LO - Matthew - 13

13:1  The same day, Jesus having gone out of the house, sat by the sea-side;

13:2  but so great a multitude flocked about him, that he went into a bark, and sat down there, while all the people stood on the shore.

13:3  Then he discoursed to them of many things in parables.

13:4  The sower, said he, went out to sow; and, in sowing, some seeds fell by the way-side, and the birds came and picked them up:

13:5  some fell on rocky ground, where they had but little earth: these sprang up the sooner, because the soil had no depth:

13:6  but after the sun had beat upon them, they were scorched, and having no root, withered away.

13:7  Some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked them.

13:8  Others fell into good ground, and yielded increase, some a hundred, some sixty, some thirty fold.

13:9  Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear.

13:10  Then the disciples addressed him, saying, Why do you speak to them in parables?

13:11  He answering, said to them, Because it is your privilege, and not theirs, to know the secrets of the Reign of Heaven.

13:12  For to him that has, more shall be given, and he shall abound; but from him that has not, even that which he has shall be taken.

13:13  For this reason I speak to them in parables; because they seeing, see not; and hearing, hear not, nor regard;

13:14  insomuch that this prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled in them, "You will indeed hear, but will not understand; you will look, but will not perceive.

13:15  For this people's understanding is stupefied, their ears are deafened, and their eyes they have closed; lest seeing with their eyes, hearing with their ears, and apprehending with their understanding, they should reform, and I should reclaim them."

13:16  But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear.

13:17  For, indeed, I say to you, that many prophets and righteous men have desired to see the things which you see, but have not seen them; and to hear the things which you hear, but have not heard them.

13:18  Understand you, therefore, the parable of the sower.

13:19  When one hears the doctrine of the Reign, but considers it not, the evil one comes, and snatches away that which was sown in his heart. This explains what fell by the way-side.

13:20  That which fell on rocky ground, denotes him who, hearing the word, receives it at first with pleasure;

13:21  yet, not having it rooted in his mind, retains it but a while; for when trouble or persecution comes, because of the word, instantly he relapses.

13:22  That which fell among thorns, denotes that hearer in whom worldly cares, and deceitful riches, choke the word, and render it unfruitful.

13:23  But that which fell into good soil, and bore fruit, some a hundred, some sixty, some thirty fold, denotes him, who not only hears and considers, but obeys the word.

13:24  Another parable he proposed to them, saying, The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a field, in which the proprietor has sown good grain:

13:25  but while people were asleep, his enemy came, and sowed darnel among the wheat, and went off.

13:26  When the blade was up, and putting forth the ear, then appeared also the darnel.

13:27  And the servants came, and said to their master, Sir, you sowed good grain in your field; whence, then, has it darnel?

13:28  He answered, An enemy has done this. They said, Will you, then, that we weed them out?

13:29  He replied, No, lest in weeding out the darnel, you tear up the wheat.

13:30  Let both grow together until the harvest; and in the time of harvest, I will say to the reapers, first gather the darnel, and make them into bundles for burning; then carry the wheat into my barn.

13:31  Another similitude he proposed to them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man planted in his field;

13:32  for though it is the smallest of seeds, when grown, larger than any herb, and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air take the shelter in its branches.

13:33  Another similitude he gave them: The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman mingled in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.

13:34  All these similitudes Jesus spoke to the people; for he taught them only by similitudes;

13:35  in this verifying the word of the Prophet, "I will discourse in parables; I will utter things concerning which, all antiquity has been silent."

13:36  Then Jesus, leaving the multitude, retired to the house, where his disciples accosted him, saying, Explain to us the parable of the darnel in the field.

13:37  Jesus answering, said to them, He who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man.

13:38  The field is the world; the good seed are the sons of the kingdom; and the darnel are the sons of the evil one;

13:39  the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the conclusion of this state; and the reapers are the angels.

13:40  As, therefore, the darnel is gathered and burnt, so shall it be at the conclusion of this state.

13:41  The Son of Man will send his angels who shall gather out of his kingdom all seducers and iniquitous persons,

13:42  and throw them into the burning furnace: weeping and gnashing of teeth shall be there.

13:43  Then shall the righteous shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears to hear let him hear.

13:44  Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hid in a field, which, when a man has discovered, he conceals the discovery, and for joy thereof, sells all that he has, and buys that field.

13:45  Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a pearl extremely precious, which a merchant, in quest of fine pearls,

13:46  having found, sold all that he had, and purchased it.

13:47  Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a sweep-net cast into the seam which incloses fish of every kind.

13:48  When it is full, they draw it ashore, and gather the good into vessels, but throw the useless away.

13:49  So it shall be at the conclusion of this state. The angels will come and separate the wicked from among the righteous,

13:50  and throw them into the burning furnace. Weeping and gnashing of teeth shall be there.

13:51  Jesus said, Do you understand all these things? They answered, Yes, Master.

13:52  He added, Every scribe, therefore, instructed for the Reign of Heaven, is like a householder, who brings out of his storehouse new things and old.

13:53  And after he had finished these similitudes, he departed thence.

13:54  Jesus being come into his own country, taught the inhabitants in their synagogue; and they said with astonishment, Whence has this man this wisdom, and this power of working miracles?

13:55  Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Mary? And do not his brothers, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas,

13:56  and all his sisters, live amongst us? Whence, then, has he all these things?

13:57  Thus they were offended at him. But Jesus said to them, A prophet is no where disregarded, except in his own country, and in his own family.

13:58  And he did not many miracles there, because of their unbelief.