Matthew 13

The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side.

On that day, Jesus left the confines of the house, seeking solace by the calming sea.

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.

A massive crowd flocked to him, so overwhelming that he retreated to a boat. He sat there, while the sea of people stood waiting on the shore.

And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;

He shared many lessons with them using stories, saying, "Imagine this, a farmer went out to plant his seeds."

And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:

As he scattered the seeds, some fell on the path, where birds swiftly swooped down and gobbled them up.

Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:

Some seeds landed on rocky ground, where the soil was shallow. They quickly sprouted because they couldn't root deeply.

And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.

As the sun rose high, they felt its fierce heat, and lacking deep roots, they shriveled and faded.

And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:

Some seeds landed among thorns; as they grew, the thorns suffocated them.

But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.

Yet, some seeds found their way to fertile soil, blossoming abundantly, yielding a hundred, sixty, or thirty times what was sown.

Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

If you're able to listen, truly listen.

And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?

The disciples approached him, asking, "Why do you talk to them in riddles?"

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.

He responded with compassion, "You are blessed with the understanding of heaven's secrets, but sadly, others are not."

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.

Those who have much will receive more, while those who have little will lose even that.

Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.

I use stories to teach them because, though they have eyes, they don't truly see, and though they have ears, they don't genuinely listen or comprehend.

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:

This fulfills the prediction of Esaias, saying, "You will listen, but not comprehend; you will look, but not truly see."

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.

These people's hearts have hardened, their ears barely hear, and they've shut their eyes. If only they'd truly see, hear, and understand with their hearts, they could change, and I could heal them.

But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.

How fortunate you are, for your eyes witness miracles and your ears hear life's symphony.

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.

Truly, I tell you, countless wise and good people longed to witness what you're seeing, and to hear what you're hearing, but they didn't get the chance.

Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.

Listen closely to the story of the farmer who sows seeds.

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.

When someone hears God's message but doesn't grasp it, evil swoops in, stealing the seeds of faith planted in their heart. This is like a seed falling on a path, never taking root.

But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;

The one who receives the seed in rocky soil is like a person who hears God's word, and immediately accepts it with joy.

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.

Though he lacks deep conviction, he may seem strong for a moment. But when hardships or criticism come due to his beliefs, he quickly becomes upset.

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.

The person who hears God's message, but lets worldly worries and the lure of wealth stifle it, fails to produce a fruitful life.

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.

The one who embraces God's teachings with an open heart and mind is like fertile soil. They not only absorb His word but also flourish, producing abundant spiritual fruits in varying degrees.

Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:

He shared another story with them, saying, "Imagine heaven as a farmer who only plants the finest seeds in his field."

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

As people rested, their foe stealthily planted weeds amidst the wheat, then quietly left.

But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.

But when the seed grew into a blade and bore fruit, the weeds too, made their unwelcome presence known.

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?

The householder's helpers approached him, asking, "Sir, didn't you plant good seeds in your field? So, where did these weeds come from?"

He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?

He told them, "This is the work of a foe." The servants asked, "Should we go and clean up their mess?"

But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.

But he warned, "No, don't pull out the weeds; you might accidentally uproot the good grain too."

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.

Let both good and bad exist side by side until the end. When that time comes, I'll tell the harvesters to first collect the bad, tie them up for destruction, but carefully store the good in my safekeeping.

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:

He shared another story with them, saying, "Imagine heaven as a tiny mustard seed that a man plants in his field.

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.

Though it starts as the tiniest of seeds, once it grows, it becomes the mightiest of plants, transforming into a tree. It's so grand that birds find refuge in its branches.

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.

He shared another story with them; Heaven is like yeast that a woman mixed into dough. She kept it hidden until the entire dough rose.

All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them:

Jesus always used stories to explain his teachings to the crowd; he never spoke to them without using such illustrations.

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.

As the prophet once promised, I will share stories that reveal hidden truths, kept secret since the world began.

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.

After dismissing the crowd, Jesus retreated to the privacy of his home. His disciples, filled with curiosity and confusion, approached him and asked, "Please explain to us the story of the weeds in the field."

He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;

He responded, "The one who plants the good seed is the Son of man."

The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;

The world is like a vast field. The good seeds represent the virtuous people, while the weeds symbolize those influenced by evil.

The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.

The devil is the one who plants evil seeds; the end of the world is when they're harvested; and the angels are the ones who gather them.

As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.

Just as weeds are collected and destroyed by fire, so will it be when this world comes to an end.

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;

The Son of Man will dispatch his angels, who will remove from his realm all that causes harm and those who act unjustly.

And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

They will be thrown into a blazing inferno, where there will be cries of despair and bitter regret.

Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

The good-hearted will glow like the sun in their Father's realm. If you can understand, then listen well.

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.

The kingdom of heaven is like a hidden treasure in a field. When a man discovers it, he hides it again, overwhelmed with joy. He then sells everything he owns to buy that field.

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:

The kingdom of heaven is like a passionate trader, tirelessly searching for precious pearls.

Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.

Upon discovering a single, priceless pearl, he sold everything he owned in pure joy and excitement, just to possess it.

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind:

The kingdom of heaven is like a vast fishing net thrown into the ocean, capturing all sorts of fish.

Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.

Once the net was full, they pulled it onto the shore. They sat down, carefully sorting the good catch into containers, while discarding the unsuitable ones.

So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just,

When the world reaches its end, angels will descend, separating the good-hearted from those who have chosen evil.

And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

They will be thrown into a fiery furnace, where there will be immense sorrow and unbearable pain.

Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord.

Jesus asked them, "Do you understand all this?" They responded, "Yes, Lord."

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.

He told them, "Every scholar trained in God's heavenly kingdom is like a homeowner who shares both new and old treasures from his collection."

And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these parables, he departed thence.

Once Jesus had shared these stories of wisdom, he left that place.

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?

When he returned to his hometown, he shared his teachings in their place of worship. His wisdom and miracles left them in awe, questioning where he got such knowledge and power.

Is not this the carpenter’s son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?

Isn't he the son of the local carpenter, with Mary as his mother? And aren't his brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas?

And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?

Aren't his sisters still living among us? Where did he get all these extraordinary abilities from?

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.

They felt upset by him. But Jesus responded, "A prophet is often least respected in his own hometown and home."

And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

His miracles were few in that place, stifled by their lack of faith.