Matthew 13: Parables of the Kingdom, and Jesus in his own country
A free study, verse by verse. Text: World English Bible. Notes come from the Greek. How to read a study
What happens?
Jesus sits in a boat by the sea and tells the crowds the parable of the farmer and the seed, and later explains it to his disciples. He tells more parables of the Kingdom of Heaven: the weeds among the wheat (which he also explains), the mustard seed, the yeast, the hidden treasure, the pearl and the dragnet. Then he goes to his own country, where the people are amazed and offended at him, and he does not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.
Who is speaking?
No verse is in gold. Jesus speaks in verses 3 to 9, 11 to 33, 37 to 52 and 57. Inside his parables the servants and the householder speak in the weeds story (verses 27 to 30), and in verses 14 and 15 he quotes the prophet Isaiah. The disciples speak in verses 10, 36 and 51 (in 51 they answer him, "Yes, Lord"). In verse 35 the narrator quotes a prophet. The people of his own country speak in verses 54 to 56. The narrator tells the rest. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1On that day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the seaside.
In plain English: On that same day Jesus left the house and sat down by the sea.
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2Great multitudes gathered to him, so that he entered into a boat and sat; and all the multitude stood on the beach.
In plain English: Very large crowds gathered to him, so he got into a boat and sat down. The whole crowd stood on the beach.
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3He spoke to them many things in parables, saying, “Behold, a farmer went out to sow.
In plain English: He told them many things in parables (stories that use everyday things to teach). He said, "Look, a farmer went out to sow.
The Greek word: "Parable" is parabolē. The dictionary gives it as a likeness, a made-up story taken from everyday life, or a short saying. It is in 16 of Matthew's verses, and 11 of them are in this chapter.
How it is translated: The World English Bible has "parable" in all 16 of those verses (counted across Matthew).
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4As he sowed, some seeds fell by the roadside, and the birds came and devoured them.
In plain English: As he sowed, some seeds fell beside the path, and the birds came and ate them.
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5Others fell on rocky ground, where they didn’t have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, because they had no depth of earth.
In plain English: Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where there was not much soil. They came up at once, because the soil was not deep.
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6When the sun had risen, they were scorched. Because they had no root, they withered away.
In plain English: When the sun rose, they were scorched, and because they had no root, they dried up.
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7Others fell among thorns. The thorns grew up and choked them.
In plain English: Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them.
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8Others fell on good soil and yielded fruit: some one hundred times as much, some sixty, and some thirty.
In plain English: Other seeds fell on good soil and gave fruit: some a hundred times as much, some sixty, some thirty.
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9He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
In plain English: Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear."
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10The disciples came, and said to him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?”
In plain English: The disciples came and said to him, "Why do you speak to them in parables?"
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11He answered them, “To you it is given to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, but it is not given to them.
In plain English: He answered them, "To you it has been given to know the mysteries (secrets) of the Kingdom of Heaven, but to them it has not been given.
The Greek word: "Mysteries" is mystēria, from mystērion. The dictionary gives it as a secret, with the idea of secrets shared only with those let in through religious rites. In Matthew the word is in this verse only (counted across Matthew). has it too, as "the mystery of God's Kingdom".
The Greek words: "Kingdom of Heaven" is basileia tōn ouranōn, word for word "the kingdom of the heavens". Ouranos is the word for the sky and for heaven: the dictionary gives "the sky" first, then heaven as the home of God.
How it is translated: In the 74 verses of Matthew with ouranos, the World English Bible has "heaven" in 66, "sky" in 9 and "air" in 1 (some verses have more than one). and say "God's Kingdom".
Good to know: The Greek says "it has been given" and does not say who gives.
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12For whoever has, to him will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever doesn’t have, from him will be taken away even that which he has.
In plain English: For whoever has, it will be given to him, and he will have plenty. But whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.
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13Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they don’t see, and hearing, they don’t hear, neither do they understand.
In plain English: This is why I speak to them in parables: because seeing, they do not see, and hearing, they do not hear, and they do not understand.
The Greek word: "Because" is hoti. Jesus says he speaks in parables because "seeing they don't see".
Good to know: has a similar saying, but it begins with a different Greek word, hina, which the World English Bible gives as "that": "that 'seeing they may see and not perceive'". also has "that" in the World English Bible. Each is given here as it stands.
