Matthew 13 Free Bible Version
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
1 Later that day Jesus left the house, and sat down to teach beside the sea.
1 On that day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the seaside.
2 So many people gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat down there to teach, while all the crowds stood on the beach.
2 Great multitudes gathered to him, so that he entered into a boat and sat; and all the multitude stood on the beach.
3 He explained many things to them, using stories as illustrations. “The sower went out to sow,” he began.
3 He spoke to them many things in parables, saying, “Behold, a farmer went out to sow.
4 “As he was sowing, some of the seeds fell on the path. The birds came and ate them up.
4 As he sowed, some seeds fell by the roadside, and the birds came and devoured them.
5 Other seeds fell on stony ground where there wasn't much earth where they sprouted quickly.
5 Others fell on rocky ground, where they didn’t have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, because they had no depth of earth.
6 The sun rose and scorched them and they withered because they had no roots.
6 When the sun had risen, they were scorched. Because they had no root, they withered away.
7 Other seeds fell among thorns that grew up and choked them.
7 Others fell among thorns. The thorns grew up and choked them.
8 Still other seeds fell on good soil. They produced a harvest—some one hundred, some sixty, and some thirty times what had been planted.
8 Others fell on good soil and yielded fruit: some one hundred times as much, some sixty, and some thirty.
9 Anybody who has ears should be listening!”
9 He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
10 The disciples came to Jesus and asked him, “Why do you use illustrations when you speak to the people?”
10 The disciples came, and said to him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?”
11 “You're privileged to have revealed to you the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but they're not given such insights,” Jesus replied.
11 He answered them, “To you it is given to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, but it is not given to them.
12 “Those who already have will have more given to them, more than enough. But those who don't have, whatever they have will be taken away from them.
12 For 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.
13 That's why I speak to them in illustrations. For even though they see, they don't see; and even though they hear, they don't hear; nor do they understand.
13 Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they don’t see, and hearing, they don’t hear, neither do they understand.
14 The prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled in them: ‘Even though you hear, you won't understand, and even though you see, you won't perceive.
14 In 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;
15 They have a hard-hearted attitude, they don't want to listen, and they've closed their eyes. If they didn't they might be able to see with their eyes, hear with their ears, and understand in their minds. Then they could return to me and I would heal them.’
15 for 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.’
16 Your eyes are blessed, for they see. Your ears are blessed too, for they hear.
16 “But blessed are your eyes, for they see; and your ears, for they hear.
17 I'm telling you, many prophets and good people longed to see what you're seeing, but didn't see it. They longed to hear what you're hearing, but didn't hear it.
17 For 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.
18 So listen to the story of the sower.
18 “Hear, then, the parable of the farmer.
19 When people hear the message about the kingdom and don't understand it, the evil one comes along and rips out what was sown in them. This is what happens to the seeds sown on the path.
19 When 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.
20 The seeds sown on stony ground are people who hear the message and happily accept it straight away.
20 What was sown on the rocky places, this is he who hears the word and immediately with joy receives it;
21 They last for a while, but because they don't have roots, when problems and troubles come, they quickly fall away.
21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while. When oppression or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles.
22 The seeds sown among thorns are people who hear the message, but then life's worries and the temptation of money choke the message so that they become fruitless.
22 What 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.
23 The seeds sown on good soil are people who hear the message, and understand it, and who produce a good harvest—some one hundred, some sixty, and some thirty times what was sown.”
23 What 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.”
24 Then he told them another illustrated story: “The kingdom of heaven is like a farmer who sowed good seeds in his field.
24 He set another parable before them, saying, “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field,
25 But while his workers were sleeping, an enemy came and sowed weed seeds on top of the wheat. Then they left.
25 but while people slept, his enemy came and sowed darnel weeds also among the wheat, and went away.
26 So when the wheat grew and produced ears of grain, the weeds also grew up.
26 But when the blade sprang up and produced grain, then the darnel weeds appeared also.
27 The farmer's workers came and asked him, ‘Sir, didn't you sow good seeds in your field? Where did the weeds come from?’
27 The 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?’
28 ‘Some enemy has done this,’ he replied. ‘Do you want us to go and pull up the weeds?’ they asked him.
28 “He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ “The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and gather them up?’
29 ‘No,’ he answered, ‘as you pull up the weeds, you might uproot the wheat too.
