Matthew 13:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35
Matthew 13:2 NLT
A large crowd soon gathered around him, so he got into a boat. Then he sat there and taught as the people stood on the shore.
Matthew 13:3 NLT
He told many stories in the form of parables, such as this one: “Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seeds.
Matthew 13:4 NLT
As he scattered them across his field, some seeds fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate them.
Matthew 13:5 NLT
Other seeds fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seeds sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow.
Matthew 13:6 NLT
But the plants soon wilted under the hot sun, and since they didn’t have deep roots, they died.
Matthew 13:8 NLT
Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted!
Matthew 13:10 NLT
His disciples came and asked him, “Why do you use parables when you talk to the people?”
Matthew 13:11 NLT
He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others are not.
Matthew 13:14 NLT
This fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah that says, ‘When you hear what I say, you will not understand. When you see what I do, you will not comprehend.
Matthew 13:20 NLT
The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy.
Matthew 13:21 NLT
But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word.
Matthew 13:24 NLT
Here is another story Jesus told: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a farmer who planted good seed in his field.
Matthew 13:25 NLT
But that night as the workers slept, his enemy came and planted weeds among the wheat, then slipped away.
Matthew 13:27 NLT
“The farmer’s workers went to him and said, ‘Sir, the field where you planted that good seed is full of weeds! Where did they come from?’
Matthew 13:28 NLT
“‘An enemy has done this!’ the farmer exclaimed. “‘Should we pull out the weeds?’ they asked.
Matthew 13:31 NLT
Here is another illustration Jesus used: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed planted in a field.
Matthew 13:32 NLT
It is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest of garden plants; it grows into a tree, and birds come and make nests in its branches.”
Matthew 13:34 NLT
Jesus always used stories and illustrations like these when speaking to the crowds. In fact, he never spoke to them without using such parables.
Matthew 13:35 NLT
This fulfilled what God had spoken through the prophet: “I will speak to you in parables. I will explain things hidden since the creation of the world.”