New International Reader s Version - NIrV - 1996
Matthew 13
1
That same day Jesus left the house and sat by the Sea of Galilee.
Reference
References Jesus
Matthew 13:36
2
Large crowds gathered around him. So he got into a boat. He sat down in it. All the people stood on the shore.
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3
Then he told them many things by using stories. He said, "A farmer went out to plant his seed.
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4
He scattered the seed on the ground. Some fell on a path. Birds came and ate it up.
5
Some seed fell on rocky places, where there wasn't much soil. The plants came up quickly, because the soil wasn't deep.
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8
Still other seed fell on good soil. It produced a crop 100, 60 or 30 times more than what was planted.
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10
The disciples came to him. They asked, "Why do you use stories when you speak to the people?"
11
He replied, "You have been given the chance to understand the secrets of the kingdom of heaven. It has not been given to outsiders.
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12
Everyone who has that kind of knowledge will be given more. In fact, they will have very much. If anyone doesn't have that kind of knowledge, even what little he has will be taken away from him.
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13
Here is why I use stories when I speak to the people. I say, "They look, but they don't really see. They listen, but they don't really hear or understand.
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14
"In them the words of the prophet Isaiah come true. He said, " 'You will hear but never understand. You will see but never know what you are seeing.
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15
The hearts of these people have become stubborn. They can barely hear with their ears. They have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes. They might hear with their ears. They might understand with their hearts. They might turn to the Lord, and then he would heal them.' --(Isaiah 6:9,10)
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16
"But blessed are your eyes because they see. And blessed are your ears because they hear.
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17
What I'm about to tell you is true. Many prophets and godly people wanted to see what you see. But they didn't see it. They wanted to hear what you hear. But they didn't hear it.
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18
"Listen! Here is the meaning of the story of the farmer.
19
People hear the message about the kingdom but do not understand it. Then the evil one comes. He steals what was planted in their hearts. Those people are like the seed planted on a path.
Reference
Evil
1 John 5:18
1 John 3:12
Kingdom
Matthew 13:38
Matthew 4:23
Acts 28:23
Acts 20:25
Parallel theme
Hebrews 2:1
Romans 1:28
Acts 17:32
Word
Acts 18:15
20
Others received the seed that fell on rocky places. They are those who hear the message and at once receive it with joy.
Reference
Parallel theme
John 5:35
Isaiah 58:2
Mark 6:20
2 Chronicles 24:2
Acts 8:13
2 Chronicles 24:14
Word
2 Chronicles 24:6
21
But they have no roots. So they last only a short time. They quickly fall away from the faith when trouble or suffering comes because of the message.
Reference
Parallel theme
Matthew 11:6
Hosea 6:4
Job 19:28
Proverbs 12:3
Ephesians 3:17
Proverbs 12:12
Romans 2:7
Matthew 24:13
Word
Psalm 36:3
Mark 4:17
22
Others received the seed that fell among the thorns. They are those who hear the message. But then the worries of this life and the false promises of wealth crowd it out. They keep it from producing fruit.
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23
But still others received the seed that fell on good soil. They are those who hear the message and understand it. They produce a crop 100, 60 or 30 times more than the farmer planted."
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24
Jesus told the crowd another story. "Here is what the kingdom of heaven is like," he said. "A man planted good seed in his field.
Reference
Good
Matthew 13:37
Kingdom
Matthew 25:1
Matthew 13:47
Matthew 20:1
Matthew 22:2
Matthew 13:33
Luke 13:18
Luke 13:20
Matthew 13:31
Parallel theme
1 Peter 1:23
25
But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came. The enemy planted weeds among the wheat and then went away.
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26
The wheat began to grow and form grain. At the same time, weeds appeared.
27
"The owner's servants came to him. They said, 'Sir, didn't you plant good seed in your field? Then where did the weeds come from?'
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28
" 'An enemy did this,' he replied. "The servants asked him, 'Do you want us to go and pull the weeds up?'
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" 'No,' the owner answered. 'While you are pulling up the weeds, you might pull up the wheat with them.
30
Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the workers what to do. Here is what I will say to them. First collect the weeds. Tie them in bundles to be burned. Then gather the wheat. Bring it into my storeroom.' "
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31
Jesus told the crowd another story. He said, "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed. Someone took the seed and planted it in a field.
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32
It is the smallest of all your seeds. But when it grows, it is the largest of all garden plants. It becomes a tree. Birds come and rest in its branches."
