Matt.13.18

"Study this story of the farmer planting seed.

Matt.13.18

"Listen then to what the parable of the sower means:

Matt.13.18

"Therefore hear the parable of the sower:

Matt.13.18

"Now here is the explanation of the story I told about the farmer sowing grain:

Matt.13.19

When anyone hears news of the kingdom and doesn't take it in, it just remains on the surface, and so the Evil One comes along and plucks it right out of that person's heart. This is the seed the farmer scatters on the road.

Matt.13.19

When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and 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.

Matt.13.19

When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside.

Matt.13.19

The seed that fell on the hard path represents those who hear the Good News about the Kingdom and don't understand it. Then the evil one comes and snatches the seed away from their hearts.

Matt.13.20

"The seed cast in the gravel--this is the person who hears and instantly responds with enthusiasm.

Matt.13.20

The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy.

Matt.13.20

But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy;

Matt.13.20

The rocky soil represents those who hear the message and receive it with joy.

Matt.13.21

But there is no soil of character, and so when the emotions wear off and some difficulty arrives, there is nothing to show for it.

Matt.13.21

But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away.

Matt.13.21

yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles.

Matt.13.21

But like young plants in such soil, their roots don't go very deep. At first they get along fine, but they wilt as soon as they have problems or are persecuted because they believe the word.

Matt.13.22

"The seed cast in the weeds is the person who hears the kingdom news, but weeds of worry and illusions about getting more and wanting everything under the sun strangle what was heard, and nothing comes of it.

Matt.13.22

The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful.

Matt.13.22

Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.

Matt.13.22

The thorny ground represents those who hear and accept the Good News, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares of this life and the lure of wealth, so no crop is produced.

Matt.13.23

"The seed cast on good earth is the person who hears and takes in the News, and then produces a harvest beyond his wildest dreams." [JC]

Matt.13.23

But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown."

Matt.13.23

But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty."

Matt.13.23

The good soil represents the hearts of those who truly accept God's message and produce a huge harvest--thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted."

Matt.13.24

He told another story. "God's kingdom is like a farmer who planted good seed in his field.

Matt.13.24

Jesus told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field.

Matt.13.24

Another parable He put forth to them, saying: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field;

Matt.13.24

Here is another story Jesus told: "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a farmer who planted good seed in his field.

Matt.13.25

That night, while his hired men were asleep, his enemy sowed thistles all through the wheat and slipped away before dawn.

Matt.13.25

But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away.

Matt.13.25

but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way.

Matt.13.25

But that night as everyone slept, his enemy came and planted weeds among the wheat.

Matt.13.26

When the first green shoots appeared and the grain began to form, the thistles showed up, too.

Matt.13.26

When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.

Matt.13.26

But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared.

Matt.13.26

When the crop began to grow and produce grain, the weeds also grew.

Matt.13.27

"The farmhands came to the farmer and said, "Master, that was clean seed you planted, wasn't it? Where did these thistles come from?'

Matt.13.27

"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?'

Matt.13.27

So the servants of the owner came and said to him, "Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?'

Matt.13.27

The farmer's servants came and told him, 'Sir, the field where you planted that good seed is full of weeds!'

Matt.13.28

"He answered, "Some enemy did this.'"The farmhands asked, "Should we weed out the thistles?'

Matt.13.28

"'An enemy did this,' he replied. "The servants asked him, 'Do you want us to go and pull them up?'

Matt.13.28

He said to them, "An enemy has done this.' The servants said to him, "Do you want us then to go and gather them up?'

Matt.13.28

"'An enemy has done it!' the farmer exclaimed. "'Shall we pull out the weeds?' they asked.

Matt.13.29

"He said, "No, if you weed the thistles, you'll pull up the wheat, too.

Matt.13.29

"'No,' he answered, 'because while you are pulling the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them.

Matt.13.29

But he said, "No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them.

Matt.13.29

"He replied, 'No, you'll hurt the wheat if you do.

Matt.13.30

Let them grow together until harvest time. Then I'll instruct the harvesters to pull up the thistles and tie them in bundles for the fire, then gather the wheat and put it in the barn.'"

Matt.13.30

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 and bring it into my barn.'"

Matt.13.30

Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, "First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.""'

Matt.13.30

Let both grow together until the harvest. Then I will tell the harvesters to sort out the weeds and burn them and to put the wheat in the barn.'"

Matt.13.31

Another story. "God's kingdom is like a pine nut that a farmer plants.

Matt.13.31

He told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field.

Matt.13.31

Another parable He put forth to them, saying: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field,

Matt.13.31

Here is another illustration Jesus used: "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed planted in a field.

Matt.13.32

It is quite small as seeds go, but in the course of years it grows into a huge pine tree, and eagles build nests in it."

Matt.13.32

Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in its branches."

Matt.13.32

which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches."

Matt.13.32

It is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest of garden plants and grows into a tree where birds can come and find shelter in its branches."

Matt.13.33

Another story. "God's kingdom is like yeast that a woman works into the dough for dozens of loaves of barley bread--and waits while the dough rises."

Matt.13.33

He told them still another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough."

Matt.13.33

Another parable He spoke to them: "The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened."

Matt.13.33

Jesus also used this illustration: "The Kingdom of Heaven is like yeast used by a woman making bread. Even though she used a large amount of flour, the yeast permeated every part of the dough."

Matt.13.34

All Jesus did that day was tell stories--a long storytelling afternoon.

Matt.13.34

Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable.

Matt.13.34

All these things Jesus spoke to the multitude in parables; and without a parable He did not speak to them,

Matt.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.

Matt.13.35

His storytelling fulfilled the prophecy: I will open my mouth and tell stories; I will bring out into the open things hidden since the world's first day.

Matt.13.35

So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet: "I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world."

Matt.13.35

that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: "I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things kept secret from the foundation of the world."

Matt.13.35

This fulfilled the prophecy that said, "I will speak to you in parables. I will explain mysteries hidden since the creation of the world."