- That (same) day - Jesus went out of the house (and) sat by the sea.
(Such) large crowds gathered around Him that He got into ... a boat (and) sat down , while all the people stood on the shore.
And He told them many things in parables , saying , - vvv “ A farmer went out - to sow his seed.
And as he was - sowing , - some (seed) fell along the path , and the birds came (and) devoured it.
- Some fell on - rocky ground , where vvv it did not have much soil. - It sprang up quickly because the soil - was vvv shallow.
But (when the) sun rose , (the seedlings) were scorched , and they withered because - they had no root.
- Other (seed) fell among - thorns , vvv vvv (which) grew up and choked (the seedlings).
Still other (seed) fell on - good - soil and produced a crop — - - a hundredfold , - - sixtyfold , (or) - thirtyfold.
He who has ears , let him hear. ”
Then the disciples came to (Jesus) (and) asked - , “ Why ... do You speak to (the people) in parables ? ”
- - He replied ... ... , - “ The knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you , but not to them -.
- Whoever has - will be given (more) , and he will have an abundance. - Whoever (does) not have , even what he has will be taken away from him.
This is why I speak to them in parables : ‘ Though seeing , vvv they do not see ; (though) hearing , vvv they do not hear (or) understand. ’
- In them the prophecy of Isaiah - is fulfilled - - : ‘ You will be ever hearing ... but never ... understanding ; - you will be ever seeing ... but never ... perceiving.
For - this - people’s heart has grown callous ; - 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 , and turn , and I would heal them.’
But blessed (are) your - eyes because they see , and - your ears because they hear.
For truly I tell you , - many prophets and righteous (men) longed to see what you see (but) vvv did not see (it) , and to hear what you hear (but) vvv did not hear (it).
vvv Consider , then , the parable of the sower :
When anyone hears the message of the kingdom but {does} not understand (it) , the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in - his heart. This is the (seed) sown along the path.
- The (seed) sown on - rocky ground - is the (one who) hears the word and at once receives it with joy.
But since he has ... ... no root , he remains for only a season. (When) trouble or persecution comes because of the word , vvv he quickly falls away.
- The (seed) sown among the thorns - is the (one who) hears the word , but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness - of wealth choke the word , and it becomes unfruitful.
But the (seed) sown on - good soil - is the (one who) hears the word (and) understands (it). (He) indeed bears fruit and produces a crop — - - a hundredfold , - - sixtyfold , or - thirtyfold. ”
(Jesus) put before them another parable - : “ The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his - field.
But while ... vvv everyone was asleep , his - enemy came and sowed weeds among ... the wheat , and slipped away.
- When the wheat sprouted and bore grain , then the weeds also appeared.
- The vvv owner’s servants came to him (and) said , ‘ Sir , vvv didn’t you sow good seed in your - field ? Where then did (the) weeds {come from} ? ’
‘ An enemy ... did this , ’ - - he replied -. (So) - (the) servants asked him , ‘ - Do you want us to go (and) pull them up ... ? ’
‘ No ... , ’ - - he said , ‘ if you pull the weeds (now) , you might uproot the wheat with them.
Let both grow together until the harvest. - At that time ... ... ... I will tell the harvesters : First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to - be burned - ; then gather - (the) wheat into my - barn.’ ”
He put before them another parable - : “ The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a man vvv planted in his - field.
Although it is (the) smallest of all - seeds , yet - it grows into ... the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree , so that the birds of the air come and nest in its - branches. ”
He told them still another parable : “ The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took (and) mixed into three measures of flour , until all of it was leavened. ”
- Jesus spoke all these things to the crowds in parables. - He did not tell them anything ... ... without using a parable.
So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet - : “ I will open My - mouth in parables ; I will utter things hidden since (the) foundation (of the) world.”
Then (Jesus) dismissed the crowds (and) went into the house. - His - disciples came to Him (and) said , “ Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field. ”
- - He replied - , “ The (One) who sows the good seed is the Son - of Man.
- - (The) field is the world , and - (the) good seed represents ... the sons of the kingdom. - - (The) weeds are the sons of the evil (one) ,
and the enemy - who sows them is the devil. - The harvest is (the) end of the age , and - (the) harvesters are angels.
vvv As the weeds are collected and burned in the fire , so will it be at the end of the age.
The Son - of Man will send out His - angels , and they will weed out of His - kingdom every - cause of sin and all who practice - lawlessness.
And they will throw them into the vvv fiery furnace , (where) there will be - weeping and - gnashing of teeth.
Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears , let him hear.
The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in - a field. (When a) man found (it) , he hid (it again) , and in (his) ... joy he went and sold all - he had and bought that - field.
Again , the kingdom of heaven is like vvv a merchant in search of fine pearls.
When he found one very precious pearl , he went away (and) sold all - he had and bought it.
Once again , the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was cast into the sea and caught - all kinds (of fish).
- When it was full , (the men) pulled (it) vvv vvv ashore. Then they sat down (and) sorted the good (fish) into containers , but threw the bad away.
So will it be at the end of the age : The angels will come and separate the wicked from ... the righteous ,
and throw them into the vvv fiery furnace , (where) there will be - weeping and - gnashing of teeth.
Have you understood all these things ? ” “ Yes , ” they answered -.
Then - He told them , “ For this reason ... , every scribe who has been discipled in the kingdom of heaven is like vvv a homeowner who brings out of his - storeroom new (treasures) as well as old. ”
- - When - Jesus had finished these - parables , He withdrew from that place.
- Coming to His hometown ... ... , He taught (the people) in their - synagogue , and they were astonished. “ Where did this man get ... such - wisdom and - miraculous powers ? ” - they asked.
“ Isn’t ... this the vvv carpenter’s son ? Isn’t His - mother’s name Mary , and (aren’t) His - brothers James - , - Joseph , - Simon , and Judas ?
Aren’t ... all His - sisters with us as well ? Where then (did) this (man) (get) all these things ? ”
And they took offense at Him. But - Jesus said to them , “ Only ... in (his) hometown and in - his own household is a prophet vvv without honor. ”
And vvv He did not do many miracles there , because of their - unbelief.