29 “But he said, ‘No, lest perhaps while you gather up the darnel weeds, you root up the wheat with them.
30 Let them both grow until harvest, and then at harvest-time I'll tell the reapers to first gather the weeds, tie them up into bundles and burn them, and then gather the wheat and store it in my barn.’”
30 Let 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.”’”
31 He gave them another illustration: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a farmer sowed in his field.
31 He 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,
32 Even though it's the tiniest of seeds it grows much bigger than other plants. In fact it grows into a tree big enough for birds to roost in its branches.”
32 which 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.”
33 He told them another illustrated story: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman mixed with a large quantity of flour, until all the dough was raised.”
33 He 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.”
34 Jesus explained all these things to the crowds using illustrated stories—in fact he didn't speak to them without using stories.
34 Jesus spoke all these things in parables to the multitudes; and without a parable, he didn’t speak to them,
35 This fulfilled the prophet's words: “I will speak using stories, and I will explain things hidden from the creation of the world.”
35 that 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.”
36 Then Jesus left the crowds and went into a house. His disciples came over to him, and asked him, “Please explain to us the story about the weeds in the field.”
36 Then 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.”
37 “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of man,” Jesus explained.
37 He answered them, “He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man,
38 “The field is the world. The good seeds are the children of the kingdom. The weed seeds are the children of the evil one.
38 the field is the world, the good seeds are the children of the Kingdom, and the darnel weeds are the children of the evil one.
39 The enemy that sowed the weed seeds is the devil. The harvest is the end of the world. The reapers are angels.
39 The enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels.
40 Just as the weeds are harvested and burned so it will be at the end of the world.
40 As therefore the darnel weeds are gathered up and burned with fire; so will it be at the end of this age.
41 The Son of man will send out his angels, and they will gather up every sinful thing and everyone who does evil,
41 The 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,
42 and will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.
42 and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
43 Then those who live right will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Anybody with ears should be listening!
43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the Kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.
44 The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. A man found it, reburied it, and then full of joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.
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.
45 The kingdom of heaven is also like a trader looking for good pearls.
45 “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who is a merchant seeking fine pearls,
46 When he found the most expensive pearl ever he went and sold all he had and bought it.
46 who having found one pearl of great price, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.
47 Or again, the kingdom of heaven is like a fishing net thrown into the sea that caught all kinds of fish.
47 “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some fish of every kind,
48 When it was full it was dragged ashore. The good fish were put into baskets while the bad ones were thrown away.
48 which, 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.
49 That's the way it will be when the end of the world comes. The angels will go out and separate the evil people from the good,
49 So it will be in the end of the world. The angels will come and separate the wicked from among the righteous,
50 and throw them into the blazing furnace where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.
50 and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
51 Now do you understand everything?” “Yes,” they replied.
51 Jesus said to them, “Have you understood all these things?” They answered him, “Yes, Lord.”
52 “This is why every religious teacher who's learned about the kingdom of heaven is like a house-owner who brings out from his storeroom both new and old treasures,” Jesus said.
52 He 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.”
53 After Jesus finished telling these stories, he left.
53 When Jesus had finished these parables, he departed from there.
54 He went back to his home town and taught in the synagogue there. People were amazed, and asked, “Where does he get his wisdom and miracles from?
54 Coming 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?
55 Isn't this the carpenter's son? Isn't his mother's name Mary, and his brothers James, and Joseph, and Simon, and Judas?
55 Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother called Mary, and his brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas?
56 Don't his sisters live here among us? So where does he get all this from?”
56 Aren’t all of his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all of these things?”
57 And so they refused to believe in him. “A prophet is honored everywhere except in his homeland and in his family,” Jesus told them.
57 They 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.”
58 Since they failed to trust in him, he did not do many miracles there.
58 He didn’t do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.
People & places in this chapter
From this site's family tree and Bible maps, only where those guides cite this chapter.
