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Matthew Chapter 13

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October 6, 2025

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🚤 Jesus Teaches from a Boat

One day, Jesus went down to the big lake. So many people came to hear Him that there wasn’t enough room on the beach! So Jesus got into a fishing boat and sat down while all the people stood on the shore. Then Jesus began telling them wonderful stories called parables.ᵃ

🌱 The Story of the Farmer and His Seeds

Jesus said, “Listen to this story! A farmer went out to plant seeds in his field. As he walked around throwing seeds everywhere, something interesting happened: Some seeds fell on the hard dirt path where people walked. The hungry birds saw them and ate them all up – yum!

Other seeds fell on rocky ground that only had a little bit of dirt on top. These seeds grew really fast at first, but when the hot sun came out, they dried up and died because their roots couldn’t grow deep into the rocks.

Some seeds fell where there were lots of thorny weeds. The seeds started to grow, but the mean thorns grew faster and stronger, choking out the little plants until they couldn’t breathe.

But the best seeds fell on really good, soft dirt! These seeds grew into amazing plants that made tons of food – some made 30 times more than what was planted, some made 60 times more, and some made 100 times more! That’s like planting one seed and getting 100 back!”

“If you have ears, listen carefully to what this story means!”

🤔 Why Does Jesus Tell Stories?

Later, Jesus’ special friends (called disciples) came to Him and asked, “Jesus, why do You always tell stories instead of just explaining things?”

Jesus said, “You get to understand the secrets of God’s Kingdom because you really want to know Me. But some people don’t really want to understand, so I tell stories. The people who really want to know God will understand what the stories mean, but people who don’t care won’t get it.”

“You are so blessed because you can see and hear what I’m teaching! Many good people who lived long ago really wanted to see and hear what you’re experiencing, but they never got to!”

🌾 What the Farmer Story Really Means

Then Jesus explained His story: “The seeds are like when someone hears about God’s Kingdom. Here’s what happens to different people:

The seeds on the hard path are like people who hear about God but don’t really think about it. The Satan, the bad guy, comes and steals the good news right out of their hearts before it can grow.

The seeds on rocky ground are like people who get really excited about God at first, but when hard times come or people make fun of them for believing in God, they give up quickly because they didn’t let God’s love grow deep roots in their hearts.

The seeds among the thorns are like people who hear about God, but they worry too much about money and stuff, and those worries choke out their love for God.

But the seeds in good soil are like people who hear about God, really understand it, and let it change their whole lives! These people help lots of other people know God too!”

🌾 The Story of the Sneaky Enemy

Jesus told another story: “God’s Kingdom is like a farmer who planted good wheat seeds in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy snuck into the field and planted weed seeds all mixed up with the good wheat! Then he ran away.

When the plants started growing, the workers saw weeds growing right next to the wheat! They asked the farmer, ‘Boss, didn’t you plant good seeds? Where did all these weeds come from?’

‘My enemy did this!’ the farmer said. ‘Should we pull up all the weeds?’ the workers asked.

‘No way!’ said the farmer. ‘If you try to pull up the weeds now, you might accidentally pull up the good wheat too. Let them both grow together until harvest time. Then we’ll gather the weeds first and burn them, and put all the good wheat safely in my barn.'”

🌳 The Tiny Seed That Became Huge

Jesus told another story: “God’s Kingdom is like the tiniest seed you’ve ever seen – a mustard seed.ᵇ Even though it starts super small, it grows into a huge tree so big that birds can build their nests in it and live there!”

🍞 The ‘Glory’ Yeast

Jesus said, “God’s Kingdom is also like when a mom takes a tiny bit of yeast and mixes it into a huge amount of flour – enough to make bread for 100 people! That little bit of yeast makes all the dough rise and become fluffy and delicious!”

Jesus only taught the crowds using these kinds of stories, just like the Bible promised He would!

