Matthew 13 :: New American Standard Bible 2020 (NASB20)

Jesus Teaches in Parables

1 On that day ^G2250 Jesus ^G2424 had gone ^G1831 out ^G1831 of the house ^G3614 and was sitting ^G2521 by the sea ^G2281.

2 And large ^G4183 crowds ^G3793 gathered ^G4863 to Him, so ^G5620 He got ^G1684 into a boat ^G4143 and sat ^G2521 down ^G2521, and the whole ^G3956 crowd ^G3793 was standing ^G2476 on the beach ^G123.

3 And He told ^G2980 them many ^G4183 things ^G4183 in parables ^G3850, saying ^G3004, “Behold ^G2400, the sower ^G4687 went ^G1831 out ^G1831 to sow ^G4687; 4 and as he sowed ^G4687, some ^G3739 G3303 seeds fell ^G4098 beside ^G3844 the road ^G3598, and the birds ^G4071 came ^G2064 and ate ^G2719 them up ^G2719. 5 Others ^G243 fell ^G4098 on the rocky ^G4075 places, where ^G3699 they did not have ^G2192 much ^G4183 soil ^G1093; and they sprang ^G1816 up ^G1816 immediately ^G2112, because ^G1223 they had ^G2192 no ^G3361 depth ^G899 of soil ^G1093. 6 But after the sun ^G2246 rose ^G393, they were scorched ^G2739; and because ^G1223 they had ^G2192 no ^G3361 root ^G4491, they withered ^G3583 away ^G3583. 7 Others ^G243 fell ^G4098 [fn]among ^G1909 the thorns ^G173, and the thorns ^G173 came ^G305 up ^G305 and choked ^G638 them out. 8 But others ^G243 fell ^G4098 on the good ^G2570 soil ^G1093 and yielded ^G1325 a crop ^G2590, some ^G3739 G3303 a hundred ^G1540, some ^G3739 sixty ^G1835, and some ^G3739 thirty ^G5144 times as much. 9 The one who has ^G2192 ears ^G3775, [fn]let him hear ^G191.”

An Explanation for Parables

10 And the disciples ^G3101 came ^G4334 up ^G4334 and said ^G3004 to Him, “Why ^G1223 G5101 do You speak ^G2980 to them in parables ^G3850?”

11 And [fn]Jesus answered ^G611 them, “To you it has been granted ^G1325 to know ^G1097 the mysteries ^G3466 of the kingdom ^G932 of heaven ^G3772, but to them it has not been granted ^G1325. 12 For whoever ^G3748 has ^G2192, to him more shall be given ^G1325, and he will have ^G4052 an ^G4052 abundance ^G4052; but whoever ^G3748 does not have ^G2192, even ^G2532 what ^G3739 he has ^G2192 shall be taken ^G142 away ^G142 from him. 13 Therefore ^G1223 G3778 I speak ^G2980 to them in parables ^G3850; because ^G3754 while seeing ^G991 they do not see ^G991, and while hearing ^G191 they do not hear ^G191, nor ^G3761 do they understand ^G4920. 14 And [fn]in their case the prophecy ^G4394 of Isaiah ^G2268 is being fulfilled ^G378, which says ^G3004,

‘[fn]YOU SHALL KEEP ^G189 ON LISTENING ^G191, [fn]BUT SHALL NOT UNDERSTAND ^G4920;

AND [fn]YOU SHALL KEEP ^G991 ON LOOKING ^G991, [fn]BUT SHALL NOT PERCEIVE ^G3708;

15 FOR THE HEART ^G2588 OF THIS ^G3778 PEOPLE ^G2992 HAS BECOME ^G3975 DULL ^G3975,

WITH THEIR EARS ^G3775 THEY SCARCELY ^G917 HEAR ^G191,

AND THEY HAVE CLOSED ^G2576 THEIR EYES ^G3788,

OTHERWISE ^G3379 THEY MIGHT SEE ^G3708 WITH THEIR EYES ^G3788,

HEAR ^G191 WITH THEIR EARS ^G3775,

UNDERSTAND ^G4920 WITH THEIR HEART ^G2588, AND RETURN ^G1994,

AND I WOULD HEAL ^G2390 THEM.’

