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The Blue Letter Bible

Matthew 13 :: New Living Translation (NLT)

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Parable of the Farmer Scattering Seed
(Mar 4:1–9; Luk 8:4–8 )

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 13:1

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 13:1 - Later that same day Jesus left the house and sat beside the lake.

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 13:2

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 13:2 - A large crowd soon gathered around him, so he got into a boat. Then he sat there and taught as the people stood on the shore.

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 13:3

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 13:3 - He told many stories in the form of parables, such as this one: “Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seeds.

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 13:4

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 13:4 - As he scattered them across his field, some seeds fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate them.

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 13:5

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 13:5 - Other seeds fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seeds sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow.

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 13:6

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 13:6 - But the plants soon wilted under the hot sun, and since they didn’t have deep roots, they died.

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 13:7

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 13:7 - Other seeds fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants.

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 13:8

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 13:8 - Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted!

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 13:9

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 13:9 - Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”
(Mar 4:10–12; Luk 8:9, 10 )

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 13:10

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 13:10 - His disciples came and asked him, “Why do you use parables when you talk to the people?”

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 13:11

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 13:11 - He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secrets[fn] of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others are not.

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 13:12

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 13:12 - To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 13:13

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 13:13 - That is why I use these parables,
For they look, but they don’t really see.
They hear, but they don’t really listen or understand.

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 13:14

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 13:14 - This fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah that says,
‘When you hear what I say,
you will not understand.
When you see what I do,
you will not comprehend.

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 13:15

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 13:15 - For the hearts of these people are hardened,
and their ears cannot hear,
and they have closed their eyes—
so their eyes cannot see,
and their ears cannot hear,
and their hearts cannot understand,
and they cannot turn to me
and let me heal them.’[fn]

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 13:16

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 13:16 - “But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear.

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 13:17

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 13:17 - I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, but they didn’t see it. And they longed to hear what you hear, but they didn’t hear it.
(Mar 4:13–20; Luk 8:11–15 )

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 13:18

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 13:18 - “Now listen to the explanation of the parable about the farmer planting seeds:

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 13:19

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 13:19 - The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message about the Kingdom and don’t understand it. Then the evil one comes and snatches away the seed that was planted in their hearts.

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 13:20

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 13:20 - The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy.

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 13:21

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 13:21 - But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word.

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 13:22

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 13:22 - The seed that fell among the thorns represents those who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life and the lure of wealth, so no fruit is produced.

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 13:23

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 13:23 - The seed that fell on good soil represents those who truly hear and understand God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!”
Parable of the Wheat and Weeds

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 13:24

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 13:24 - Here is another story Jesus told: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a farmer who planted good seed in his field.

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 13:25

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 13:25 - But that night as the workers slept, his enemy came and planted weeds among the wheat, then slipped away.

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 13:26

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 13:26 - When the crop began to grow and produce grain, the weeds also grew.

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 13:27

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 13:27 - “The farmer’s workers went to him and said, ‘Sir, the field where you planted that good seed is full of weeds! Where did they come from?’

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 13:28

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 13:28 - “‘An enemy has done this!’ the farmer exclaimed. “‘Should we pull out the weeds?’ they asked.

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 13:29

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 13:29 - “‘No,’ he replied, ‘you’ll uproot the wheat if you do.

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 13:30

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 13:30 - Let both grow together until the harvest. Then I will tell the harvesters to sort out the weeds, tie them into bundles, and burn them, and to put the wheat in the barn.’”
Parable of the Mustard Seed
(Mar 4:30–32; Luk 13:18, 19 )

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 13:31

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 13:31 - Here is another illustration Jesus used: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed planted in a field.

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 13:32

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 13:32 - It is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest of garden plants; it grows into a tree, and birds come and make nests in its branches.”
Parable of the Yeast
(Luk 13:20, 21 )

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 13:33

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 13:33 - Jesus also used this illustration: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like the yeast a woman used in making bread. Even though she put only a little yeast in three measures of flour, it permeated every part of the dough.”

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 13:34

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 13:34 - Jesus always used stories and illustrations like these when speaking to the crowds. In fact, he never spoke to them without using such parables.

