1 A nd in that day Jesus, having gone forth from the house, was sitting by the sea,

That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat down by the shore of the lake.

2 a nd gathered together unto him were many multitudes, so that he having gone into the boat did sit down, and all the multitude on the beach did stand,

Then He got in a boat and sat down because so many people had gathered around Him. Many people were standing on the shore. The Picture-Story of the Man Who Planted Seeds

3 a nd he spake to them many things in similes, saying: `Lo, the sower went forth to sow,

Jesus taught them many things by using picture-stories. He said, “A man went out to plant seeds.

4 a nd in his sowing, some indeed fell by the way, and the fowls did come and devour them,

As he planted the seeds, some fell by the side of the road. The birds came and ate the seeds.

5 a nd others fell upon the rocky places, where they had not much earth, and immediately they sprang forth, through not having depth of earth,

Some seeds fell between rocks. The seeds came up at once because there was so little ground.

6 a nd the sun having risen they were scorched, and through not having root, they withered,

When the sun was high in the sky, they dried up and died because they had no root.

7 a nd others fell upon the thorns, and the thorns did come up and choke them,

Some seeds fell among thorns. The thorns grew and did not give the seeds room to grow.

8 a nd others fell upon the good ground, and were giving fruit, some indeed a hundredfold, and some sixty, and some thirty.

Some seeds fell on good ground and gave much grain. Some gave one hundred times as much grain. Some gave sixty times as much grain. Some gave thirty times as much grain.

9 H e who is having ears to hear -- let him hear.'

You have ears, then listen.” Why Jesus Used Picture-Stories

10 A nd the disciples having come near, said to him, `Wherefore in similes dost thou speak to them?'

The followers of Jesus came to Him and said, “Why do You speak to them in picture-stories?”

11 A nd he answering said to them that -- `To you it hath been given to know the secrets of the reign of the heavens, and to these it hath not been given,

He said to the followers, “You were given the secrets about the holy nation of heaven. The secrets were not given to the others.

12 f or whoever hath, it shall be given to him, and he shall have overabundance, and whoever hath not, even that which he hath shall be taken from him.

He who has will have more given to him. He will have even more than enough. But he who has little will have even that taken away from him.

13 ` Because of this, in similes do I speak to them, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor understand,

“This is why I speak to them in picture-stories. They have eyes but they do not see. They have ears but they do not hear and they do not understand.

14 a nd fulfilled on them is the prophecy of Isaiah, that saith, With hearing ye shall hear, and ye shall not understand, and seeing ye shall see, and ye shall not perceive,

It happened in their lives as Isaiah said it would happen. He said, ‘You hear and hear but do not understand. You look and look but do not see.

15 f or made gross was the heart of this people, and with the ears they heard heavily, and their eyes they did close, lest they might see with the eyes, and with the ears might hear, and with the heart understand, and turn back, and I might heal them.

The hearts of these people have become fat. They hear very little with their ears. They have closed their eyes. If they did not do this, they would see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their hearts. Then they would be changed in their ways, and I would heal them.’

16 ` And happy are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear,

But how great are your eyes because they see. How great are your ears because they hear.

17 f or verily I say to you, that many prophets and righteous men did desire to see that which ye look on, and they did not see, and to hear that which ye hear, and they did not hear.

For sure, I tell you, that many early preachers and men right with God have wanted to see the things you see, but they did not see them. They wanted to hear the things you hear, but they did not hear them. Jesus Tells about the Man Who Planted Seeds

18 ` Ye, therefore, hear ye the simile of the sower:

“Listen to the picture-story of the man who planted seeds in the ground.

19 E very one hearing the word of the reign, and not understanding -- the evil one doth come, and doth catch that which hath been sown in his heart; this is that sown by the way.

When anyone hears the Word about the holy nation and does not understand it, the devil comes and takes away what was put in his heart. He is like the seed that fell by the side of the road.

20 ` And that sown on the rocky places, this is he who is hearing the word, and immediately with joy is receiving it,

The seed which fell between rocks is like the person who receives the Word with joy as soon as he hears it.

21 a nd he hath not root in himself, but is temporary, and persecution or tribulation having happened because of the word, immediately he is stumbled.