16 But blessed ^G3107 are your eyes ^G3788, because ^G3754 they see ^G991; and your ears ^G3775, because ^G3754 they hear ^G191. 17 For truly ^G281 I say ^G3004 to you that many ^G4183 prophets ^G4396 and righteous ^G1342 people ^G1342 longed ^G1937 to see ^G3708 what ^G3739 you see ^G991, and did not see ^G3708 it, and to hear ^G191 what ^G3739 you hear ^G191, and did not hear ^G191 it.

The Sower Explained

18 “Listen ^G191 then ^G3767 to the parable ^G3850 of the sower ^G4687.

19 When anyone ^G3956 hears ^G191 the [fn]word ^G3056 of the kingdom ^G932 and does not understand ^G4920 it, the evil ^G4190 one comes ^G2064 and snatches ^G726 away ^G726 what ^G3588 has been sown ^G4687 in his heart ^G2588. This ^G3778 is the one sown ^G4687 with seed beside ^G3844 the road ^G3598. 20 The one sown ^G4687 with seed on the rocky ^G4075 places, this ^G3778 is the one who hears ^G191 the word ^G3056 and immediately ^G2117 receives ^G2983 it with joy ^G5479; 21 yet ^G1161 he has ^G2192 no ^G3756 firm root ^G4491 in himself ^G1438, but is only temporary ^G4340, and when affliction ^G2347 or ^G2228 persecution ^G1375 occurs ^G1096 because ^G1223 of the [fn]word ^G3056, immediately ^G2117 he [fn]falls ^G4624 away ^G4624. 22 And the one sown ^G4687 with seed among ^G1519 the thorns ^G173, this ^G3778 is the one who hears ^G191 the word ^G3056, and the anxiety ^G3308 of the [fn]world ^G165 and the deceitfulness ^G539 of wealth ^G4149 choke ^G4846 the word ^G3056, and it [fn]becomes ^G1096 unfruitful ^G175. 23 But the one sown ^G4687 with seed on the good ^G2570 soil ^G1093, this ^G3778 is the one who hears ^G191 the word ^G3056 and understands ^G4920 it, who ^G3739 indeed ^G1211 bears ^G2592 fruit ^G2592 and produces ^G4160, some ^G3739 G3303 a hundred ^G1540, some ^G3739 sixty ^G1835, and some ^G3739 thirty ^G5144 times as much.”

Weeds among Wheat

24 Jesus presented ^G3908 another ^G243 parable ^G3850 to them, saying ^G3004, “The kingdom ^G932 of heaven ^G3772 [fn]is ^G3666 like ^G3666 a man ^G444 who sowed ^G4687 good ^G2570 seed ^G4690 in his field ^G68.

25 But while ^G1722 his men ^G444 were sleeping ^G2518, his enemy ^G2190 came ^G2064 and sowed ^G6037 [fn]weeds ^G2215 among ^G303 G3319 the wheat ^G4621, and left ^G565. 26 And when ^G3753 the [fn]wheat ^G5528 sprouted ^G985 and produced ^G4160 grain ^G2590, then ^G5119 the weeds ^G2215 also ^G2532 became ^G5316 evident ^G5316. 27 And the slaves ^G1401 of the landowner ^G3617 came ^G4334 and said ^G3004 to him, ‘Sir ^G2962, did you not sow ^G4687 good ^G2570 seed ^G4690 in your field ^G68? [fn]How ^G4159 then ^G3767 does it have ^G2192 weeds ^G2215?’ 28 And he said ^G5346 to them, ‘[fn]An enemy ^G2190 G444 has done ^G4160 this ^G3778!’ The slaves ^G1401 *said ^G3004 to him, ‘Do you want ^G2309 us, then ^G3767, to go ^G565 and gather ^G4816 them up ^G4816?’ 29 But he *said ^G5346, ‘No ^G3756; while you are gathering ^G4816 up ^G4816 the weeds ^G2215, you may uproot ^G1610 the wheat ^G4621 with them. 30 Allow ^G863 both ^G297 to grow ^G4885 together ^G4885 until ^G2193 the harvest ^G2326; and at the time ^G2540 of the harvest ^G2326 I will say ^G3004 to the reapers ^G2327, “First ^G4413 gather ^G4816 up ^G4816 the weeds ^G2215 and bind ^G1210 them in bundles ^G1197 to burn ^G2618 them; but gather ^G4863 the wheat ^G4621 into my barn ^G596.”’”

