Matthew 13 summary meaning ai explained commentary

Matthew 13 meaning explained in AI Summary

Parables of the Kingdom

Jesus teaches in parables about the kingdom of heaven, including the sower, the weeds among the wheat, the mustard seed, and the leaven.
He explains the purpose of parables and the importance of understanding spiritual truths.

Matthew 13 is a pivotal chapter in the Gospel of Matthew, focusing entirely on parables used by Jesus to explain the nature of the Kingdom of Heaven.

Setting: Jesus is teaching a large crowd gathered by the Sea of Galilee.

Key Themes:

The Mystery of the Kingdom: Jesus uses parables to reveal truths about the Kingdom of Heaven to those who believe and to conceal them from those who reject him.
Growth and Opposition: The parables illustrate the growth of the Kingdom, but also the opposition and challenges it faces.
The Importance of Understanding: Jesus emphasizes the need for his followers to understand the meaning of his parables.

Parables Explained:

1. The Parable of the Sower (vv. 3-9, 18-23): This parable explains that the response to the Gospel message (the seed) varies depending on the condition of the heart (the soil). Some will accept and bear fruit, while others will fall away or be choked by life's worries.

2. The Parable of the Weeds (vv. 24-30, 36-43): This parable illustrates that evil will coexist with good until the end of the age, when God will separate the righteous from the wicked.

3. The Parable of the Mustard Seed (vv. 31-32): This parable shows that even though the Kingdom of Heaven starts small, it will grow into something great and impactful.

4. The Parable of the Yeast (vv. 33): Similar to the mustard seed, this parable emphasizes the hidden but powerful growth of the Kingdom within the world.

5. The Parable of the Hidden Treasure (v. 44): This parable highlights the surpassing value of the Kingdom of Heaven, worth sacrificing everything for.

6. The Parable of the Pearl of Great Price (vv. 45-46): Similar to the hidden treasure, this parable emphasizes the willingness to give up everything to obtain the Kingdom.

7. The Parable of the Net (vv. 47-50): This parable illustrates the final judgment, where God will separate the righteous from the wicked.

8. The Parable of the Householder (vv. 51-53): This parable emphasizes Jesus' role as a teacher who brings forth both new and old truths about the Kingdom.

Conclusion:

Jesus explains the parables to his disciples privately, emphasizing their responsibility to understand and teach others.
The chapter ends with the people of Nazareth astonished by Jesus' wisdom and teaching, highlighting the contrast between those who accept and reject him.

Overall, Matthew 13 provides a profound and multifaceted picture of the Kingdom of Heaven, emphasizing its growth, challenges, and ultimate triumph.

Matthew 13 bible study ai commentary

Matthew 13 is a pivotal chapter where Jesus shifts his primary teaching method to parables. He does this to reveal the "mysteries of the kingdom of heaven" to His disciples while concealing them from the hardened and unbelieving crowds. The chapter presents seven key parables that describe the nature, growth, value, and ultimate destiny of the Kingdom in its current form during this age—an age characterized by the simultaneous presence of good and evil, slow and hidden growth, and a final, decisive judgment.

Matthew 13 Context

The chapter follows the growing opposition to Jesus from the Pharisees in chapter 12, who accused Him of casting out demons by Beelzebul. This marked a turning point in Israel's official rejection of their Messiah. In response, Jesus's teaching becomes more veiled to the public. The setting is the Sea of Galilee, a familiar location for his audience. The parables draw from everyday Palestinian life—farming, baking, fishing—making them relatable on the surface but profound in their spiritual meaning. The core context is understanding the "kingdom of heaven" not as the immediate, political overthrow of Rome that many Jews expected, but as a spiritual reality that would grow mysteriously until Christ's second coming.

Matthew 13:1-2

On that day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the sea. And great crowds gathered to him, so that he got into a boat and sat down. And the whole crowd stood on the shore.

In-depth-analysis

Jesus's teaching location shifts from the synagogue to the open air, by the sea. This signifies a move from addressing the religious establishment to teaching the masses more broadly.
Teaching from the boat provided a natural amphitheater, allowing his voice to carry across the water to the large crowd on the shore.
This act of separating Himself slightly from the crowd parallels the spiritual separation that the parables themselves would create between the hearers.

Bible references

Luke 5:3: 'Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon's, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat.' (Jesus using a boat as a pulpit previously).
Mark 4:1: 'Again he began to teach beside the sea. And a very large crowd gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat in it on the sea...' (Synoptic parallel account).