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14In them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says, ‘By hearing you will hear, and will in no way understand; Seeing you will see, and will in no way perceive;
In plain English: In them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled (or: filled up). It says, 'By hearing you will hear, and you will certainly not understand. Looking, you will look, and you will certainly not see.
The Greek word: "Is fulfilled" is anaplēroutai. The dictionary gives it as to complete, and from that to supply or to accomplish. has a different word for "fulfilled", plēroō, which the dictionary gives as to make full.
How it is translated: The World English Bible has "is fulfilled" here.
What changes: Read as "is fulfilled", Isaiah's words are met in these people. Read as "is completed" (or: filled up), Isaiah's words reach their full measure in them. The verse says no more than that.
Good to know: Matthew gives words like . In the World English Bible, Isaiah has: "You hear indeed, but don't understand. You see indeed, but don't perceive." The wording of the quote here is different from that.
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15for this people’s heart has grown callous, their ears are dull of hearing, and they have closed their eyes; or else perhaps they might perceive with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their heart, and would turn again, and I would heal them.’
In plain English: For the heart of this people has grown dull. Their ears barely hear, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their heart, and turn back, and I would heal them.'
Good to know: These words go on with , which in the World English Bible begins "Make the heart of this people fat. Make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes". Here the people themselves are said to have closed their eyes, and the quote ends "and I would heal them". Isaiah 6:10 ends "and be healed".
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16“But blessed are your eyes, for they see; and your ears, for they hear.
In plain English: But blessed (or: fortunate) are your eyes, because they see, and your ears, because they hear.
The Greek word: "Blessed" is makarios. The dictionary gives it as supremely blessed, and from that fortunate or well off.
How it is translated: In Matthew's 13 verses with this word, the World English Bible has "blessed" in all 13 and "happy" in none.
What changes: Read as "blessed", Jesus speaks of favor on their eyes and ears. Read as "fortunate", he speaks of their good luck to see and hear. Verse 17 gives the reason: many prophets and righteous men wanted to see and hear what they do.
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17For most certainly I tell you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see the things which you see, and didn’t see them; and to hear the things which you hear, and didn’t hear them.
In plain English: For I tell you truly: many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.
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18“Hear, then, the parable of the farmer.
In plain English: So you, hear the parable of the farmer.
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19When anyone hears the word of the Kingdom and doesn’t understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away that which has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown by the roadside.
In plain English: When anyone hears the word of the Kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the one sown beside the path.
The Greek word: "The evil one" is ho ponēros, word for word "the evil". The dictionary gives ponēros as hurtful or evil, and it also gives the devil.
How it is translated: In Matthew's 23 verses with this word, the World English Bible has "evil" in 19 and "wicked" in 3. Here and in it has "the evil one".
Good to know: In the same parable, says "Satan" and says "the devil". In , Matthew says "the devil" (diabolos) when he explains the weeds.
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20What was sown on the rocky places, this is he who hears the word and immediately with joy receives it;
In plain English: The one sown on the rocky places is the person who hears the word and at once receives it with joy,
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21yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while. When oppression or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles.
In plain English: but he has no root in himself. He lasts only a short while. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he stumbles (or: is offended) at once.
The Greek word: "Stumbles" is skandalizetai, from skandalizō. The dictionary gives it as to trip up, and from that to lead into sin, falling away or displeasure.
How it is translated: Matthew uses the word in 13 verses. The World English Bible has "stumble" in 10 of them and "offend" in 2 (one verse has neither). Here it is "stumbles", and in it is "offended".
What changes: Read as "stumbles", the person trips and falls away from the word. Read as "is offended", he takes offense at it and leaves it. Either way, the verse says it happens at once when trouble or persecution comes because of the word.
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22What was sown among the thorns, this is he who hears the word, but the cares of this age and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.
In plain English: The one sown among the thorns is the person who hears the word, but the cares of this age (or: world) and the deceit of riches choke the word, and he bears no fruit.
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23What was sown on the good ground, this is he who hears the word and understands it, who most certainly bears fruit and produces, some one hundred times as much, some sixty, and some thirty.”
In plain English: The one sown on the good ground is the person who hears the word and understands it. He really does bear fruit and produces, some a hundred times as much, some sixty, some thirty."