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33
Jesus told them still another story. "The kingdom of heaven is like yeast," he said. "A woman mixed it into a large amount of flour. The yeast worked its way all through the dough."
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34
Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd by using stories. He did not say anything to them without telling a story.
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35
So the words spoken by the prophet came true. He had said, "I will open my mouth and tell stories. I will speak about things that were hidden since the world was made." --(Psalm 78:2)
Reference
Parallel theme
Psalm 78:2
Ephesians 3:9
1 Corinthians 2:7
John 17:24
Matthew 25:34
Isaiah 42:9
Revelation 13:8
Prophecy
Amos 3:7
Ephesians 3:5
Matthew 13:14
36
Then Jesus left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him. They said, "Explain to us the story of the weeds in the field."
37
He answered, "The one who planted the good seed is the Son of Man.
Reference
Good
Matthew 13:27
Matthew 13:24
Parallel theme
Acts 1:8
Matthew 13:41
Luke 10:16
Romans 15:18
Matthew 10:40
Matthew 8:20
John 13:20
John 20:21
38
The field is the world. The good seed stands for the people who belong to the kingdom. The weeds are the people who belong to the evil one.
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39
The enemy who plants them is the devil. The harvest is judgment day. And the workers are angels.
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40
"The weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire. That is how it will be on judgment day.
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Parallel theme
Matthew 13:39
41
The Son of Man will send out his angels. They will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin. They will also get rid of all who do evil.
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42
They will throw them into the blazing furnace. There people will sob and grind their teeth.
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43
Then God's people will shine like the sun in their Father's kingdom. Those who have ears should listen.
Reference
Kingdom
Luke 12:32
Matthew 25:34
Matthew 26:29
Luke 22:29
James 2:5
Parallel theme
Matthew 11:15
1 Corinthians 15:58
Matthew 25:36
Righteousness
Daniel 12:3
44
"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure that was hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again. He was very happy. So he went and sold everything he had. And he bought that field.
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46
He found one that was very valuable. So he went away and sold everything he had. And he bought that pearl.
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47
"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net. It was let down into the lake. It caught all kinds of fish.
Reference
Kingdom
Acts 20:30
Parallel theme
John 15:6
Revelation 3:1
Mark 1:17
Matthew 4:19
John 15:2
2 Corinthians 11:26
Luke 5:10
Galatians 2:4
48
When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and gathered the good fish into baskets. But they threw the bad fish away.
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49
This is how it will be on judgment day. The angels will come. They will separate the people who did what is wrong from those who did what is right.
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50
They will throw the evil people into the blazing furnace. There the evil ones will sob and grind their teeth.
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52
He said to them, "Every teacher of the law who has been taught about the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house. He brings new treasures out of his storeroom as well as old ones."
Reference
Kingdom
Ezra 7:21
Parallel theme
Titus 1:9
Proverbs 15:7
Matthew 12:35
Ezra 7:10
Proverbs 18:4
Matthew 23:34
Luke 11:49
Colossians 1:7
Colossians 3:16
53
Jesus finished telling these stories. Then he moved on from there.
54
He came to his hometown of Nazareth. There he began teaching the people in their synagogue. They were amazed. "Where did this man get this wisdom? Where did he get this power to do miracles?" they asked.
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55
"Isn't this the carpenter's son? Isn't his mother's name Mary? Aren't his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas?
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People
56
Aren't all his sisters with us? Then where did this man get all these things?"
57
They were not pleased with him at all. But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not honored in his hometown. He doesn't receive any honor in his own home."
Reference
Parallel theme
Matthew 11:6
Isaiah 53:3
Isaiah 49:7
Isaiah 8:14
Luke 7:23
Prophecy
John 4:44
Luke 4:24
References Jesus
John 6:61
John 6:42
58
He did only a few miracles there because they had no faith.
Reference
Parallel theme
Romans 11:20
Chapter Summary
Matthew 13 is one of the most important teaching chapters in Matthew because it gathers together a series of kingdom parables through which Jesus explains how God's kingdom begins, grows, encounters opposition, produces different responses, and ultimately reaches a point of final judgment.
The chapter opens with the parable of the sower, in which the same seed falls on four different types of ground, showing that the effectiveness of God's message is not determined by the message itself but by the condition of the hearts that receive it.