Cross references

Mark 2:13 (teaching by the sea), Matt 5:1 (teaching on a mountain).

Matthew 13:3-9

And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears, let him hear.”

In-depth-analysis

Word: The Greek parabolē comes from "to throw beside," meaning a comparison or an illustration placed alongside a truth to illuminate it.
This initial parable, explained later, acts as the key to understanding the others. It is not about the sower or the seed but about the reception of the seed in different types of soil (hearts).
The four soils represent four different responses to the gospel message.
1. Path: Hardened heart, no penetration of the Word. Satan removes it.
2. Rocky Ground: Superficial, emotional acceptance without true conversion or commitment ("root"). Falls away under pressure.
3. Thorny Ground: A divided heart where worldly anxieties and the allure of wealth choke out the Word's effectiveness.
4. Good Soil: A receptive, understanding heart that allows the Word to take root and bear fruit in varying degrees.
The varying yields (100, 60, 30) show that even among true believers, the level of spiritual fruitfulness differs.
"He who has ears, let him hear" is a call for spiritual perception, urging the listener to look beyond the simple story to the deeper truth.

Bible references

Isaiah 55:10-11: 'For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven... so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty...' (The power and purpose of God's Word).
Jeremiah 4:3: '...Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns.' (An OT call to prepare the heart for God's word).
James 1:21: '...receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.' (The posture of "good soil").

Cross references

Mark 4:1-9 (parallel account), Luke 8:4-8 (parallel account), Heb 6:7-8 (land bearing thorns is cursed).

Matthew 13:10-17

Then the disciples came and said to him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” And he answered them, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given... This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand... But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear...”

In-depth-analysis

Parables serve a dual purpose: to reveal truth to those with seeking hearts (the disciples) and to conceal it from those whose hearts are hardened (the rejecting crowds and leaders).
Word: "Secrets" is the Greek mystērion. In the NT, this does not mean an unsolvable puzzle but a truth hidden in the OT that is now being revealed by God, specifically the nature of the Kingdom in this inter-advent age.
Jesus quotes Isaiah 6:9-10, applying this prophecy of judicial hardening to his own generation. Their prior rejection (Ch. 12) resulted in God veiling the truth from them.
This passage highlights the principle of spiritual receptivity: "To the one who has, more will be given... but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away." Spiritual light is given to those who act on the light they have.
The disciples are "blessed" not because of their own intellect, but because God has graciously opened their eyes to see and ears to hear what OT prophets and righteous people longed to understand.

Bible references

Isaiah 6:9-10: 'And he said, "Go, and say to this people: ‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand; keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’ Make the heart of this people dull..."' (The primary OT reference for judicial hardening).
Daniel 2:28: '...but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries...' (The concept of God as the revealer of secrets).
Romans 11:7-8: '...The rest were hardened, as it is written, "God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that would not see and ears that would not hear..."' (Paul applying Isaiah's prophecy to Israel's rejection of the gospel).
1 Corinthians 2:14: 'The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.' (The necessity of the Holy Spirit for understanding divine truth).

Cross references

Eph 3:3-5 (mystery revealed to apostles), Col 1:26 (mystery hidden for ages), Mark 4:11-12 (parallel), Luke 8:10 (parallel), Joh 12:40 (John quotes Isa 6), Acts 28:26-27 (Paul quotes Isa 6).

Polemics: This challenges the universalist idea that truth is self-evident to all. It posits that a divine work and a humble posture are necessary for understanding spiritual reality. It is a polemic against the arrogance of the Pharisees who believed they held the keys to knowledge but were in fact spiritually blind.

Matthew 13:18-23

“Hear then the parable of the sower: When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path... As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful...”

In-depth-analysis

Jesus provides the allegorical key to the first parable. The "seed" is unequivocally "the word of the kingdom."
Path: The issue is a lack of understanding and immediate satanic opposition. The heart is hard and impenetrable.
Rocky Ground: This represents a shallow, emotional response. There is joy but no "root" - no deep conviction or genuine conversion. Persecution or tribulation reveals its superficiality.
Thorny Ground: This represents a genuine hearing of the word, but its growth is stifled by competing priorities: anxiety ("cares of the world") and materialism ("deceitfulness of riches"). The plant exists but is "unfruitful." This speaks to the danger of a divided loyalty.
Good Soil: The one who "hears the word and understands it." Understanding leads to acceptance, which leads to fruitfulness. This is the goal of discipleship.