🏠 Jesus Explains the Weed Story

Later, Jesus went inside a house with just His disciples. They asked, “Please explain the story about the weeds in the field!”

Jesus said, “I am the Farmer who plants the good seeds. The field is the whole world. The good seeds are people who love God and belong to His Kingdom. The weeds are people who follow the Satan, the bad guy. The enemy who planted the bad seeds is the Satan himself. The harvest time is when the world ends, and the workers who gather everything are God’s angels.

Just like the weeds get burned up, that’s what will happen to evil people at the end of time. I will send My angels to take all the bad people away from My Kingdom. But the good people who love God will shine like the sun in God’s Kingdom forever!”

“Listen carefully if you want to understand!”

💎 The Hidden Treasure

Jesus said, “God’s Kingdom is like a man who found buried treasure in a field! He was so excited that he hid it again, then went and sold everything he owned to buy that field so the treasure would be his!”

💍 The Most Beautiful Pearl

“God’s Kingdom is also like a man who collected beautiful pearls. When he found the most amazing, perfect pearl ever, he sold everything he had to buy it!”

🎣 The Big Fishing Net

“God’s Kingdom is like fishermen who threw a huge net into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. When the net was full, they pulled it to shore and sat down to sort through their catch. They kept all the good fish in baskets and threw the bad fish away.

That’s what it will be like when the world ends. God’s angels will come and separate the good people from the evil people. The evil people will be thrown into a terrible place where they’ll cry and be very sad.”

“Do you understand all these stories?” Jesus asked His friends. “Yes!” they said.

Jesus said, “Great! Anyone who learns and teaches about God’s Kingdom is like someone who owns a treasure chest full of both new treasures and old treasures, and they can share both with others!”

😔 The People in Jesus’ Hometown Don’t Believe

After Jesus finished telling these stories, He went back to His hometown of Nazareth. He taught in their church building, and the people were amazed! But then they said, “Wait a minute – isn’t this just the carpenter’s son? We know His mom Mary and His brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas! His sisters live right here with us! How can He be so wise and do miracles?”

They were offended and didn’t want to believe in Jesus.

But Jesus told them, “A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and with his own family.” Because the people didn’t believe in Jesus, He didn’t do many miracles there.