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 13:35

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 13:35 - This fulfilled what God had spoken through the prophet:
“I will speak to you in parables.
I will explain things hidden since the creation of the world.[fn]”
Parable of the Wheat and Weeds Explained

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 13:36

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 13:36 - Then, leaving the crowds outside, Jesus went into the house. His disciples said, “Please explain to us the story of the weeds in the field.”

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 13:37

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 13:37 - Jesus replied, “The Son of Man[fn] is the farmer who plants the good seed.

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 13:38

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 13:38 - The field is the world, and the good seed represents the people of the Kingdom. The weeds are the people who belong to the evil one.

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 13:39

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 13:39 - The enemy who planted the weeds among the wheat is the devil. The harvest is the end of the world,[fn] and the harvesters are the angels.

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 13:40

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 13:40 - “Just as the weeds are sorted out and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the world.

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 13:41

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 13:41 - The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will remove from his Kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil.

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 13:42

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 13:42 - And the angels will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 13:43

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 13:43 - Then the righteous will shine like the sun in their Father’s Kingdom. Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!
Parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 13:44

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 13:44 - “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field.

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 13:45

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 13:45 - “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant on the lookout for choice pearls.

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 13:46

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 13:46 - When he discovered a pearl of great value, he sold everything he owned and bought it!
Parable of the Fishing Net

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 13:47

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 13:47 - “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a fishing net that was thrown into the water and caught fish of every kind.

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 13:48

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 13:48 - When the net was full, they dragged it up onto the shore, sat down, and sorted the good fish into crates, but threw the bad ones away.

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 13:49

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 13:49 - That is the way it will be at the end of the world. The angels will come and separate the wicked people from the righteous,

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 13:50

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 13:50 - throwing the wicked into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 13:51

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 13:51 - Do you understand all these things?”
“Yes,” they said, “we do.”

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 13:52

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 13:52 - Then he added, “Every teacher of religious law who becomes a disciple in the Kingdom of Heaven is like a homeowner who brings from his storeroom new gems of truth as well as old.”
Jesus Rejected at Nazareth
(Mar 6:1–6; Luk 4:16–30 )

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 13:53

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 13:53 - When Jesus had finished telling these stories and illustrations, he left that part of the country.

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 13:54

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 13:54 - He returned to Nazareth, his hometown. When he taught there in the synagogue, everyone was amazed and said, “Where does he get this wisdom and the power to do miracles?”

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 13:55

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 13:55 - Then they scoffed, “He’s just the carpenter’s son, and we know Mary, his mother, and his brothers—James, Joseph,[fn] Simon, and Judas.

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 13:56

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 13:56 - All his sisters live right here among us. Where did he learn all these things?”

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 13:57

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 13:57 - And they were deeply offended and refused to believe in him.
Then Jesus told them, “A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his own family.”

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Unchecked Copy Box Mat 13:58

Unchecked Copy BoxMat 13:58 - And so he did only a few miracles there because of their unbelief.
See the NLT Preface (Especially for Parenthesis, Brackets, & Asterisks).
NLT Footnotes
Greek the mysteries.
Isa 6:9-10 (Greek version).
Isa 6:9-10 (Greek version).
Some manuscripts do not include of the world. Ps 78:2.
“Son of Man” is a title Jesus used for himself.
Or the age; also in 13:40, 49.
Other manuscripts read Joses; still others read John.
NLT

Holy Bible, New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Full copyright information is provided here. Visit the New Living Translation website.

For more information on this translation, see the NLT Preface.

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Matthew Chapter 13 — Additional Translations:

King James Version New King James Version New International Version English Standard Version Christian Standard Bible New American Standard Bible 2020 New American Standard Bible 1995 Legacy Standard Bible Amplified Bible New English Translation Revised Standard Version American Standard Version Young's Literal Translation Darby Translation Webster's Bible Hebrew Names Version Latin Vulgate Morphological Greek New Testament Textus Receptus Smith Van Dyck Arabic Bible Open New Arabic Version Reina Valera 1909 Reina-Valera 1960 Bible in Basic English Chinese Traditional Union Espanol Moderno Korean Holy Bible Louis Segond German Luther Russian Synodal Translation Sagradas Escrituras