Bible references

1 John 2:15-16: 'Do not love the world or the things in the world... For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh... of the eyes... and pride of life—is not from the Father...' (The "thorns" personified).
1 Timothy 6:9-10: 'But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation... For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.' (The "deceitfulness of riches").
John 15:8: 'By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.' (Fruitfulness as the evidence of true discipleship).

Cross references

Mark 4:13-20 (parallel), Luke 8:11-15 (parallel), 2 Cor 4:4 (god of this world blinds minds).

Matthew 13:24-30 & 36-43

He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds [Gr. zizania] among the wheat and went away..." The disciples came to him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.” ...The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels..."

In-depth-analysis

This parable addresses the problem of evil in the world and within professing Christendom.
Word: The weeds are likely Darnel (zizania), a poisonous weed that looks identical to wheat in its early stages. This highlights the difficulty in distinguishing true believers from false ones.
Key Teaching: Jesus forbids a premature, human-led "purification." The servants' impulse is to root out the weeds immediately, but the master refuses, fearing damage to the wheat. Good and evil must coexist in the world until the final judgment.
Allegorical Key:
- Sower: Son of Man (Jesus).
- Field: The World (not the Church).
- Good Seed: Sons of the Kingdom (true believers).
- Weeds/Tares: Sons of the evil one (unbelievers, counterfeit Christians).
- Enemy: The Devil.
- Harvest: The end of the age (sunteleia tou aiōnos).
- Reapers: Angels.
The finality and severity of judgment are stressed: the weeds are burned in a "fiery furnace" where there is "weeping and gnashing of teeth," while the righteous "will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father."

Bible references

John 8:44: 'You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires.' (Jesus identifying the "sons of the evil one").
2 Peter 2:1-2: 'But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies...' (The reality of enemies sowing falsehood within the flock).
Revelation 14:14-19: 'Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and seated on the cloud one like a son of man... "Put in your sickle, and reap, for the hour to reap has come..."' (The imagery of the Son of Man overseeing the final harvest).
Daniel 12:3: 'And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above...' (The ultimate destiny of the righteous).

Cross references

Matt 3:12 (winnowing fork), Matt 25:41 (eternal fire), Mal 4:1 (day of judgment), Acts 20:29 (wolves among you), Jude 1:12 (hidden reefs).

Matthew 13:31-32

He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.”

In-depth-analysis

This parable, and the one on leaven, illustrates the growth of the kingdom from a small, seemingly insignificant beginning.
Two Interpretations:
1. Positive View: The Kingdom of Heaven will have a surprisingly vast and extensive outward growth and influence, starting from the small band of disciples and spreading worldwide. The "birds" represent nations finding shelter in it (cf. Ezek 31:6).
2. Negative View: This view notes that the mustard plant is a shrub, but here becomes an unnaturally large "tree." In biblical symbolism, "birds of the air" can represent evil (cf. v. 4, the birds snatching seed are satanic). In this view, the parable predicts the unnatural, bloated growth of institutional "Christendom," which provides a nesting place for corruption and evil. Both views have merit and capture a facet of church history.

Bible references

Ezekiel 17:22-23: '...I myself will take a sprig... and I will plant it on a high and lofty mountain... It will become a noble cedar and under it will dwell every kind of bird...' (Positive imagery of God's kingdom as a great tree).
Daniel 4:20-22: 'The tree you saw... whose branches the birds of the heavens dwelt... it is you, O king...' (Nebuchadnezzar's worldly kingdom depicted as a great tree with birds, often seen as a parallel to worldly corruption entering the visible church).

Cross references

Mark 4:30-32 (parallel), Luke 13:18-19 (parallel), Zec 4:10 (day of small things).

Matthew 13:33

He told them another parable. “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened.”

In-depth-analysis

This illustrates the internal, pervasive influence of the kingdom. "Three measures" (about 22 liters) was a very large quantity, implying a total and thorough permeation.
Two Interpretations:
1. Positive View: The gospel's influence, though hidden and slow, will gradually permeate and transform all of society or the whole world.
2. Negative View: Throughout scripture, leaven is almost always a symbol of sin, corruption, or false doctrine (Ex 12:15, 1 Cor 5:6-8, Gal 5:9). In this view, the parable warns that the Kingdom in its visible form will be permeated by corrupting influences and false teaching until the whole of "Christendom" is affected. The woman is sometimes seen as a symbol of apostate religion (cf. Rev 2:20, "Jezebel").