🔍 What These Big Words Mean

  • ᵃ Parables: Special stories that Jesus told to teach people about God. They’re like puzzles – you have to think about what they really mean!
  • ᵇ Mustard seed: One of the tiniest seeds in the world, but it grows into a huge plant! Jesus used it to show how something small can become really big and important.
  • 1
    That same day, Jesus left the house and went down to sit by the lake.
  • 2
    Such massive crowds gathered around Him that He got into a boat and sat down to teach, while all the people stood along the shoreline.
  • 3
    Then He began teaching them many things through parables, saying:
  • 4
    “Listen! A farmer went out to plant his seeds.
  • 5
    Other seeds fell on rocky ground with only a thin layer of soil. The plants sprouted quickly in the shallow earth,
  • 6
    but when the sun came up, they were scorched and withered away because they had no deep roots.
  • 7
    Some seeds fell among thorns, and as they grew, the thorns choked them out.
  • 8
    But other seeds fell on good, fertile soil and produced an amazing harvest—some yielding 30 times what was planted, some 60 times, and some even 100 times as much!”
  • 9
    “Anyone who has ears to hear, let them really listen and understand!”
  • 10
    Later, His disciples came to Him privately and asked, “Why do You always speak to the crowds in parables?”
  • 11
    Jesus replied, “You have been given the privilege to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of the heavens, but they have not been given this understanding.
  • 12
    For whoever has spiritual insight will be given even more, and they will have abundance. But whoever lacks this insight will lose even what little they think they have.
  • 13
    This is why I speak to them in parables: though they look, they don’t really see; though they listen, they don’t really hear or understand.”
  • 14
    “In them, the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled: ‘You will keep on hearing, but never understand;
    you will keep on seeing, but never perceive.
  • 15
    For this people’s hearts have grown dull and thick;
    their ears are hard of hearing,
    and they have shut their eyes tight,
    so they won’t see with their eyes,
    hear with their ears,
    understand with their hearts,
    and turn back to Me for healing.’
  • 16
    “But how blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear!
  • 17
    I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you’re seeing, but never saw it, and to hear what you’re hearing, but never heard it.”
  • 18
    “So listen to what the parable of the farmer means:
  • 19
    When anyone hears the message about the Kingdom, but doesn’t understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was planted in their heart. This is like the seed that fell on the hard path.
  • 20
    The seed on rocky ground represents someone who hears the Word and immediately receives it with joy,
  • 21
    but since they have no deep roots, they only last for a while. When trouble or persecution comes because of the Word, they quickly fall away.
  • 22
    The seed that fell among thorns represents someone who hears the Word, but the worries of this life and the deceitful appeal of wealth choke out the Word, making it fruitless.
  • 23
    But the seed planted in good soil represents someone who hears the Word and truly understands it. This person bears fruit and produces a harvest—some 30, some 60, some 100 times what was planted.”
  • 24
    Jesus told them another parable: “The Kingdom of the heavens is like a man who planted good seed in his field.
  • 25
    But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and planted weeds among the wheat, then slipped away.
  • 26
    When the wheat sprouted and formed heads of grain, the weeds appeared too.”
  • 27
    “The farmer’s workers came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you plant good seed in your field? Where did these weeds come from?’
  • 28
    ‘An enemy did this,’ he replied. The workers asked, ‘Do you want us to go and pull up the weeds?’
  • 29
    ‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you’re pulling up the weeds, you might uproot the wheat with them.
  • 30
    Let both grow together until harvest time. Then I’ll tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned, then gather the wheat into my barn.'”
  • 31
    He told them another parable: “The Kingdom of the heavens is like a tiny mustard seed that a man planted in his field.
  • 32
    Though it’s the smallest of all seeds, when it grows, it becomes larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and make nests in its branches.”
  • 33
    He told them still another parable: “The Kingdom of the heavens is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about 60 poundsᵃ of flour until it worked all through the dough.”
  • 34
    Jesus spoke all these things to the crowds in parables; He didn’t say anything to them without using a parable.
  • 35
    This fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet Asaph:
    ‘I will open My mouth in parables;
    I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world.’
  • 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 sows the good seed is the Son of Man.ᵇ
  • 38
    The field is the world, and the good seed represents the children of the Kingdom. The weeds are the children 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
    “Just as the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this 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 practice lawlessness.
  • 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. Anyone who has ears, let them hear!”
  • 44
    “The Kingdom of the heavens is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold everything he had and bought that field.”
  • 45
    “Again, the Kingdom of the heavens 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.”
  • 47
    “Once again, the Kingdom of the heavens 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 Torahᶜ who has become a disciple in the Kingdom of the heavens is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.”
  • 53
    When Jesus finished these parables, He moved on from there.
  • 54
    Coming to His hometown of Nazareth, He began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. “Where did this Man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?” they asked.
  • 55
    “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t His mother’s name Mary, and aren’t His brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas?
  • 56
    Aren’t all His sisters with us? Where then did this Man get all these things?”
  • 57
    And they took offense at Him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town and in his own home.”
  • 58
    And He did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.