People
James
The Gospels name him first among Jesus' brothers (Matthew 13:55; Mark 6:3), and Paul calls him 'James, the Lord's brother' (Galatians 1:19); he led the church in Jerusalem and is…
Cited in the guide: Matthew 13:55; Acts 15; James 1:1
Joses
Named in the Gospels among Jesus' brothers: Joses in Mark 6:3, Joseph in Matthew 13:55. The Orthodox Church, following the early Church, understands the Lord's brothers as sons of…
Cited in the guide: Matthew 13:55; Mark 6:3
Jude
Named in the Gospels among Jesus' brothers as Judas (Matthew 13:55; Mark 6:3), and honored as the author of the epistle of Jude, who calls himself 'a brother of James' (Jude 1).…
Cited in the guide: Matthew 13:55; Jude 1:1
Simon
Named in the Gospels among Jesus' brothers (Matthew 13:55; Mark 6:3). The Orthodox Church, following the early Church, understands the Lord's brothers as sons of Joseph from an…
Cited in the guide: Matthew 13:55; Mark 6:3
Cross references (56)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Luke 8:4–10; Matthew 13:1–15; Mark 4:1–12; Matthew 13:36
- 2 Luke 5:3; Matthew 15:30; Luke 8:4–8; Genesis 49:10; Matthew 4:25
- 3 Mark 4:2–9; Mark 4:13; Psalm 78:2; Mark 4:33; Matthew 13:34–35
- 4 Matthew 13:18–19
- 5 Ezekiel 36:26; Ezekiel 11:19; Zechariah 7:12; Amos 6:12; Matthew 13:20
- 6 James 1:11–12; Matthew 13:21; Luke 8:13; Isaiah 49:10; Colossians 1:23
- 7 Mark 4:18–19; Jeremiah 4:3–4; Genesis 3:18; Matthew 13:22
- 8 John 15:8; Luke 8:15; Matthew 13:23; Genesis 26:12; Galatians 5:22–23
- 9 Revelation 2:7; Revelation 2:11; Matthew 11:15; Revelation 2:17; Revelation 3:13
- 10 Mark 4:33–34; Mark 4:10
- 11 1 Corinthians 2:9–10; 1 Corinthians 2:14; Matthew 19:11; James 1:5; 1 John 2:27
- 12 Matthew 25:29; Mark 4:24–25; Luke 8:18; Luke 19:24–26; John 15:2–5
- 13 Ezekiel 12:2; Jeremiah 5:21; Isaiah 42:18–20; 2 Corinthians 4:3–4; Deuteronomy 29:3–4
- 14 Isaiah 6:9–10; Ezekiel 12:2; 2 Corinthians 3:14; Luke 8:10; Acts 28:25–27
- 15 Isaiah 6:10; Zechariah 7:11; Mark 4:12; John 8:43–44; 2 Timothy 2:25–26
- 16 Luke 10:23–24; Ephesians 1:17–18; Matthew 16:17; John 20:29; Acts 26:18
- 17 John 8:56; Hebrews 11:13; 1 Peter 1:10–12; Luke 10:24; Hebrews 11:39–40
- 18 Matthew 13:11–12; Luke 8:11–15; Mark 4:13–20
- 19 Luke 8:11–15; Hebrews 2:1; Matthew 13:38; 1 John 5:18; Matthew 4:23
- 20 Ezekiel 33:31–32; Psalm 106:12–13; John 5:35; 2 Chronicles 24:2; Psalm 78:34–37
- 21 Matthew 11:6; 2 Peter 1:8–9; Ephesians 3:17; Hosea 6:4; Job 19:28
- 22 1 Timothy 6:17; Luke 8:14; 1 Timothy 6:9–10; Mark 4:18–19; Luke 12:15
- 23 Philippians 1:11; Matthew 12:33; John 15:16; Galatians 5:22–23; Psalm 92:13–15
- 24 Matthew 25:1; Matthew 13:47; Matthew 20:1; Matthew 22:2; Matthew 13:37
- 25 1 Peter 5:8; Acts 20:30–31; 2 Peter 2:1; Matthew 13:39; Hebrews 12:15
- 26 Mark 4:26–29
- 27 Romans 16:17; 2 Corinthians 6:1; 2 Corinthians 5:18–20; 1 Corinthians 12:28–29; 2 Corinthians 6:4
- 28 1 Corinthians 5:3–7; 1 Thessalonians 5:14; Luke 9:49–54; Jude 22–23; 2 Corinthians 2:6–11
- 30 Matthew 3:12; 1 Timothy 5:24; 1 Corinthians 4:5; John 15:6; Malachi 3:18–4:1
- 31 Luke 13:18–19; Matthew 17:20; Mark 4:30–32; Luke 17:6; Matthew 13:24
- 32 Ezekiel 31:6; Daniel 4:12; Ezekiel 17:23–24; Acts 21:20; Zechariah 8:20–23
- 33 Galatians 5:9; 1 Corinthians 5:6–7; Luke 13:21; Philippians 2:13–15; Genesis 18:6
