Matthew 13:33-58

He used another illustration. “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman mixed into a large amount of flour until the yeast worked its way through all the dough.” Jesus used illustrations to tell the crowds all these things. He did not tell them anything without illustrating it with a story. So what the prophet had said came true: “I will open my mouth to illustrate points. I will tell what has been hidden since the world was made.” When Jesus had sent the people away, he went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, “Explain what the illustration of the weeds in the field means.” He answered, “The one who plants the good seeds is the Son of Man. The field is the world. The good seeds are those who belong to the kingdom. The weeds are those who belong to the evil one. The enemy who planted them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the world. The workers are angels. Just as weeds are gathered and burned, so it will be at the end of time. The Son of Man will send his angels. They will gather everything in his kingdom that causes people to sin and everyone who does evil. The angels will throw them into a blazing furnace. People will cry and be in extreme pain there. Then the people who have God’s approval will shine like the sun in their Father’s kingdom. Let the person who has ears listen! “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field. When a man discovered it, he buried it again. He was so delighted with it that he went away, sold everything he had, and bought that field. “Also, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant who was searching for fine pearls. When he found a valuable pearl, he went away, sold everything he had, and bought it. “Also, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea. It gathered all kinds of fish. When it was full, they pulled it to the shore. Then they sat down, gathered the good fish into containers, and threw the bad ones away. The same thing will happen at the end of time. The angels will go out and separate the evil people from people who have God’s approval. Then the angels will throw the evil people into a blazing furnace. They will cry and be in extreme pain there. “Have you understood all of this?” “Yes,” they answered. So Jesus said to them, “That is why every student of the Scriptures who has become a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like a home owner. He brings new and old things out of his treasure chest.” When Jesus had finished these illustrations, he left that place. Jesus went to his hometown and taught the people in the synagogue in a way that amazed them. People were asking, “Where did this man get this wisdom and the power to do these miracles? Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary? Aren’t his brothers’ names James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? And aren’t all his sisters here with us? Where, then, did this man get all this?” So they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “The only place a prophet isn’t honored is in his hometown and in his own house.” He didn’t work many miracles there because of their lack of faith.