Matthew 13:31-58 ▼

31 He propos'd another parable to them, which was this; the gospel-state is like a grain of mustard-seed which a man took to sow in his field.

32 'tis one indeed of the smallest grains: but when it is grown, it is the largest of the pulse kind, and becomes a tree: so that the birds of the air come and lodge in its branches.

33 Another of his parables was this; the gospel-state is like unto leaven, which a woman took and mixt with three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.

34 All these things spake Jesus to the multitude in parables, and did not discourse to them without some parable.

35 so that this saying of the prophet was fulfilled, "I will talk in parables, I will utter what has been kept secret from the foundation of the world."

36 Then Jesus leaving the multitude, went into the house: and his disciples coming to him, said, explain to us the parable of the tares of the field.

37 he answered them, he that soweth 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:

39 the enemy that sowed them is the devil: the harvest is the conclusion of the age: and the reapers are the angels.

40 as then the tares are gathered and burnt in the fire; so shall it be at the conclusion of the age.

41 the son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all that make others offend, and those who do iniquity;

42 and shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

43 then shall the just shine out like the sun, in the kingdom of their father, he that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

44 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hid in a field: a man finds this treasure and buries it again, then goes in great joy, sells all that he hath, and purchases that field.

45 Again, the heavenly kingdom is like a merchant-man, who is in quest of curious pearls:

46 and meeting with one of great value, presently sells all that he has to make the purchase.

47 Again, the gospel-kingdom is like a net that is cast into the sea, and draws all sorts of fish:

48 when it is full, they drag it to shore, then sit down, and pick out the good to lay by, but throw the bad away.

49 so it shall be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and after they have separated the wicked from the just,

50 they shall cast the wicked into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

51 Then Jesus said to them, have ye understood all this?

52 they reply'd, yes, Lord, then said he to them, thus every teacher who is instructed in the doctrine of the gospel, is like the master of a family, who taketh out of his treasure things new and old.

53 When Jesus had finished these parables, he departed thence.

54 and when he was come into his native country, he taught them in their synagogue, in such a manner that they cry'd out with astonishment, how came this man by all this wisdom, and extraordinary power?

55 is not this the carpenter's son? is not Mary his mother? and James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas, are they not his brothers?

56 and his sisters, don't they live just by us? how came he then by all this?

57 and they were scandaliz'd at him, but Jesus said to them, a prophet is not without honour, except in his own country and in his own family.

58 and he did not many miracles there, because of their incredulity.