The Mustard Seed

31 He presented ^G3908 another ^G243 parable ^G3850 to them, saying ^G3004, “The kingdom ^G932 of heaven ^G3772 is like ^G3664 a mustard ^G4615 seed ^G2848, which ^G3739 a person ^G444 took ^G2983 and sowed ^G4687 in his field ^G68;

32 and this ^G3739 is smaller ^G3398 than all ^G3956 the other seeds ^G4690, but when ^G3752 it is fully grown ^G837, it is larger ^G3173 than the garden ^G3001 plants ^G3001 and becomes ^G1096 a tree ^G1186, so ^G5620 that ^G5620 THE BIRDS ^G4071 OF THE SKY ^G3772 come ^G2064 and NEST ^G2681 IN ITS BRANCHES ^G2798.”

The Leaven

33 He spoke ^G2980 another ^G243 parable ^G3850 to them: “The kingdom ^G932 of heaven ^G3772 is like ^G3664 [fn]leaven ^G2219, which ^G3739 a woman ^G1135 took ^G2983 and hid ^G1470 in three ^G5140 [fn]sata ^G4568 of flour ^G224 until ^G2193 it was all ^G3650 leavened ^G2220.”

34 All ^G3956 these ^G3778 things ^G3778 Jesus ^G2424 spoke ^G2980 to the crowds ^G3793 in parables ^G3850, and He did not speak ^G2980 anything ^G3762 to them without ^G5565 a parable ^G3850.

35 This was so ^G3704 that ^G3704 what ^G3588 was spoken ^G3004 through ^G1223 the prophet ^G4396 would be [fn]fulfilled ^G4137:

“I WILL OPEN ^G455 MY MOUTH ^G4750 IN PARABLES ^G3850;

I WILL PROCLAIM ^G2044 THINGS ^G2928 HIDDEN ^G2928 SINCE ^G575 THE FOUNDATION ^G2602 OF THE WORLD ^G2889.”

The Weeds Explained

36 Then ^G5119 He left ^G863 the crowds ^G3793 and went ^G2064 into the house ^G3614. And His disciples ^G3101 came ^G4334 to Him and said ^G3004, “Explain ^G1285 to us the parable ^G3850 of the [fn]weeds ^G2215 of the field ^G68.”

37 And He said ^G3004, “The one who sows ^G4687 the good ^G2570 seed ^G4690 is the Son ^G5207 of Man ^G444, 38 and the field ^G68 is the world ^G2889; and as for the good ^G2570 seed ^G4690, these ^G3778 are the sons ^G5207 of the kingdom ^G932; and the weeds ^G2215 are the sons ^G5207 of the evil ^G4190 one; 39 and the enemy ^G2190 who sowed ^G4687 them is the devil ^G1228, and the harvest ^G2326 is the [fn]end ^G4930 of the age ^G165; and the reapers ^G2327 are angels ^G32. 40 So ^G3779 just ^G5618 as the weeds ^G2215 are gathered ^G4816 up ^G4816 and burned ^G2618 with fire ^G4442, so ^G3779 shall it be at the [fn]end ^G4930 of the age ^G165. 41 The Son ^G5207 of Man ^G444 will send ^G649 forth ^G649 His angels ^G32, and they will gather ^G4816 out of His kingdom ^G932 [fn]all ^G3956 stumbling ^G4625 blocks ^G4625, and those ^G3588 who commit ^G4160 lawlessness ^G458, 42 and they will throw ^G906 them into the furnace ^G2575 of fire ^G4442; in that place ^G1563 there will be weeping ^G2805 and gnashing ^G1030 of teeth ^G3599. 43 Then ^G5119 THE RIGHTEOUS ^G1342 WILL SHINE ^G1584 FORTH ^G1584 LIKE ^G5613 THE SUN ^G2246 in the kingdom ^G932 of their Father ^G3962. The one who has ^G2192 ears ^G3775, [fn]let him hear ^G191.