Its root is not deep and it does not last long. When troubles and suffering come because of the Word, he gives up and falls away.

22 ` And that sown toward the thorns, this is he who is hearing the word, and the anxiety of this age, and the deceitfulness of the riches, do choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

The seed which fell among thorns is like the person who hears the Word but the cares of this life, and the love for money let the thorns come up and do not give the seed room to grow and give grain.

23 ` And that sown on the good ground: this is he who is hearing the word, and is understanding, who indeed doth bear fruit, and doth make, some indeed a hundredfold, and some sixty, and some thirty.'

The seed which fell on good ground is like the one who hears the Word and understands it. He gives much grain. Some seed gives one hundred times as much grain. Some gives sixty times as much grain. Some gives thirty times as much grain.” The Picture-Story of the Good Seed and the Weed Seed

24 A nother simile he set before them, saying: `The reign of the heavens was likened to a man sowing good seed in his field,

Jesus told them another picture-story. He said, “The holy nation of heaven is like a man who planted good seed in his field.

25 a nd, while men are sleeping, his enemy came and sowed darnel in the midst of the wheat, and went away,

During the night someone who hated him came and planted weed seed with the good seed in his field and went away.

26 a nd when the herb sprang up, and yielded fruit, then appeared also the darnel.

When the good seed started to grow and give grain, weeds came up also.

27 ` And the servants of the householder, having come near, said to him, Sir, good seed didst thou not sow in thy field? whence then hath it the darnel?

“The servants of the man who planted the seed came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not plant good seed in your field? Why does it have weeds also?’

28 A nd he saith to them, A man, an enemy, did this; and the servants said to him, Wilt thou, then, having gone away we may gather it up?

The man who planted the seed said, ‘Someone who hates me has done this.’ The servants asked him, ‘Should we go and pull the weeds out from among the good grain?’

29 ` And he said, No, lest -- gathering up the darnel -- ye root up with it the wheat,

He said, ‘No, because if you pull out the weeds, the good grain will come up also.

30 s uffer both to grow together till the harvest, and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather up first the darnel, and bind it in bundles, to burn it, and the wheat gather up into my storehouse.'

Let them grow together until the time to gather the grain. Then I will say to the workmen, “Gather the weeds first and put them together to be burned. Then gather the good grain into my building.”’” The Picture-Story of the Mustard Seed

31 A nother simile he set before them, saying: `The reign of the heavens is like to a grain of mustard, which a man having taken, did sow in his field,

Jesus told them another picture-story. He said, “The holy nation of heaven is like mustard seed which a man planted in his field.

32 w hich less, indeed, is than all the seeds, but when it may be grown, is greatest of the herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the heaven do come and rest in its branches.'

It is the smallest of seeds. But when it is full-grown, it is larger than the grain of the fields and it becomes a tree. The birds of the sky come and stay in its branches.” The Picture-Story of the Yeast

33 A nother simile spake he to them: `The reign of the heavens is like to leaven, which a woman having taken, hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.'

Jesus gave them another picture-story. He said, “The holy nation of heaven is like yeast that a woman put into three pails of flour until it had become much more than at first.”

34 A ll these things spake Jesus in similes to the multitudes, and without a simile he was not speaking to them,

Jesus told all these things using picture-stories to the many people. He did not speak to them without using picture-stories.

35 t hat it might be fulfilled that was spoken through the prophet, saying, `I will open in similes my mouth, I will utter things having been hidden from the foundation of the world.'

It happened as the early preacher said it would happen, “I will open My mouth in picture-stories. I will tell things which have been kept secret from the beginning of the world.” Jesus Tells about the Weed Seed

36 T hen having let away the multitudes, Jesus came to the house, and his disciples came near to him, saying, `Explain to us the simile of the darnel of the field.'

After Jesus sent the people away, He went into the house. His followers came to Him and said, “Tell us what You mean by the picture-story of the weeds in the field.”

37 A nd he answering said to them, `He who is sowing the good seed is the Son of Man,

Jesus said, “He Who plants the good seed is the Son of Man.