Bible references

1 Corinthians 5:6: '...Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?' (Leaven as a symbol of corrupting sin).
Galatians 5:9: 'A little leaven leavens the whole lump.' (Leaven as a symbol of false doctrine).

Cross references

Luke 13:20-21 (parallel), Hos 7:4 (leaven of wickedness).

Polemics: The dual interpretations of both the Mustard Seed and Leaven parables are debated among scholars. Dispensationalists often favor the negative interpretation, seeing these as prophecies of Christendom's corruption during the church age. Others see a positive message of the gospel's unstoppable growth and influence. The text allows for the tension between the two.

Matthew 13:44

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.”

In-depth-analysis

This parable and the next one (Pearl) shift focus to the immeasurable value of the Kingdom and the joy of obtaining it.
Interpretation 1 (The Believer): The man represents a person who stumbles upon the truth of Christ and the gospel (the "treasure"). Recognizing its supreme value, he joyfully gives up everything else he holds dear to possess it.
Interpretation 2 (Christ): The man is Christ. The "treasure" is his chosen people, Israel or the church. The "field" is the world. Jesus gave up everything ("sold all")—His heavenly glory—and paid the ultimate price on the cross to purchase the world to redeem His treasure out of it. This interpretation is powerful because man cannot "buy" his salvation.

Bible references

Philippians 3:7-8: 'But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.' (Paul's personal testimony of selling all for Christ).
Proverbs 2:4-5: '...if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord...' (The wisdom of seeking God as treasure).
2 Corinthians 8:9: 'For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.' (Christ "selling all" for us).

Cross references

Col 2:3 (all treasures hidden in Christ), Isa 55:1 (buy without money).

Matthew 13:45-46

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.”

In-depth-analysis

Similar theme to the treasure, but with a key difference: the treasure was found by accident, while the pearl was actively sought by an expert.
Interpretation 1 (The Seeker): This represents a person who is diligently searching for truth, meaning, or righteousness. When they find Christ, the "pearl of great price," they recognize He is the fulfillment of their search and give up all other philosophies and pursuits for Him.
Interpretation 2 (Christ): The merchant is Christ, the ultimate seeker of beauty and perfection. The "pearl" is the Church, formed out of suffering (like a pearl from an oyster's wound) and seen by Him as exquisitely beautiful and worth everything to acquire. The one pearl (the unified Church) contrasts with the many "treasures" of the redeemed (Israel and Gentiles).

Bible references

Ephesians 5:25-27: '...Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her... so that he might present the church to himself in splendor...' (Christ purchasing and perfecting His bride, the Church).
Psalm 135:4: 'For the LORD has chosen Jacob for himself, Israel as his own treasured possession.' (The concept of God's people as his treasure).

Cross references

Rev 21:21 (gates of pearl in New Jerusalem), Prov 3:14-15 (wisdom more precious than jewels).

Matthew 13:47-50

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind. And when it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into containers but threw away the bad. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

In-depth-analysis

This parable functions much like the Wheat and the Weeds, reinforcing the theme of gathering and future separation.
The "net" represents the outreach of the gospel in this age, which gathers a mixture of all types of people into the visible church.
Mere inclusion in the "net" (visible church) does not guarantee salvation. A final, divine sorting is necessary.
The emphasis again is on the finality of judgment, with angels as the agents of separation and the "fiery furnace" as the destiny for the "bad" (the evil). The language is identical to the explanation of the Tares.

Bible references

Matthew 22:9-10: '...and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.’ And those servants went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good...' (A parallel concept of gathering all types).
Matthew 25:32-33: '...he will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left.' (The definitive separation at the judgment).

Cross references

Hab 1:14 (men like fish), Matt 7:21-23 (not everyone who says 'Lord, Lord').

Matthew 13:51-52

“Have you understood all these things?” They said to him, “Yes.” And he said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house, who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.”

In-depth-analysis

Jesus confirms that these mysteries were intended for his disciples' understanding.
A "scribe trained for the kingdom" is a disciple who is now equipped to teach.
This teacher can draw from their "treasure" (their understanding of God's revelation):
- The Old: The truths of the Old Testament law, prophets, and writings.
- The New: The newly revealed mysteries of the kingdom—its hidden nature, its growth, and its fulfillment in Christ.
A mature teacher connects the new revelation in Christ to its foundation in the old, showing the continuity and fulfillment of God's plan.

