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,
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and 19will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place20there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
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"21Then THE RIGHTEOUS WILL SHINEFORTH AS THE SUN in the kingdom of their Father. 22He who hasears, let him hear.
Hidden Treasure
44"23The kingdom of heaven is like a treasurehidden in the field, which a manfound and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and 24sellsall that he has and buys that field.
A Costly Pearl
45"Again, 25the kingdom of heaven is like a merchantseekingfinepearls,
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and upon findingonepearl of greatvalue, he went and soldall that he had and bought it.
A Dragnet
47"Again, 26the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnetcast into the sea, and gathering fish of everykind;
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and when it was filled, they drew it up on the beach; and they satdown and gathered the good fish into containers, but the bad they threwaway.
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"So it will be at 27the end of the age; the angels will comeforth and take out the wicked from among the righteous,
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and 28will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place29there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
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"Have you understoodallthesethings?" They said to Him, "Yes."
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And Jesus said to them, "Therefore*everyscribe who has become a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like a head of a household, whobrings out of his treasurethingsnew and old."
Jesus Revisits Nazareth
5330WhenJesus had finishedtheseparables, He departed from there.
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31He came to His hometown and 32began teaching them in their synagogue, so that 33they were astonished, and said, "Where did thisman get thiswisdom and these miraculouspowers?
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"Is not this the carpenter'sson? Is not 34His mothercalledMary, and His 35brothers, James and Joseph and Simon and Judas?
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"And 36His sisters, are they not all with us? Wherethen did thisman get allthesethings?"
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And they took37offense at Him. But Jesussaid to them, "38A prophet is not withouthonorexcept in his hometown and in his own household."
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And He did not domanymiraclestherebecause of their unbelief.