38 a nd the field is the world, and the good seed, these are the sons of the reign, and the darnel are the sons of the evil one,

The field is the world. The good seeds are the children of the holy nation. The weeds are the children of the devil.

39 a nd the enemy who sowed them is the devil, and the harvest is a full end of the age, and the reapers are messengers.

The devil is the one who got in and planted the weeds. The time to gather is the end of the world. The men who gather are the angels.

40 ` As, then, the darnel is gathered up, and is burned with fire, so shall it be in the full end of this age,

As the weeds are gathered together and burned in the fire, so will it be in the end of the world.

41 t he Son of Man shall send forth his messengers, and they shall gather up out of his kingdom all the stumbling-blocks, and those doing the unlawlessness,

The Son of Man will send His angels. They will gather out of His holy nation all things that cause people to sin and those who do sin.

42 a nd shall cast them to the furnace of the fire; there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of the teeth.

They will put them into a stove of fire. There will be loud crying and grinding of teeth.

43 ` Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the reign of their Father. He who is having ears to hear -- let him hear.

Then the ones right with God will shine as the sun in the holy nation of their Father. You have ears, then listen!” The Picture-Stories of the Gold Buried in the Field and of Buying a Pearl

44 ` Again, the reign of the heavens is like to treasure hid in the field, which a man having found did hide, and from his joy goeth, and all, as much as he hath, he selleth, and buyeth that field.

“The holy nation of heaven is like a box of riches buried in a field. A man found it and then hid it again. In his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

45 ` Again, the reign of the heavens is like to a man, a merchant, seeking goodly pearls,

“Again, the holy nation of heaven is like a man who buys and sells. He is looking for good pearls.

46 w ho having found one pearl of great price, having gone away, hath sold all, as much as he had, and bought it.

When he finds one good pearl worth much money, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it. The Picture-Story of the Fish Net

47 ` Again, the reign of the heavens is like to a net that was cast into the sea, and did gather together of every kind,

“The holy nation of heaven is like a big net which was let down into the sea. It gathered fish of every kind.

48 w hich, when it was filled, having drawn up again upon the beach, and having sat down, they gathered the good into vessels, and the bad they did cast out,

When it was full, they took it to the shore. They sat down and put the good fish into pails. They threw the bad fish away.

49 s o shall it be in the full end of the age, the messengers shall come forth and separate the evil out of the midst of the righteous,

It will be like this in the end of the world. Angels will come and take the sinful people from among those who are right with God.

50 a nd shall cast them to the furnace of the fire, there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of the teeth.'

They will put the sinful people into a stove of fire where there will be loud crying and grinding of teeth.”

51 J esus saith to them, `Did ye understand all these?' They say to him, `Yes, sir.'

Jesus asked them, “Have you understood all these picture-stories?” They said, “Yes, Lord!”

52 A nd he said to them, `Because of this every scribe having been discipled in regard to the reign of the heavens, is like to a man, a householder, who doth bring forth out of his treasure things new and old.'

He said to them, “Every teacher of the Law who has become a follower of the holy nation of heaven is like a man who owns his house. He takes new and old riches from his house.” They Do Not Believe in Jesus in Nazareth

53 A nd it came to pass, when Jesus finished these similes, he removed thence,

When Jesus had finished these picture-stories, He went away from there.

54 a nd having come to his own country, he was teaching them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished, and were saying, `Whence to this one this wisdom and the mighty works?

He came to His own town and taught them in their places of worship. They were surprised and wondered, saying, “Where did this Man get this wisdom? How can He do these powerful works?

55 i s not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary, and his brethren James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?

Is not this the son of the man who makes things from wood? Is not Mary His mother? Are not James and Joseph and Simon and Judas His brothers?

56 a nd his sisters -- are they not all with us? whence, then, to this one all these?'

And are not all His sisters here? Then where did He get all these things?”

57 a nd they were stumbled at him. And Jesus said to them, `A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, and in his own house:'

And they were ashamed of Him and turned away because of Him. Jesus said to them, “One who speaks for God is shown no respect in his own town and in his own house.”

58 a nd he did not there many mighty works, because of their unbelief.

He did not do many powerful works there because they did not put their trust in Him.