Bible references

Ezra 7:10: 'For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the LORD, and to do it and to teach in Israel statutes and rules.' (The model of an OT scribe).
Song of Solomon 7:13: '...all the choicest fruits, new and old, which I have laid up for you, O my beloved.' (The poetic idea of offering up new and old treasures).
2 Timothy 3:16-17: 'All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching...' (The value of the "old" for the "new" covenant believer).

Cross references

Neh 8:8 (making the law clear), 2 Cor 3:6 (ministers of a new covenant).

Matthew 13:53-58

And when Jesus had finished these parables, he went away from there, and coming to his hometown he taught them in their synagogue... And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and in his own household.” And he did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief.

In-depth-analysis

This section serves as a real-world epilogue and demonstration of the chapter's main theme.
The people of Nazareth are a perfect example of the "path" or "rocky soil." They can't see past Jesus's ordinary upbringing—they know his family.
Their familiarity breeds contempt. They are "offended" (eskandalisthēsan) by Him, the very man who is the King of the kingdom.
"A prophet is not without honor..." is a proverbial statement that Jesus applies to himself. Their unbelief was so pervasive that it limited the "mighty works" He did there—not because His power was diminished, but because the purpose of miracles was often to confirm faith, and they refused to believe.
This sobering conclusion brings the chapter full circle, from the theoretical "soils" to a concrete example of hardened, unproductive ground.

Bible references

Mark 6:1-6: '...And many who heard him were astonished, saying, "Where did this man get these things?"...And they took offense at him...And he could do no mighty work there...' (Synoptic parallel account).
John 1:11: 'He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.' (The summary statement of Israel's rejection of Christ).
Luke 4:24-30: 'And he said, "Truly, I say to you, no prophet is acceptable in his hometown."' (A more detailed and confrontational account of a visit to Nazareth).

Cross references

Joh 6:42 (we know his father and mother), Acts 3:22-23 (Moses's prophecy of the Prophet to be heeded).

Matthew Chapter 13 analysis

The Mystery Form of the Kingdom: The central revelation of this chapter is the nature of the "Kingdom of Heaven" in its present, "mystery" phase. It is not a political, earthly kingdom as expected, but a spiritual realm that grows concurrently with evil in the world until the "end of the age." This period between Christ's first and second comings is what these parables describe.
Seven Parables, Two Audiences: There are two distinct sets of parables.
- Public (by the sea): Sower, Wheat and Weeds, Mustard Seed, Leaven. These were spoken to the general multitude and describe the kingdom's manifestation in the world.
- Private (in the house): Hidden Treasure, Pearl of Great Value, Dragnet. These were spoken privately to the disciples and seem to focus more on the kingdom's value and the true nature of its members.
Sovereignty and Responsibility: The chapter holds a perfect tension. God is sovereign in revelation ("To you it has been given...") and judgment. Yet, human beings are responsible for their reception of the word ("He who has ears, let him hear"), and their unbelief has real consequences (as in Nazareth).
Prophetic Structure: Many scholars see a prophetic timeline of the Church Age in the seven parables.
1. Sower: The Apostolic Age—the initial sowing of the Word.
2. Wheat/Tares: The rise of counterfeits within the church.
3. Mustard Seed: The external, organizational growth of Christendom (e.g., under Constantine).
4. Leaven: The internal corruption of doctrine that spread through the visible church.
5. Treasure: The Reformation/rediscovery of salvation by grace (God's remnant).
6. Pearl: The formation of the true church, Christ's bride.
7. Dragnet: The final state of the mixed church just before judgment.
Eschatological Terminology: The chapter introduces key eschatological (end-times) terms that Jesus will use later, such as "the end of the age" (sunteleia tou aiōnos), "fiery furnace," and "weeping and gnashing of teeth," solidifying the link between discipleship in the present and destiny in the future.

Matthew 13 Summary

In Matthew 13, Jesus employs a series of parables to explain the "mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven." These stories reveal that in the current age, the Kingdom starts small, grows mysteriously, and its message receives varied responses. It illustrates that true believers ("wheat") will coexist with false ones ("weeds") until the end of the age, when a final divine judgment will bring separation. The parables underscore the supreme value of the Kingdom, which is worth sacrificing everything to obtain, and conclude with a stark example of unbelief in Jesus's own hometown, proving the reality of the hardened hearts described in the opening parable.