Footnotes:

  • ³³ᵃ 60 pounds: The Greek text says “three measures” (sata), which equals approximately 60 pounds of flour—enough to feed about 100 people, showing the extensive reach of God’s Kingdom.
  • ³⁷ᵇ Son of Man: Jesus’ favorite title for Himself, emphasizing both His humanity and His divine authority as the Messianic figure from Daniel 7:13-14.
  • ⁵²ᶜ Teacher of the law: A scribe or religious scholar expert in Jewish law and Scripture, now transformed by Kingdom understanding.
  • 1
    (1) On that day Yeshua went out the house and sat by the sea.
  • 2
    (2) Many crowds assembled to Him so He got into a boat, sitting down, while the whole crowd stood on the beach.
  • 3
    (3) Speaking much to them in parables, saying, “Look, the sower went out to sow.”
  • 4
    (4) As he sowed some on one hand fell beside the road and the birds came, eating them up.
  • 5
    (5) Now others fell on the rocky ground where not having much soil, immediately sprang up because of not having soil depth.
  • 6
    (6) But the sun rose and they were scorched because of not having root and withered (dried up).
  • 7
    (7) Now others fell on thorns and the thorns came up, choking (drowning) them out.
  • 8
    (8) And others fell on the good soil and produces a crop, some on the one hand a 100x, some 60x and some 30x.
  • 9
    (9) He having ears, listen!
  • 10
    (10) The disciples came saying to Him, “Why speak in parables to them?”
  • 11
    (11) Now He answered, saying to them, “To you its granted to know the mysteries of the Kingdom above but to them its not been granted.”
  • 12
    (12) Because whoever has to them is granted to have abundance but whoever doesn’t have, even what they have is taken away from them.
  • 13
    (13) Therefore I speak to them in parables because seeing they don’t see and hearing they don’t hear nor understand.
  • 14
    For of them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled saying: ‘HEARING YOU WILL HEAR, BUT NOT UNDERSTAND, ‘SEEING YOU WILL SEE, BUT NOT SEE.’
  • 15
    BECAUSE THE HEART OF THIS PEOPLE IS MADE DULL, THEIR EARS ARE HARD OF HEARING, THEY HAVE CLOSED THEIR EYES. OTHERWISE THEY MIGHT SEE WITH THEIR EYES, AND MIGHT HEAR WITH THEIR EARS, AND UNDERSTAND WITH THEIR HEART AND RETURN, AND I WOULD HEAL THEM.’
  • 16
    (16) But blessed are your eyes that see and your ears that hear.
  • 17
    (17) Because amen I tell you that many prophets and upright desired to see what you see and didn’t see and to hear what you hear and didn’t hear.
  • 18
    (18) You hear then, the parable of the sower.
  • 19
    (19) Everybody hearing the message of the Kingdom and not understanding. Evil comes and snatches away that sown in their heart. This is those sown beside the road.
  • 20
    (20) Now those sown on the rocky ground, these hear the message and straight-away receive it with joy.
  • 21
    (21) But have no root in themselves but is temporary. Now when distress or persecution happens because of the message, straight-away it’s caused to stumble (fall away).
  • 22
    (22) Now the seed sown among the thorns, these are those hearing the message and the concerns of this age and the deception of wealth choke the word becoming unfruitful.
  • 23
    (23) And those seed, sown upon the good soil, these are those hearing the message with understanding who produce fruit, who make on the one hand 100x, some 60x and some 30x.”
  • 24
    (24) Presenting another parable to them, He said, “The Kingdom above is like a Man sowing good seed in His field.”
  • 25
    (25) But while His men were sleeping His enemy came and sowed darnel (tares) among the wheat and went away.
  • 26
    (26) Now when the grass sprouted and bore grain the tares appeared also.
  • 27
    (27) Now the landowner’s slaves came, saying to him, “LORD , didn’t You sow good seed in Your field? From where are these tares?”
  • 28
    (28) He said to them, “An enemy man has done this!” Now the slaves said to him, “Do you want us to go gather them up?”
  • 29
