Matthew 13:31-58 (New American Standard)

The Mustard Seed

31 He presented another parable to them, saying, "¹The kingdom of heaven is like ²a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field ; 32 and this is smaller than all other seeds, but when it is full grown, it is larger than the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that ³THE BIRDS OF THE ^aAIR come and NEST IN ITS BRANCHES."

The Leaven

33 He spoke another parable to them, "⁴The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in ⁵three ^bpecks of flour until it was all leavened." 34 All these things Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables, and He did not speak to them ⁶without a parable. 35 This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet : "⁷I WILL OPEN MY MOUTH IN PARABLES ; I WILL UTTER THINGS HIDDEN SINCE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD."

The Tares Explained

36 Then He left the crowds and went into ⁸the house. And His disciples came to Him and said, "⁹Explain to us the parable of the ^ctares of the field." 37 And He said, "The one who sows the good seed is ¹⁰the Son of Man, 38 and the field is the world ; and as for the good seed, these are ¹¹the sons of the kingdom ; and the tares are ¹²the sons of ¹³the evil one; 39 and the enemy who sowed them is the devil, and the harvest is ¹⁴the ^dend of the age ; and the reapers are angels. 40 "So just as the tares are gathered up and burned with fire, so shall it be at ¹⁵the ^eend of the age. 41 "¹⁶The Son of Man ¹⁷will send forth His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom ^fall ¹⁸stumbling blocks, and those who commit lawlessness, 42 and ¹⁹will throw them into the furnace of fire ; in that place ²⁰there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 "²¹Then THE RIGHTEOUS WILL SHINE FORTH AS THE SUN in the kingdom of their Father. ²²He who has ears, ^glet him hear.

Hidden Treasure

44 "²³The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and ²⁴sells all that he has and buys that field.

A Costly Pearl

45 "Again, ²⁵the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, 46 and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.

A Dragnet

47 "Again, ²⁶the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet cast into the sea, and gathering fish of every kind ; 48 and when it was filled, they drew it up on the beach ; and they sat down and gathered the good fish into containers, but the bad they threw away. 49 "So it will be at ²⁷the ^hend of the age ; the angels will come forth and ⁱtake out the wicked from among the righteous, 50 and ²⁸will throw them into the furnace of fire ; in that place ²⁹there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 51 "Have you understood all these things ?" They said to Him, "Yes." 52 And ^jJesus said to them, "Therefore every scribe who has become a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like a head of a household, who brings out of his treasure things new and old."

Jesus Revisits Nazareth

53 ³⁰When Jesus had finished these parables, He departed from there. 54 ³¹He came to ^kHis hometown and ³²began teaching them in their synagogue, so that ³³they were astonished, and said, "Where did this man get this wisdom and these ^lmiraculous powers ? 55 "Is not this the carpenter's son ? Is not ³⁴His mother called Mary, and His ³⁵brothers, James and Joseph and Simon and Judas ? 56 "And ³⁶His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this man get all these things ?" 57 And they took ³⁷offense at Him. But Jesus said to them, "³⁸A prophet is not without honor except in his ^mhometown and in his own household." 58 And He did not do many ⁿmiracles there because of their unbelief.