The four soils represent different responses: some people never truly understand, others respond enthusiastically but collapse under pressure, others allow worries and wealth to choke spiritual growth, while those with receptive hearts produce lasting fruit.
Jesus then explains why He uses parables, connecting the mixed responses of His listeners with Isaiah's ancient description of people who hear without understanding and see without perceiving, demonstrating that spiritual blindness can remain even when people are physically exposed to God's truth.
The parable of the weeds addresses the difficult question of why evil continues to exist alongside God's kingdom, explaining that good and evil will coexist for a period of time but that God will ultimately separate them at the end of the age.
Jesus then uses the mustard seed and yeast to show that God's kingdom may begin in apparently small and unimpressive ways while eventually producing an influence far greater than its beginnings would suggest.
The chapter continues with the hidden treasure and priceless pearl, both of which emphasize the extraordinary value of God's kingdom, showing that once a person truly recognizes its worth, surrendering lesser possessions and priorities becomes a joyful response rather than merely a painful sacrifice.
The fishing-net parable returns to the theme of final separation, illustrating that God's kingdom reaches broadly into the world but that a final judgment will distinguish between those who belong to God and those who persist in rejecting Him.
Jesus' teaching therefore contains both comfort and warning: God's kingdom is growing even when its progress seems hidden, but participation in that kingdom requires genuine spiritual response and cannot be reduced to superficial enthusiasm or religious familiarity.
The chapter ends by returning Jesus to His hometown, where people are amazed by His wisdom but struggle to accept Him because they know His family and ordinary background, revealing the danger of allowing familiarity and preconceived expectations to prevent genuine faith.
The central message is that Matthew 13 explains the mysterious growth and mixed reception of God's kingdom, showing that the kingdom may begin quietly, encounter opposition, coexist temporarily with evil, and appear insignificant, yet it possesses immeasurable value and will ultimately be revealed in full through God's final judgment and restoration.
The chapter ultimately calls readers to examine the condition of their own hearts, recognize the supreme value of God's kingdom, remain faithful when difficulties arise, resist the distractions of worldly anxiety and wealth, and trust that God's purposes are advancing even when His work appears hidden or opposed.
The chapter opens with the parable of the sower, in which the same seed falls on four different types of ground, showing that the effectiveness of God's message is not determined by the message itself but by the condition of the hearts that receive it.
The four soils represent different responses: some people never truly understand, others respond enthusiastically but collapse under pressure, others allow worries and wealth to choke spiritual growth, while those with receptive hearts produce lasting fruit.
Jesus then explains why He uses parables, connecting the mixed responses of His listeners with Isaiah's ancient description of people who hear without understanding and see without perceiving, demonstrating that spiritual blindness can remain even when people are physically exposed to God's truth.
The parable of the weeds addresses the difficult question of why evil continues to exist alongside God's kingdom, explaining that good and evil will coexist for a period of time but that God will ultimately separate them at the end of the age.
Jesus then uses the mustard seed and yeast to show that God's kingdom may begin in apparently small and unimpressive ways while eventually producing an influence far greater than its beginnings would suggest.
The chapter continues with the hidden treasure and priceless pearl, both of which emphasize the extraordinary value of God's kingdom, showing that once a person truly recognizes its worth, surrendering lesser possessions and priorities becomes a joyful response rather than merely a painful sacrifice.
The fishing-net parable returns to the theme of final separation, illustrating that God's kingdom reaches broadly into the world but that a final judgment will distinguish between those who belong to God and those who persist in rejecting Him.
Jesus' teaching therefore contains both comfort and warning: God's kingdom is growing even when its progress seems hidden, but participation in that kingdom requires genuine spiritual response and cannot be reduced to superficial enthusiasm or religious familiarity.
The chapter ends by returning Jesus to His hometown, where people are amazed by His wisdom but struggle to accept Him because they know His family and ordinary background, revealing the danger of allowing familiarity and preconceived expectations to prevent genuine faith.
The central message is that Matthew 13 explains the mysterious growth and mixed reception of God's kingdom, showing that the kingdom may begin quietly, encounter opposition, coexist temporarily with evil, and appear insignificant, yet it possesses immeasurable value and will ultimately be revealed in full through God's final judgment and restoration.
The chapter ultimately calls readers to examine the condition of their own hearts, recognize the supreme value of God's kingdom, remain faithful when difficulties arise, resist the distractions of worldly anxiety and wealth, and trust that God's purposes are advancing even when His work appears hidden or opposed.