these mighty works?

54and coming to his hometown he taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished, and said, “Where did this man get this wisdom and these mighty works?

55Is this not the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas?

55Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas?

56And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this Man get all these things?”

56And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?”

57So they were offended at Him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house.”

57And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own household.”

58Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

58And he did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief.

The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.