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Matthew chapter 13 kjv

¹ The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side.
² And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.
³ And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;
⁴ And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:
⁵ Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:
⁶ And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.
⁷ And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:
⁸ But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.
⁹ Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
¹⁰ And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
¹¹ He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
¹² For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.
¹³ Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
¹⁴ And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:
¹⁵ For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
¹⁶ But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.
¹⁷ For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.
¹⁸ Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.
¹⁹ When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.
²⁰ But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;
²¹ Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.
²² He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
²³ But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
²⁴ Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:
²⁵ But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.
²⁶ But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.
²⁷ So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?
²⁸ He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?
²⁹ But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.
³⁰ Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.
³¹ Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field:
³² Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.
³³ Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.
³⁴ All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them:
³⁵ That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.
³⁶ Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field.
³⁷ He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;
³⁸ The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;
³⁹ The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.
⁴⁰ As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.
⁴¹ The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;
⁴² And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
⁴³ Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
⁴⁴ Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.
⁴⁵ Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:
⁴⁶ Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
⁴⁷ Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind:
⁴⁸ Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.
⁴⁹ So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just,
⁵⁰ And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
⁵¹ Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord.
⁵² Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.
⁵³ And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these parables, he departed thence.
⁵⁴ And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?
⁵⁵ Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?
⁵⁶ And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?
⁵⁷ And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house.
⁵⁸ And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

Matthew chapter 13 nkjv

¹ On the same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the sea.
² And great multitudes were gathered together to Him, so that He got into a boat and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.
³ Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: "Behold, a sower went out to sow.
⁴ And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them.
⁵ Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth.
⁶ But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away.
⁷ And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them.
⁸ But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
⁹ He who has ears to hear, let him hear!"
¹⁰ And the disciples came and said to Him, "Why do You speak to them in parables?"
¹¹ He answered and said to them, "Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.
¹² For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.
¹³ Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.
¹⁴ And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says: 'Hearing you will hear and shall not understand, And seeing you will see and not perceive;
¹⁵ For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, And their eyes they have closed, Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.'
¹⁶ But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear;
¹⁷ for assuredly, I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.
¹⁸ "Therefore hear the parable of the sower:
¹⁹ When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside.
²⁰ But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy;
²¹ yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles.
²² Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.
²³ But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty."
²⁴ Another parable He put forth to them, saying: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field;
²⁵ but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way.
²⁶ But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared.
²⁷ So the servants of the owner came and said to him, 'Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?'
²⁸ He said to them, 'An enemy has done this.' The servants said to him, 'Do you want us then to go and gather them up?'
²⁹ But he said, 'No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them.
³⁰ Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, "First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn." ' "
³¹ Another parable He put forth to them, saying: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field,
³² which indeed is the least of all the 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 nest in its branches."
³³ Another parable He spoke to them: "The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened."
³⁴ All these things Jesus spoke to the multitude in parables; and without a parable He did not speak to them,
³⁵ that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: "I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things kept secret from the foundation of the world."
³⁶ Then Jesus sent the multitude away and went into the house. And His disciples came to Him, saying, "Explain to us the parable of the tares of the field."
³⁷ He answered and said to them: "He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man.
³⁸ The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one.
³⁹ The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels.
⁴⁰ Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age.
⁴¹ The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness,
⁴² and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
⁴³ Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!
⁴⁴ "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
⁴⁵ "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls,
⁴⁶ who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.
⁴⁷ "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind,
⁴⁸ which, when it was full, they drew to shore; and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but threw the bad away.
⁴⁹ So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just,
⁵⁰ and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth."
⁵¹ Jesus said to them, "Have you understood all these things?" They said to Him, "Yes, Lord."
⁵² Then He said to them, "Therefore every scribe instructed concerning the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure things new and old."
⁵³ Now it came to pass, when Jesus had finished these parables, that He departed from there.
⁵⁴ When He had come to 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 Is this not the carpenter's son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas?
⁵⁶ And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this Man get all these things?"
⁵⁷ So they were offended at Him. But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house."
⁵⁸ Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