    (29) But He said, “No, unless while gathering up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them.
  • 30
    (30) Allow both to grow together until the harvest and in the harvest time I will say to the reapers, ‘Gather first of all the tares and tie them in bundles to burn them up and assemble the wheat into My barn.'”
  • 31
    (31) Presenting another parable to them He said, “The Kingdom above is like a mustard seed which a man took and sowed in his field.
  • 32
    (32) On the one hand it is smaller than all seeds, but when full grown (mature) its larger than the garden plants becoming a tree so THE BIRDS OF THE SKY COME AND NEST IN ITS BRANCHES.
  • 33
    (33) He spoke another parable to them, “The Kingdom above is like leaven which a woman took, hiding into three sata (about 39 litres) of flour until it was leavened.”
  • 34
    (34) All this Yeshua spoke to the crowds in parables, He didn’t speak to them without a parable.
  • 35
    (35) This fulfilled that spoken through the prophet saying: ‘I WILL OPEN MY MOUTH IN RIDDLES, I WILL PROCLAIM HIDDEN THINGS FROM THE FOUNDATION.’
  • 36
    (36) At that time, leaving the crowds, He went into the house and His disciples came to Him saying, “Explain to us the parable of the darnel (tares) in the field.”
  • 37
    (37) He answered, saying, “Him sowing the good seed is the Son of Humanity.”
  • 38
    (38) and the field is the world. Now the good seed, these are the Kingdom sons and the tares as the sons of evil.
  • 39
    (39) The enemy who sowed them is the adversary and the harvest is the consummation of the age and the reapers are angels.
  • 40
    (40) So exactly as the darnel tares are gathered up and burned with fire, in this way, will it be in the completion of the age.
  • 41
    (41) The Son of Humanity will send out His angels gathering from His Kingdom all stumbling blocks and those practicing injustice.
  • 42
    (42) Throwing them into the furnace fire, in that place will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
  • 43
    Then THE RIGHTEOUS WILL SHINE LIKE THE SUN in the Kingdom of their Father. The one who has ears, listen!
  • 44
    (44) The Kingdom above is like treasure hidden in the field, which a man found secretly. From the joy over it he goes and sells everything he has and buys that field.
  • 45
    (45) Again the Kingdom above is like a merchant man seeking good pearls.
  • 46
    (46) Now finding one pearl of immense value he went out and sold everything he had and bought it.
  • 47
    (47) Again the Kingdom above is like a dragnet cast into the sea, gathering from every nation.
  • 48
    (48) That when filled they pulled up on the beach and they sat down gathering the good into vessels but throwing the bad away.
  • 49
    (49) In this way it will be at the consummation of the age, the angels go out and separate the wicked from the righteous middle
  • 50
    (50) and will throw them into the furnace fire. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
  • 51
    (51) Do you understand all this? Say to Him, “Yes!”
  • 52
    And He said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has been discipled for the Kingdom of the skies is like a master of the House, who brings out of his treasury—things new and old.”
  • 53
    (53) When Yeshua finished these parables, He went away from there.
  • 54
    (54) Coming to His own part of the country, He taught them in their synagogue so that they were overwhelmed. They said, “From where is this wisdom and powerful deeds?”
  • 55
    (55) Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t His mother called Mary and His brothers, Jacob, Joseph, Simon and Judas?
  • 56
    (56) And His sisters, aren’t they all with us? From where then is all this?
  • 57
    (57) They stumbled (offended) at Him, but Yeshua said to them, “A prophet isn’t without honour except in his own part of the country, in his house.”
  • 58
    (58) And He didn’t do many powerful deeds there because of their unbelief.

