31 He presentedanotherparable to them, saying, "1The kingdom of heaven is like2a mustardseed, which a mantook and sowed in his field;
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and this is smaller than all other seeds, but when it is fullgrown, it is larger than the gardenplants and becomes a tree, so that 3THE BIRDS OF THE AIRcome and NEST IN ITS BRANCHES."
The Leaven
33 He spokeanotherparable to them, "4The kingdom of heaven is likeleaven, which a womantook and hid in 5threepecks of flouruntil it was allleavened."
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AllthesethingsJesusspoke to the crowds in parables, and He did not speak to them 6without a parable.
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This was to fulfillwhat was spokenthrough the prophet: "7I WILL OPEN MY MOUTH IN PARABLES; I WILL UTTERTHINGSHIDDENSINCE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD."
The Tares Explained
36Then He left the crowds and went into 8the house. And His disciplescame to Him and said, "9Explain to us the parable of the tares of the field."
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And He said, "The one who sows the goodseed is 10the Son of Man,
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and the field is the world; and as for the goodseed, these are 11the sons of the kingdom; and the tares are 12the sons of 13the evil one;
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and the enemy who sowed them is the devil, and the harvest is 14the end of the age; and the reapers are angels.
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"Sojust as the tares are gathered up and burned with fire, so shall it be at 15the end of the age.
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"16The Son of Man17will sendforth His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdomall18stumblingblocks, and those who commitlawlessness,