Hidden Treasure

44 “The kingdom ^G932 of heaven ^G3772 is like ^G3664 a treasure ^G2344 hidden ^G2928 in the field ^G68, which ^G3739 a man ^G444 found ^G2147 and hid ^G2928 again; and from [fn]joy ^G5479 over it he goes ^G5217 and sells ^G4453 everything ^G3745 that he has ^G2192, and buys ^G59 that field ^G68.

A Costly Pearl

45 “Again ^G3825, the kingdom ^G932 of heaven ^G3772 is like ^G3664 a merchant ^G1713 seeking ^G2212 fine ^G2570 pearls ^G3135,

46 and upon finding ^G2147 one ^G1520 pearl ^G3135 of great ^G4186 value ^G4186, he went ^G565 and sold ^G4097 everything ^G3956 that he had ^G2192 and bought ^G59 it.

A Dragnet

47 “Again ^G3825, the kingdom ^G932 of heaven ^G3772 is like ^G3664 a dragnet ^G4522 that was cast ^G906 into the sea ^G2281 and gathered ^G4863 fish of every ^G3956 kind ^G1085;

48 and when ^G3753 it was filled ^G4137, they pulled ^G307 it up ^G307 on the beach ^G123; and they sat ^G2523 down ^G2523 and gathered ^G4816 the good ^G2570 fish into containers ^G6001, but the bad ^G4550 they threw ^G906 away ^G1854. 49 So ^G3779 it will be at the [fn]end ^G4930 of the age ^G165: the angels ^G32 will come ^G1831 forth ^G1831 and remove ^G873 the wicked ^G4190 from among ^G3319 the righteous ^G1342, 50 and they will throw ^G906 them into the furnace ^G2575 of fire ^G4442; in ^G1563 that ^G1563 place ^G1563 there will be weeping ^G2805 and gnashing ^G1030 of teeth ^G3599.

51 “Have you understood ^G4920 all ^G3956 these ^G3778 things ^G3778?” They *said ^G3004 to Him, “Yes ^G3483.” 52 And [fn]Jesus said ^G3004 to them, “Therefore ^G1223 G3778 every ^G3956 scribe ^G1122 who has become ^G3100 a ^G3100 disciple ^G3100 of the kingdom ^G932 of heaven ^G3772 is like ^G3664 a head ^G3617 of ^G3617 a ^G3617 household ^G3617, who ^G3748 brings ^G1544 out ^G1544 of his treasure ^G2344 new ^G2537 things ^G2537 and old ^G3820.”

Jesus Revisits Nazareth

53 When ^G3753 Jesus ^G2424 had finished ^G5055 these ^G3778 parables ^G3850, He departed ^G3332 from ^G1564 there ^G1564.

54 And He came ^G2064 to [fn]His hometown ^G3968 and began teaching ^G1321 them in their synagogue ^G4864, with ^G5620 the ^G5620 result ^G5620 that ^G5620 they were astonished ^G1605, and said ^G3004, “Where ^G4159 did this ^G3778 man ^G3778 acquire this ^G3778 wisdom ^G4678 and these [fn]miraculous ^G1411 powers ^G1411? 55 Is this ^G3778 not the carpenter’s ^G5045 son ^G5207? Is His mother ^G3384 not called ^G3004 Mary ^G3137, and His brothers ^G80, James ^G2385, Joseph ^G2501, Simon ^G4613, and Judas ^G2455? 56 And His sisters ^G79, are they not all ^G3956 with us? Where ^G4159 then ^G3767 did this ^G3778 Man ^G3778 acquire all ^G3956 these ^G3778 things ^G3778?” 57 And they took ^G4624 offense ^G4624 at Him. But Jesus ^G2424 said ^G3004 to them, “A prophet ^G4396 is not dishonored ^G820 except ^G1487 G1508 in his [fn]hometown ^G3968 and in his own household ^G3614.” 58 And He did not do ^G4160 many ^G4183 [fn]miracles ^G1411 there ^G1563 because ^G1223 of their unbelief ^G570.