Footnotes:

  • ³³ᵃ 60 pounds: The Greek text says “three measures” (sata), which equals approximately 60 pounds of flour—enough to feed about 100 people, showing the extensive reach of God’s Kingdom.
  • ³⁷ᵇ Son of Man: Jesus’ favorite title for Himself, emphasizing both His humanity and His divine authority as the Messianic figure from Daniel 7:13-14.
  • ⁵²ᶜ Teacher of the law: A scribe or religious scholar expert in Jewish law and Scripture, now transformed by Kingdom understanding.
  • 1
    The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side.
  • 2
    And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.
  • 3
    And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;
  • 4
    And when he sowed, some [seeds] fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:
  • 5
    Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:
  • 6
    And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.
  • 7
    And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:
  • 8
    But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.
  • 9
    Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
  • 10
    And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
  • 11
    He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
  • 12
    For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.
  • 13
    Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
  • 14
    And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:
  • 15
    For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and [their] ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with [their] eyes, and hear with [their] ears, and should understand with [their] heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
  • 16
    But blessed [are] your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.
  • 17
    For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous [men] have desired to see [those things] which ye see, and have not seen [them]; and to hear [those things] which ye hear, and have not heard [them].
  • 18
    Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.
  • 19
    When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth [it] not, then cometh the wicked [one], and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.
  • 20
    But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;
  • 21
    Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.
  • 22
    He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
  • 23
    But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth [it]; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
  • 24
    Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:
  • 25
    But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.
  • 26
    But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.
  • 27
    So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?
  • 28
    He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?
  • 29
    But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.
  • 30
    Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.
  • 31
    Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field:
  • 32
    Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.
  • 33
    Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.
  • 34
    All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them:
  • 35
    That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.
  • 36
    Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field.
  • 37
    He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;
  • 38
    The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked [one];
  • 39
    The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.
  • 40
    As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.
  • 41
    The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;
  • 42
    And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
  • 43
    Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
  • 44
    Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.
  • 45
    Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:
  • 46
    Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
  • 47
    Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind:
  • 48
    Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.
  • 49
    So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just,
  • 50
    And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
  • 51
    Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord.
  • 52
    Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe [which is] instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man [that is] an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure [things] new and old.
  • 53
    And it came to pass, [that] when Jesus had finished these parables, he departed thence.
  • 54
    And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this [man] this wisdom, and [these] mighty works?
  • 55
    Is not this the carpenter’s son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?
  • 56
    And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this [man] all these things?
  • 57
    And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house.
  • 58
    And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.
  • 1
    That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the sea.
  • 2
    Such large crowds gathered around Him that He got into a boat and sat down, while all the people stood on the shore.
  • 3
    And He told them many things in parables, saying, “A farmer went out to sow his seed.
  • 4
    And as he was sowing, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it.
  • 5
    Some fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly because the soil was shallow.
  • 6
    But when the sun rose, the seedlings were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.
  • 7
    Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the seedlings.
  • 8
    Still other seed fell on good soil and produced a crop—a hundredfold, sixtyfold, or thirtyfold.
  • 9
    He who has ears, let him hear.”
  • 10
    Then the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Why do You speak to the people in parables?”
  • 11
    He replied, “The knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them.
  • 12
    Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.
  • 13
    This is why I speak to them in parables: ‘Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.’
  • 14
    In them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled: ‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.
  • 15
    For this people’s heart has grown callous; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them.’
  • 16
    But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear.
  • 17
    For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.
  • 18
    Consider, then, the parable of the sower:
  • 19
    When anyone hears the message of the kingdom but does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path.
  • 20
    The seed sown on rocky ground is the one who hears the word and at once receives it with joy.
  • 21
    But since he has no root, he remains for only a season. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away.
  • 22
    The seed sown among the thorns is the one who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
  • 23
    But the seed sown on good soil is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and produces a crop—a hundredfold, sixtyfold, or thirtyfold.”
  • 24
    Jesus put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field.
  • 25
    But while everyone was asleep, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and slipped away.
  • 26
    When the wheat sprouted and bore grain, then the weeds also appeared.
  • 27
    The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’
  • 28
    ‘An enemy did this,’ he replied. So the servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’
  • 29
    ‘No,’ he said, ‘if you pull the weeds now, you might uproot the wheat with them.
  • 30
    Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat into my barn.’”
  • 31
    He put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a man planted in his field.
  • 32
    Although it is the smallest of all seeds, yet it grows into the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.”
  • 33
    He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and mixed into three measures of flour, until all of it was leavened.”
  • 34
    Jesus spoke all these things to the crowds in parables. He did not tell them anything without using a parable.
  • 35
    So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet: “I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things hidden since the foundation of the world.”
  • 36
    Then Jesus dismissed the crowds 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 replied, “The One who sows the good seed is the Son of Man.
  • 38
    The field is the world, and the good seed represents the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons 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 collected and burned in the fire, so will it 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 every cause of sin and all who practice lawlessness.
  • 42
    And they will throw them into the fiery 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. He who has ears, let him hear.
  • 44
    The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and in his joy he went and sold all he had and bought that field.
  • 45
    Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls.
  • 46
    When he found one very precious pearl, he went away and sold all he had and bought it.
  • 47
    Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was cast into the sea and caught all kinds of fish.
  • 48
    When it was full, the men pulled it ashore. Then they sat down and sorted the good fish into containers, but threw the bad away.
  • 49
    So will it be at the end of the age: The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous,
  • 50
    and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
  • 51
    Have you understood all these things?” “Yes,” they answered.
  • 52
    Then He told them, “For this reason, every scribe who has been discipled in the kingdom of heaven is like a homeowner who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.”
  • 53
    When Jesus had finished these parables, He withdrew from that place.
  • 54
    Coming to His hometown, He taught the people in their synagogue, and they were astonished. “Where did this man get such wisdom and miraculous powers?” they asked.
  • 55
    “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t His mother’s name Mary, and aren’t His brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas?
  • 56
    Aren’t all His sisters with us as well? Where then did this man get all these things?”
  • 57
    And they took offense at Him. But Jesus said to them, “Only in his hometown and in his own household is a prophet without honor.”
  • 58
    And He did not do many miracles there, because of their unbelief.