Matthew chapter 13 niv

¹ That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake.
² Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore.
³ Then he told them many things in parables, saying: "A farmer went out to sow his seed.
⁴ As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.
⁵ Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow.
⁶ But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.
⁷ Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants.
⁸ Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop?a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.
⁹ Whoever has ears, let them hear."
¹⁰ The disciples came to him and asked, "Why do you speak to the people in parables?"
¹¹ He replied, "Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them.
¹² Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.
¹³ This is why I speak to them in parables: "Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.
¹⁴ In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: "?'You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.
¹⁵ For this people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.'
¹⁶ But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear.
¹⁷ For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.
¹⁸ "Listen then to what the parable of the sower means:
¹⁹ When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path.
²⁰ The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy.
²¹ But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.
²² The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful.
²³ But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown."
²⁴ Jesus told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field.
²⁵ But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away.
²⁶ When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.
²⁷ "The owner's servants came to him and said, 'Sir, didn't you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?'
²⁸ "?'An enemy did this,' he replied. "The servants asked him, 'Do you want us to go and pull them up?'
²⁹ "?'No,' he answered, 'because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them.
³⁰ Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.'?"
³¹ He told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field.
³² Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches."
³³ He told them still another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough."
³⁴ Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable.
³⁵ So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet: "I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world."
³⁶ Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, "Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field."
³⁷ He answered, "The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man.
³⁸ The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one,
³⁹ and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.
⁴⁰ "As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age.
⁴¹ The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil.
⁴² They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
⁴³ Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear.
⁴⁴ "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.
⁴⁵ "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls.
⁴⁶ When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.
⁴⁷ "Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish.
⁴⁸ When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away.
⁴⁹ This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous
⁵⁰ and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
⁵¹ "Have you understood all these things?" Jesus asked. "Yes," they replied.
⁵² He said to them, "Therefore every teacher of the law who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old."
⁵³ When Jesus had finished these parables, he moved on from there.
⁵⁴ Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. "Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?" they asked.
⁵⁵ "Isn't this the carpenter's son? Isn't his mother's name Mary, and aren't his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas?
⁵⁶ Aren't all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?"
⁵⁷ And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own town and in his own home."
⁵⁸ And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.

Matthew chapter 13 esv

¹ That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea.
² And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat down. And the whole crowd stood on the beach.
³ And he told them many things in parables, saying: "A sower went out to sow.
⁴ And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them.
⁵ Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil,
⁶ but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away.
⁷ Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them.
⁸ Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
⁹ He who has ears, let him hear."
¹⁰ Then the disciples came and said to him, "Why do you speak to them in parables?"
¹¹ And he answered them, "To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.
¹² For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
¹³ This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.
¹⁴ Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says: "'"You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive."
¹⁵ For this people's heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.'
¹⁶ But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear.
¹⁷ For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.
¹⁸ "Hear then the parable of the sower:
¹⁹ When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path.
²⁰ As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy,
²¹ yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away.
²² As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.
²³ As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty."
²⁴ He put another parable before them, saying, "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field,
²⁵ but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away.
²⁶ So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also.
²⁷ And the servants of the master of the house came and said to him, 'Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?'
²⁸ He said to them, 'An enemy has done this.' So the servants said to him, 'Then do you want us to go and gather them?'
²⁹ But he said, 'No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them.
³⁰ Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, "Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn."'"
³¹ He put another parable before them, saying, "The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field.
³² It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches."
³³ He told them another parable. "The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened."
³⁴ All these things Jesus said to the crowds in parables; indeed, he said nothing to them without a parable.
³⁵ This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet: "I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter what has been hidden since the foundation of the world."
³⁶ Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples came to him, saying, "Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field."
³⁷ He answered, "The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man.
³⁸ The field is the world, and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one,
³⁹ and 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 gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the end of the age.
⁴¹ The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers,
⁴² and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
⁴³ Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.
⁴⁴ "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
⁴⁵ "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls,
⁴⁶ who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.
⁴⁷ "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind.
⁴⁸ When it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into containers but threw away the bad.
⁴⁹ So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous
⁵⁰ and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
⁵¹ "Have you understood all these things?" They said to him, "Yes."
⁵² And he said to them, "Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house, who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old."
⁵³ And when Jesus had finished these parables, he went away from there,
⁵⁴ and coming to his hometown 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 Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas?
⁵⁶ And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?"
⁵⁷ And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own household."
⁵⁸ And he did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief.