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24He set another parable before them, saying, “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field,
In plain English: He put another parable before them. He said, "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field,
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25but while people slept, his enemy came and sowed darnel weeds also among the wheat, and went away.
In plain English: but while people were asleep, his enemy came, sowed darnel weeds among the wheat, and went away.
The Greek word: "Darnel weeds" is zizania. The dictionary gives it as darnel, or false grain. In the whole New Testament the word is in 8 verses, and all 8 are in this chapter.
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26But when the blade sprang up and produced grain, then the darnel weeds appeared also.
In plain English: When the plants came up and made grain, then the darnel weeds showed up too.
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27The servants of the householder came and said to him, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where did these darnel weeds come from?’
In plain English: The householder's servants came and said to him, 'Sir, didn't you sow good seed in your field? Where then did these darnel weeds come from?'
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28“He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ “The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and gather them up?’
In plain English: "He said to them, 'An enemy has done this.' The servants asked him, 'Do you want us to go and gather them up?'
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29“But he said, ‘No, lest perhaps while you gather up the darnel weeds, you root up the wheat with them.
In plain English: "But he said, 'No. If you gather the darnel weeds, you might pull up the wheat with them.
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30Let both grow together until the harvest, and in the harvest time I will tell the reapers, “First, gather up the darnel weeds, and bind them in bundles to burn them; but gather the wheat into my barn.”’”
In plain English: Let both grow together until the harvest. At harvest time I will tell the reapers: First gather up the darnel weeds and tie them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.'"
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31He set another parable before them, saying, “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a grain of mustard seed which a man took, and sowed in his field,
In plain English: He put another parable before them. He said, "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field.
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32which indeed is smaller than all 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 lodge in its branches.”
In plain English: It is smaller than all the seeds. But when it has grown, it is bigger than the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air (or: sky) come and stay in its branches."
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33He spoke another parable to them. “The Kingdom of Heaven is like yeast which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, until it was all leavened.”
In plain English: He told them another parable: "The Kingdom of Heaven is like yeast that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, until all of it was leavened (had risen)."
The Greek word: "Measures" is sata, from saton. The dictionary gives it only as a measure for dry things. The text says three of them and gives no size. has "three measures of flour" with the same word, and these are the only 2 verses in the New Testament that have it.
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34Jesus spoke all these things in parables to the multitudes; and without a parable, he didn’t speak to them,
In plain English: Jesus spoke all these things to the crowds in parables. Without a parable he did not speak to them,
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35that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophet, saying, “I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things hidden from the foundation of the world.”
In plain English: so that what was spoken through the prophet might be fulfilled (or: filled up): "I will open my mouth in parables. I will speak out things hidden from the foundation of the world."
Good to know: Matthew says this was spoken "through the prophet" and does not name him. in the World English Bible has: "I will open my mouth in a parable. I will utter dark sayings of old." Matthew's words are "in parables" and "things hidden from the foundation of the world". The text says only that these words were spoken through the prophet.
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36Then Jesus sent the multitudes away, and went into the house. His disciples came to him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the darnel weeds of the field.”
In plain English: Then Jesus sent the crowds away and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, "Explain to us the parable of the darnel weeds of the field."
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37He answered them, “He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man,
In plain English: He answered them, "The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man (literally: the son of the man).
The Greek words: "The Son of Man" is ho huios tou anthrōpou, word for word "the son of the man". Anthrōpos is the everyday word for a man or a human being.
Good to know: The English "son of man" is also in , where it stands beside "man", in , where God speaks to Ezekiel, and in , "one like a son of man" coming with the clouds of the sky. Here Jesus uses the phrase for the one who sows the good seed, and in for the one who sends out his angels. The text does not say which of the older uses he has in mind.
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38the field is the world, the good seeds are the children of the Kingdom, and the darnel weeds are the children of the evil one.
In plain English: The field is the world. The good seeds are the children (literally: sons) of the Kingdom. The darnel weeds are the children (literally: sons) of the evil one.
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39The enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels.
In plain English: The enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age (or: the completion of the age), and the reapers are angels.
The Greek words: "End of the age" is synteleia tou aiōnos. The dictionary gives synteleia as an entire completion, and aiōn as properly an age, and by implication the world.
How it is translated: Aiōn is in 9 verses of Matthew. The World English Bible has "age" in 6 of them and "world" in 1, ; the other 2 have neither. The "world" in is a different Greek word, kosmos.