Matthew Chapter 13 Commentary

1What’s Matthew 13 about?
2The Full Context
3What the Ancient Words Tell Us
4What Would the Original Audience Have Heard?
5Wrestling with the Text
6How This Changes Everything
7Key Takeaway
8Further Reading

Why Jesus Started Speaking in Riddles

What’s Matthew 13 about?

This is the chapter where Jesus completely changes his teaching style – instead of clear statements, He starts telling these cryptic stories that leave everyone scratching their heads. It’s all about a Kingdom that’s both here and not here, hidden in plain sight, and absolutely nothing like what anyone expected.

The Full Context

Picture this: Jesus has been healing the sick, confronting religious leaders, and drawing massive crowds who think He might be the political Messiah they’ve been waiting for. But then something shifts. In Matthew 13, Jesus walks out to the lakeside and starts telling stories – not just any stories, but parables that seem designed to confuse as much as clarify. This isn’t accidental. The religious establishment has been pushing back hard against Jesus’ ministry, and the crowds are getting the wrong idea about what kind of Kingdom He’s offering.

Matthew arranges this collection of seven parables as the centerpiece of his Gospel (Good News) – it’s Jesus’ longest single teaching block about the heavenly Kingdom. These aren’t cute moral tales; they’re revolutionary descriptions of how God’s Kingdom operates in a world that doesn’t recognize it. The chapter reveals why Jesus shifted to parabolic teaching and what this mysterious “Kingdom of the heavens” actually looks like when it crashes into ordinary life. For Matthew’s Jewish audience, these parables/riddles would have been both familiar (rabbis loved teaching through stories) and completely shocking in their content.

What the Ancient Words Tell Us

The word parabole that Matthew uses isn’t just “story” – it literally means “to throw alongside.” Jesus is taking familiar images and throwing them alongside spiritual truths to help people see connections they’d never noticed before. When he talks about the “Kingdom of the heavens,” the Greek basileia ton ouranon isn’t just describing a place you go when you die. It’s describing God’s royal rule breaking into the present world.

