1 The same day went Iesus out of the house, and sate by the sea side. 2 And great multitudes resorted vnto him, so that he went into a ship, and sate downe: and the whole multitude stoode on the shore. 3 Then he spake many things to them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sowe. 4 And as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the foules came and deuoured them vp. 5 And some fell vpon stony grounde, where they had not much earth, and anon they sprong vp, because they had no depth of earth. 6 And when the sunne was vp, they were parched, and for lacke of rooting, withered away. 7 And some fell among thornes, and the thornes sprong vp, and choked them. 8 Some againe fel in good ground, and brought forth fruite, one corne an hundreth folde, some sixtie folde, and another thirtie folde. 9 He that hath eares to heare, let him heare. 10 Then the disciples came, and said to him, Why speakest thou to them in parables? 11 And he answered, and said vnto them, Because it is giuen vnto you, to know the secretes of the kingdome of heauen, but to the it is not giue. 12 For whosoeuer hath, to him shalbe giuen, and he shall haue abundance: but whosoeuer hath not, from him shalbe taken away, euen that he hath. 13 Therefore speake I to them in parables, because they seeing, doe not see: and hearing, they heare not, neither vnderstand. 14 So in them is fulfilled the prophecie of Esaias, which prophecie saieth, By hearing, ye shall heare, and shall not vnderstand, and seeing, ye shall see, and shall not perceiue. 15 For this peoples heart is waxed fat, and their eares are dull of hearing, and with their eyes they haue winked, lest they should see with their eyes, and heare with their eares, and should vnderstand with their hearts, and should returne, that I might heale them. 16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your eares, for they heare. 17 For verely I say vnto you, that many Prophets, and righteous men haue desired to see those things which ye see, and haue not seene them, and to heare those things which ye heare, and haue not heard them. 18 Heare ye therefore ye parable of ye sower. 19 Whensoeuer any man heareth the woorde of that kingdome, and vnderstandeth it not, that euil one commeth, and catcheth away that which was sowen in his heart: and this is he which hath receiued the seede by the way side. 20 And hee that receiued seede in the stonie grounde, is he which heareth the woorde, and incontinently with ioy receiueth it, 21 Yet hath he no roote in himselfe, and dureth but a season: for assoone as tribulation or persecution commeth because of the woorde, by and by he is offended. 22 And hee that receiued the seede among thornes, is hee that heareth the woorde: but the care of this worlde, and the deceitfulnesse of riches choke the word, and he is made vnfruitfull. 23 But he that receiued the seede in the good ground, is he that heareth the worde, and vnderstandeth it, which also beareth fruite, and bringeth foorth, some an hundreth folde, some sixtie folde, and some thirtie folde. 24 Another parable put hee foorth vnto them, saying, The kingdome of heauen is like vnto a man which sowed good seede in his fielde. 25 But while men slept, there came his enemie, and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his waie. 26 And when the blade was sprong vp, and brought forth fruite, then appeared the tares also. 27 Then came the seruaunts of the housholder, and sayd vnto him, Master, sowedst not thou good seede in thy fielde? from whence then hath it tares? 28 And hee said to them, Some enuious man hath done this. Then the seruants saide vnto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them vp? 29 But he saide, Nay, lest while yee goe about to gather the tares, yee plucke vp also with them the wheat. 30 Let both growe together vntill the haruest, and in time of haruest I will say to the reapers, Gather yee first the tares, and binde them in sheaues to burne them: but gather the wheate into my barne. 31 Another parable he put foorth vnto them, saying, The kingdome of heauen is like vnto a graine of mustard seede, which a man taketh and soweth in his fielde: 32 Which in deede is the least of all seedes: but when it is growen, it is the greatest among herbes, and it is a tree, so that the birdes of heauen come and builde in the branches thereof. 33 Another parable spake hee to them, The kingdome of heauen is like vnto leauen, which a woman taketh and hideth in three pecks of meale, till all be leauened. 34 All these thinges spake Iesus vnto the multitude in parables, and without parables spake he not to them, 35 That it might be fulfilled, which was spoken by the Prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables, and will vtter the thinges which haue beene kept secrete from the foundation of the worlde. 36 Then sent Iesus the multitude away, and went into the house. And his disciples came vnto him, saying, Declare vnto vs the parable of the tares of that fielde. 37 Then answered he, and saide to them, He that soweth the good seede, is the Sonne of man. 38 And the field is the worlde, and the good seede are the children of the kingdome, and the tares are the children of that wicked one. 39 And the enemie that soweth them, is the deuill, and the haruest is the end of the worlde, and the reapers be the Angels. 40 As then the tares are gathered and burned in ye fire, so shall it be in the end of this world. 41 The Sonne of man shall send forth his Angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which doe iniquitie, 42 And shall cast them into a fornace of fire. There shalbe wailing and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then shall the iust men shine as ye sunne in the kingdome of their Father. Hee that hath eares to heare, let him heare. 44 Againe, the kingdom of heauen is like vnto a treasure hid in ye field, which when a man hath found, he hideth it, and for ioy thereof departeth and selleth all that he hath, and buieth that field. 45 Againe, the kingdome of heauen is like to a marchant man, that seeketh good pearles, 46 Who hauing found a pearle of great price, went and solde all that he had, and bought it. 47 Againe, the kingdom of heauen is like vnto a drawe net cast into the sea, that gathereth of all kindes of things. 48 Which, when it is full, men draw to lande, and sit and gather the good into vessels, and cast the bad away. 49 So shall it be at the end of the world. The Angels shall goe foorth, and seuer the bad from among the iust, 50 And shall cast them into a fornace of fire: there shalbe wailing, and gnashing of teeth. 51 Iesus saide vnto them, Vnderstand yee all these things? They saide vnto him, Yea, Lord. 52 Then sayd hee vnto them, Therefore euery Scribe which is taught vnto the kingdome of heauen, is like vnto an householder, which bringeth foorth out of his treasure things both newe and olde. 53 And it came to passe, that when Iesus had ended these parables, he departed thence, 54 And came into his owne countrey, and taught them in their Synagogue, so that they were astonied, and saide, Whence commeth this wisdome and great woorkes vnto this man? 55 Is not this the carpenters sonne? Is not his mother called Marie, and his brethren Iames and Ioses, and Simon and Iudas? 56 And are not his sisters all with vs? Whence then hath he all these things? 57 And they were offended with him. Then Iesus said to them, A Prophet is not without honour, saue in his owne countrey, and in his owne house. 58 And he did not many great woorkes there, for their vnbeliefes sake.
Matthew 13 Geneva Bible (1599)
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
Notes on this text (1)
- Original 16th-century spelling.
People & places in this chapter
From this site's family tree and Bible maps, only where those guides cite this chapter.
People
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)