What changes: Read as "age", Jesus speaks of the close of a period of time. Read as "world", he speaks of the end of the world. The Greek has the same two words in verses 39, 40 and 49.
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40As therefore the darnel weeds are gathered up and burned with fire; so will it be at the end of this age.
In plain English: Just as the darnel weeds are gathered up and burned in fire, so it will be at the end of this age.
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41The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will gather out of his Kingdom all things that cause stumbling and those who do iniquity,
In plain English: The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will gather out of his Kingdom everything that causes stumbling and those who do iniquity (or: lawlessness),
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42and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
In plain English: and will throw them into the furnace of fire. There will be weeping and gnashing (grinding) of teeth.
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43Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the Kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.
In plain English: Then the righteous will shine out like the sun in the Kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear.
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44“Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid. In his joy, he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
In plain English: "Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like treasure hidden in the field. A man found it and hid it. In his joy he goes and sells everything he has and buys that field.
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45“Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who is a merchant seeking fine pearls,
In plain English: "Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls.
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46who having found one pearl of great price, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.
In plain English: When he found one very valuable pearl, he went away, sold everything he had, and bought it.
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47“Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some fish of every kind,
In plain English: "Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a dragnet (a large fishing net) that was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind.
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48which, when it was filled, fishermen drew up on the beach. They sat down and gathered the good into containers, but the bad they threw away.
In plain English: When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the beach. They sat down and gathered the good into containers, but threw the bad away.
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49So it will be in the end of the world. The angels will come and separate the wicked from among the righteous,
In plain English: So it will be at the end of the age (or: world). The angels will go out and separate the wicked from among the righteous,
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50and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
In plain English: and will throw them into the furnace of fire. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
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51Jesus said to them, “Have you understood all these things?” They answered him, “Yes, Lord.”
In plain English: Jesus said to them, "Have you understood all these things?" They said to him, "Yes, Lord."
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52He said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has been made a disciple in the Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who is a householder, who brings out of his treasure new and old things.”
In plain English: He said to them, "So every scribe who has been made a disciple (or: pupil) in (or: into, or: for) the Kingdom of Heaven is like a man, a householder, who brings out of his treasure things new and old."
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53When Jesus had finished these parables, he departed from there.
In plain English: When Jesus had finished these parables, he moved on from there.
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54Coming into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, “Where did this man get this wisdom and these mighty works?
In plain English: He came to his own country and taught the people in their synagogue, so that they were amazed and said, "Where did this man get this wisdom and these mighty works (or: powers)?
The Greek word: "His own country" is patris. The dictionary gives it as a fatherland, that is, a native town.
How it is translated: In the 8 New Testament verses with this word, the World English Bible has "country" in 6 and "hometown" in 2. It is in as well.
What changes: Read as "country", it is the land he comes from. Read as "hometown", it is the town he comes from. The text does not name the place here.
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55Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother called Mary, and his brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas?
In plain English: Isn't this the carpenter's son? Isn't his mother called Mary, and his brothers James, Joses, Simon and Judas?
The Greek word: "Carpenter" is tektōn. The dictionary gives it as a craftsman in wood.
Good to know: Here the people say "the carpenter's son". Mark 6:3 has "the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James, Joses, Judah, and Simon". The name "Judas" here and "Judah" in Mark is the same Greek name.
The Greek word: "Brothers" is adelphoi, from adelphos. The dictionary gives it as a brother, near or remote. "Sisters" in is adelphai, from adelphē, a sister.
Church tradition: Readers differ on who these brothers and sisters were. Some churches read the words as brothers and sisters of Jesus, also born to Mary. Others read them as more distant relatives. The dictionary gives the word as a brother "near or remote". The text names four brothers, says "all his sisters", and says nothing more here. also speaks of his mother and his brothers.
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56Aren’t all of his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all of these things?”
In plain English: Aren't all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?"
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How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Greek word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
57They were offended by him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country and in his own house.”
In plain English: They were offended (or: tripped up) by him. But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country and in his own house."
Good to know: "Offended" is the same Greek word as "stumbles" in , skandalizō. has the same saying and adds "among his own relatives".
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How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Greek word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
58He didn’t do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.
In plain English: He did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief.
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How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Greek word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.