Matthew 13Matthew13

Berean Standard BibleKing James Version

1. The Parable of the Sower

   (Mark 4:1–9; Luke 8:4–8)

2. 1BSBThat same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the sea.KJVKJV: The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side.
3. 2BSBSuch large crowds gathered around Him that He got into a boat and sat down, while all the people stood on the shore.KJVKJV: 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.
4. 3BSBAnd He told them many things in parables, saying, “A farmer went out to sow his seed.KJVKJV: And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;
5. 4BSBAnd as he was sowing, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it.KJVKJV: And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:
6. 5BSBSome fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly because the soil was shallow.KJVKJV: Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:
7. 6BSBBut when the sun rose, the seedlings were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.KJVKJV: And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.
8. 7BSBOther seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the seedlings.KJVKJV: And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:
9. 8BSBStill other seed fell on good soil and produced a crop—a hundredfold, sixtyfold, or thirtyfold.KJVKJV: But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.
10. 9BSBHe who has ears, let him hear.”KJVKJV: Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

11. The Purpose of Jesus’ Parables

    (Isaiah 6:1–13; Mark 4:10–12; Luke 8:9–10)

12. 10BSBThen the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Why do You speak to the people in parables?”KJVKJV: And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
13. 11BSBHe replied, “The knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them.KJVKJV: 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.
14. 12BSBWhoever 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.KJVKJV: 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.
15. 13BSBThis is why I speak to them in parables: ‘Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.’KJVKJV: Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
16. 14BSBIn them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled: ‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.KJVKJV: 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:
17. 15BSBFor 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.’KJVKJV: 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.
18. 16BSBBut blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear.KJVKJV: But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.
19. 17BSBFor 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.KJVKJV: 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.

20. The Parable of the Sower Explained

    (Mark 4:13–20; Luke 8:11–15)

21. 18BSBConsider, then, the parable of the sower:KJVKJV: Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.
22. 19BSBWhen 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.KJVKJV: 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.
23. 20BSBThe seed sown on rocky ground is the one who hears the word and at once receives it with joy.KJVKJV: But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;
24. 21BSBBut since he has no root, he remains for only a season. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away.KJVKJV: 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.
25. 22BSBThe 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.KJVKJV: 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.
26. 23BSBBut 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.”KJVKJV: 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.

27. The Parable of the Weeds

    (Ezekiel 17:1–10)

28. 24BSBJesus put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field.KJVKJV: Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:
29. 25BSBBut while everyone was asleep, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and slipped away.KJVKJV: But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.
30. 26BSBWhen the wheat sprouted and bore grain, then the weeds also appeared.KJVKJV: But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.
31. 27BSBThe 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?’KJVKJV: 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?
32. 28BSB‘An enemy did this,’ he replied. So the servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’KJVKJV: He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?
33. 29BSB‘No,’ he said, ‘if you pull the weeds now, you might uproot the wheat with them.KJVKJV: But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.
34. 30BSBLet 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.’”KJVKJV: 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.

35. The Parable of the Mustard Seed

    (Mark 4:30–34; Luke 13:18–19)

36. 31BSBHe put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a man took and planted in his field.KJVKJV: 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:
37. 32BSBAlthough 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.”KJVKJV: 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.

38. The Parable of the Leaven

    (Luke 13:20–21)

39. 33BSBHe 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.”KJVKJV: 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.

40. I Will Open My Mouth in Parables

    (Psalm 78:1–72)

41. 34BSBJesus spoke all these things to the crowds in parables. He did not tell them anything without using a parable.KJVKJV: All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them:
42. 35BSBSo 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.”KJVKJV: 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.

43. The Parable of the Weeds Explained

    (Zephaniah 1:1–6)

44. 36BSBThen 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.”KJVKJV: 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.
45. 37BSBHe replied, “The One who sows the good seed is the Son of Man.KJVKJV: He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;
46. 38BSBThe field is the world, and the good seed represents the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one,KJVKJV: The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;
47. 39BSBand the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.KJVKJV: The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.
48. 40BSBAs the weeds are collected and burned in the fire, so will it be at the end of the age.KJVKJV: As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.
49. 41BSBThe 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.KJVKJV: 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;
50. 42BSBAnd they will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.KJVKJV: And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
51. 43BSBThen the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.KJVKJV: Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

52. The Parables of the Treasure and the Pearl

53. 44BSBThe 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.KJVKJV: 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.
54. 45BSBAgain, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls.KJVKJV: Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:
55. 46BSBWhen he found one very precious pearl, he went away and sold all he had and bought it.KJVKJV: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.

56. The Parable of the Net

57. 47BSBOnce again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was cast into the sea and caught all kinds of fish.KJVKJV: Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind:
58. 48BSBWhen it was full, the men pulled it ashore. Then they sat down and sorted the good fish into containers, but threw the bad away.KJVKJV: Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.
59. 49BSBSo will it be at the end of the age: The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteousKJVKJV: So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just,
60. 50BSBand throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.KJVKJV: And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
61. 51BSBHave you understood all these things?” “Yes,” they answered.KJVKJV: Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord.
62. 52BSBThen 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.”KJVKJV: 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.

63. The Rejection at Nazareth

    (Mark 6:1–6; Luke 4:16–30)

64. 53BSBWhen Jesus had finished these parables, He withdrew from that place.KJVKJV: And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these parables, he departed thence.
65. 54BSBComing 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.KJVKJV: 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?
66. 55BSB“Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t His mother’s name Mary, and aren’t His brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas?KJVKJV: Is not this the carpenter’s son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?
67. 56BSBAren’t all His sisters with us as well? Where then did this man get all these things?”KJVKJV: And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?
68. 57BSBAnd they took offense at Him. But Jesus said to them, “Only in his hometown and in his own household is a prophet without honor.”KJVKJV: 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.
69. 58BSBAnd He did not do many miracles there, because of their unbelief.KJVKJV: And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.