The Parables of the Mustard Seed and the Yeast^(A)(B)

³¹ He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like^(C) a mustard seed,^(D) which a man took and planted in his field. ³² Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.”^(E)

³³ He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like^(F) yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds^[a] of flour^(G) until it worked all through the dough.”^(H)

³⁴ Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable.^{(I) 35} So was fulfilled^(J) what was spoken through the prophet:

The Parable of the Weeds Explained

³⁶ Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, “Explain to us the parable^(L) of the weeds in the field.”

³⁷ He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man.^{(M) 38} The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one,^{(N) 39} and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest^(O) is the end of the age,^(P) and the harvesters are angels.^(Q)

⁴⁰ “As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. ⁴¹ The Son of Man^(R) will send out his angels,^(S) and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. ⁴² They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.^{(T) 43} Then the righteous will shine like the sun^(U) in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear.^(V)

The Parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl

⁴⁴ “The kingdom of heaven is like^(W) treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.^(X)

⁴⁵ “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like^(Y) 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.

The Parable of the Net

⁴⁷ “Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like^(Z) a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds^(AA) 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^{(AB) 50} and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.^(AC)

⁵¹ “Have you understood all these things?” Jesus asked.

“Yes,” they replied.

⁵² He said to them, “Therefore every teacher of the law who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.”

A Prophet Without Honor^(AD)

⁵³ When Jesus had finished these parables,^(AE) he moved on from there. ⁵⁴ Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue,^(AF) and they were amazed.^(AG) “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?” they asked. ⁵⁵ “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son?^(AH) Isn’t his mother’s^(AI) name Mary, and aren’t his brothers^(AJ) 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^(AK) at him.

But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town and in his own home.”^(AL)

⁵⁸ And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.