- 34 Mark 4:33–34; John 16:25; Matthew 13:13
- 35 Psalm 78:2; Ephesians 3:9; 1 Peter 1:20–21; Romans 16:25–26; 1 Corinthians 2:7
- 36 Matthew 13:11; John 16:17–20; Matthew 13:1; Mark 8:9; Mark 6:45
- 37 1 Corinthians 3:5–7; Acts 1:8; Matthew 13:27; Matthew 13:24; Luke 10:16
- 38 John 8:44; Acts 13:10; Philippians 3:18–19; 1 John 3:8–10; 1 Peter 1:23
- 39 Matthew 13:49; Revelation 14:15–19; Matthew 25:31; Joel 3:13; Revelation 19:20
- 40 Matthew 13:39
- 41 Matthew 24:31; Revelation 21:27; Matthew 18:7; 2 Peter 2:1–2; Matthew 13:49
- 42 Matthew 13:50; Revelation 20:10; Revelation 20:14–15; Matthew 8:12; Luke 16:23–24
- 43 Daniel 12:3; Luke 12:32; Matthew 25:34; 1 Corinthians 15:41–54; Matthew 11:15
- 44 Proverbs 2:2–5; Colossians 2:3; Philippians 3:7–9; Matthew 6:21; Luke 14:33
- 45 Proverbs 8:10–11; Matthew 16:26; Proverbs 3:13–18; Job 28:18; Matthew 13:24
- 46 Luke 18:28–30; Ephesians 3:8; Proverbs 2:4; Acts 20:24; Colossians 2:3
- 47 John 15:6; 2 Timothy 3:2–5; Matthew 22:9–10; 2 Timothy 4:3–4; 1 John 4:1–6
- 48 Matthew 13:30; Matthew 3:12; Matthew 13:40–43
- 49 Revelation 20:12–15; Matthew 13:39; Matthew 24:31; 2 Thessalonians 1:7–10; Matthew 22:12–14
- 50 Revelation 14:10–11; Luke 13:27–28; Matthew 13:42; Matthew 8:12; Revelation 16:10–11
- 51 Mark 4:34; Matthew 13:19; Matthew 13:11; Matthew 15:17; Matthew 24:15
- 52 1 John 2:7–8; Titus 1:9; 2 Timothy 3:16–17; 2 Corinthians 3:4–6; Titus 2:6–7
- 53 Matthew 7:28; Mark 4:33–35
- 54 John 7:15–16; Matthew 7:28; Mark 6:1–6; Matthew 2:23; Luke 4:16–30
- 55 Mark 6:3; John 6:42; Luke 3:23; Mark 15:47–16:1; Luke 4:22
- 57 John 4:44; Luke 4:24; Matthew 11:6; Isaiah 53:3; John 6:61
- 58 Mark 6:5–6; Romans 11:20; Hebrews 3:12–19; Luke 4:25–29
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
Both yesterday and to-day ye have heard the parables of the sower, in the words of our Lord Jesus Christ. Do ye who were present yesterday, recollect to-day.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 6 (1888)
We have good cause to admire the disciples, how, longing as they do to learn, they know when they ought to ask. For they do it not before all: and this Matthew shows by saying, "And they came." And, as to this assertion not being conjecture, Mark hath expressed it more distinctly, by saying, that "they came to Him privately." …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)
And every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit, is hewn down and cast into the fire." And as to those who are not living pursuant to these His teachings, and are Christians only in name, we demand that all such be punished by you.
… no such thing as good and evil, but certain things were deemed righteous, and certain others unrighteous, in human opinion only, He never would have expressed Himself thus in His teaching: "The righteous shall shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father;" but He shall send the unrighteous, and those who do not the works of righteousness, …
For Thou hast said unto man, "Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom;" and desire not to seem wise, because, "Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools." But I had now found the goodly pearl, which, selling all that I had, I ought to have bought; and I hesitated.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 1 (1886)