Matthew chapter 13 nlt

¹ Later that same day Jesus left the house and sat beside the lake.
² A large crowd soon gathered around him, so he got into a boat. Then he sat there and taught as the people stood on the shore.
³ He told many stories in the form of parables, such as this one: "Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seeds.
⁴ As he scattered them across his field, some seeds fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate them.
⁵ Other seeds fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seeds sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow.
⁶ But the plants soon wilted under the hot sun, and since they didn't have deep roots, they died.
⁷ Other seeds fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants.
⁸ Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted!
⁹ Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand."
¹⁰ His disciples came and asked him, "Why do you use parables when you talk to the people?"
¹¹ He replied, "You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others are not.
¹² To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.
¹³ That is why I use these parables, For they look, but they don't really see.
They hear, but they don't really listen or understand.
¹⁴ This fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah that says, 'When you hear what I say,
you will not understand.
When you see what I do,
you will not comprehend.
¹⁵ For the hearts of these people are hardened,
and their ears cannot hear,
and they have closed their eyes ?
so their eyes cannot see,
and their ears cannot hear,
and their hearts cannot understand,
and they cannot turn to me
and let me heal them.'
¹⁶ "But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear.
¹⁷ I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, but they didn't see it. And they longed to hear what you hear, but they didn't hear it.
¹⁸ "Now listen to the explanation of the parable about the farmer planting seeds:
¹⁹ The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message about the Kingdom and don't understand it. Then the evil one comes and snatches away the seed that was planted in their hearts.
²⁰ The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy.
²¹ But since they don't have deep roots, they don't last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God's word.
²² The seed that fell among the thorns represents those who hear God's word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life and the lure of wealth, so no fruit is produced.
²³ The seed that fell on good soil represents those who truly hear and understand God's word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!"
²⁴ Here is another story Jesus told: "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a farmer who planted good seed in his field.
²⁵ But that night as the workers slept, his enemy came and planted weeds among the wheat, then slipped away.
²⁶ When the crop began to grow and produce grain, the weeds also grew.
²⁷ "The farmer's workers went to him and said, 'Sir, the field where you planted that good seed is full of weeds! Where did they come from?'
²⁸ "'An enemy has done this!' the farmer exclaimed. "'Should we pull out the weeds?' they asked.
²⁹ "'No,' he replied, 'you'll uproot the wheat if you do.
³⁰ Let both grow together until the harvest. Then I will tell the harvesters to sort out the weeds, tie them into bundles, and burn them, and to put the wheat in the barn.'"
³¹ Here is another illustration Jesus used: "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed planted in a field.
³² It is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest of garden plants; it grows into a tree, and birds come and make nests in its branches."
³³ Jesus also used this illustration: "The Kingdom of Heaven is like the yeast a woman used in making bread. Even though she put only a little yeast in three measures of flour, it permeated every part of the dough."
³⁴ Jesus always used stories and illustrations like these when speaking to the crowds. In fact, he never spoke to them without using such parables.
³⁵ This fulfilled what God had spoken through the prophet: "I will speak to you in parables.
I will explain things hidden since the creation of the world. "
³⁶ Then, leaving the crowds outside, Jesus went into the house. His disciples said, "Please explain to us the story of the weeds in the field."
³⁷ Jesus replied, "The Son of Man is the farmer who plants the good seed.
³⁸ The field is the world, and the good seed represents the people of the Kingdom. The weeds are the people who belong to the evil one.
³⁹ The enemy who planted the weeds among the wheat is the devil. The harvest is the end of the world, and the harvesters are the angels.
⁴⁰ "Just as the weeds are sorted out and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the world.
⁴¹ The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will remove from his Kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil.
⁴² And the angels will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
⁴³ Then the righteous will shine like the sun in their Father's Kingdom. Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!
⁴⁴ "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field.
⁴⁵ "Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant on the lookout for choice pearls.
⁴⁶ When he discovered a pearl of great value, he sold everything he owned and bought it!
⁴⁷ "Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a fishing net that was thrown into the water and caught fish of every kind.
⁴⁸ When the net was full, they dragged it up onto the shore, sat down, and sorted the good fish into crates, but threw the bad ones away.
⁴⁹ That is the way it will be at the end of the world. The angels will come and separate the wicked people from the righteous,
⁵⁰ throwing the wicked into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
⁵¹ Do you understand all these things?" "Yes," they said, "we do."
⁵² Then he added, "Every teacher of religious law who becomes a disciple in the Kingdom of Heaven is like a homeowner who brings from his storeroom new gems of truth as well as old."
⁵³ When Jesus had finished telling these stories and illustrations, he left that part of the country.
⁵⁴ He returned to Nazareth, his hometown. When he taught there in the synagogue, everyone was amazed and said, "Where does he get this wisdom and the power to do miracles?"
⁵⁵ Then they scoffed, "He's just the carpenter's son, and we know Mary, his mother, and his brothers ? James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas.
⁵⁶ All his sisters live right here among us. Where did he learn all these things?"
⁵⁷ And they were deeply offended and refused to believe in him. Then Jesus told them, "A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his own family."
⁵⁸ And so he did only a few miracles there because of their unbelief.