Grammar Geeks

When Jesus says “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the Kingdom” in Matthew 13:11, that word “secrets” is mysteria – not mysterious in our sense, but divine truths that can only be understood through revelation. These aren’t puzzles to solve; they’re realities that require spiritual eyes to see.

The parable of the sower uses agricultural imagery that would have been visceral for Jesus’ audience. The Greek word for “path” (hodos) was also used metaphorically for “way of life.” When the seed falls on the hard-packed path, it’s not just about farming – it’s about hearts that have been trampled by life until they can’t receive anything new.

What Would the Original Audience Have Heard?

Put yourself in the first-century Holy Land. You’re expecting a Messiah who’ll kick out the Romans and restore Israel’s political glory. Instead, Jesus starts talking about tiny mustard seeds and hidden treasure. These people would have been thinking, “This is your Kingdom strategy? Seeds and yeast?”

The parable of the wheat and weeds would have hit especially hard. The Holy Land was an agricultural society where everyone knew the frustration of zizania (darnel) – a weed that looks identical to wheat until harvest time. Any farmer hearing this would have been nodding along, thinking about their own fields. But then Jesus drops the bombshell: God’s not pulling the weeds yet. He’s letting them grow together until the end.

Did You Know?

Roman law actually made it a crime to sow darnel in someone else’s field – it was considered an act of revenge that could destroy an entire harvest. Jesus’ audience would have immediately understood the malicious intent behind the enemy’s actions in the parable.

For Jewish listeners, the idea that God’s Kingdom would include both good and bad people until the final judgment was revolutionary. They expected the Messiah to separate the righteous from the wicked immediately. Jesus is saying, “Actually, God’s more patient than you think.”

Wrestling with the Text

Here’s where things get genuinely puzzling: why does Jesus seem to intentionally make His teaching less clear? In Matthew 13:13, He explains that He speaks in parables “because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.” That sounds almost cruel – like He’s trying to hide truth from people who need it most.

Wait, That’s Strange…

Jesus quotes Isaiah 6:9-10 about people who hear but don’t understand – but in Isaiah’s context, this was God’s judgment on Israel for their persistent rebellion. Is Jesus saying the same judgment is happening in His time?

The answer lies in understanding how parables actually work. They’re not riddles with hidden answers; they’re mirrors that reveal what’s already in your heart. If you come to Jesus looking for a political revolution, the parables will leave you cold. If you come with a heart open to God’s surprising ways, they’ll blow your mind. The same story that hardens one person’s heart will soften another’s.

This explains why Jesus tells His disciples the “secrets” while speaking to others in parables. It’s not about playing favorites – it’s about readiness. The disciples have already committed to following Jesus wherever He leads. The crowds are still shopping around for a Messiah who fits their expectations.

How This Changes Everything

These parables completely reframe what it means to live under God’s rule. The Kingdom isn’t coming with armies and fanfare – it’s already here, growing quietly like yeast in dough or treasure hidden in a field. You might walk right past it and never notice, unless you know what to look for.

The parable of the hidden treasure and the pearl of great price shows us that recognizing God’s Kingdom is worth everything you have. But notice – the treasure was already there, buried in an ordinary field. The pearl was sitting in a market where people walked by it every day. God’s Kingdom isn’t absent from our world; we’re just not seeing it.

“God’s Kingdom operates like yeast – invisibly, inevitably, transforming everything from the inside out.”

This changes how we think about both evangelism and social action. We’re not trying to build God’s Kingdom or bring it down from Heaven. We’re learning to recognize where it’s already breaking through and joining what God is already doing. Sometimes that looks like dramatic transformation; sometimes it looks like patient, invisible growth over decades.

Key Takeaway

God’s Kingdom doesn’t match our expectations, but that’s exactly why it works. While we’re looking for spectacular displays of power, God is quietly transforming the world through ordinary people who recognize treasure when they see it.

Further Reading

Internal Links:

External Scholarly Resources:

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