36 Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.”
37
He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man.
38
The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one,
39
and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.
40
“As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age.
41
The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil.
42
They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
43
Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear.
The Parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl
44“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.
45
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls.
46
When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.
The Parable of the Net
47“Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish.
48
When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away.
49
This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous
50
and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
51
“Have you understood all these things?” Jesus asked. “Yes,” they replied.
52
He said to them, “Therefore every teacher of the law who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.”