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UST MAT Chapter 13

13 That same day, Jesus left the house where he had been teaching. He walked to the Sea of Galilee and sat down to teach next to it. 2 Then large groups of people came to where Jesus was. Because there were so many people, he got into a boat and sat down there to teach. All the people stood on the shore of the Sea of Galilee to listen to him. 3 Jesus began to use stories to instruct them about many things. He said, “Listen to this: a farmer began to plant some grain seeds. 4 As he was scattering them over the soil, some of the seeds fell on the path. Then some birds flew down and ate those seeds up. 5 Other seeds fell on shallow soil on top of a layer of rocks. Because they were growing in shallow soil, the seeds sprouted very quickly. 6 However, the sun shone on the new plants and dried them up. Then, because they did not have good roots, the plants died. 7 Other seeds fell onto an area full of thorny plants. These thorny plants grew quickly and crowded out the grain plants. 8 Finally, other seeds fell on fertile soil. They sprouted, and the plants produced a crop. Some plants produced 100 grains of wheat each, others produced 60 grains each, and others produced 30 grains each. 9 You should think carefully about what you just heard me say!”

10 Then, the apprentices came to Jesus and asked him, “Why do you use stories to instruct these people?” 11 Jesus replied, “God has revealed to you hidden things about his heavenly kingdom. However, he has not revealed those things to these people. 12 I say that because God will reveal even more to people who already know some things about God’s heavenly kingdom. They will know many things. In contrast, God will cause people who know very little about God’s heavenly kingdom to know nothing about it at all. 13 I use stories to instruct these people because they can look at things, but they do not really see them. They can hear what people say, but they do not really listen to it or learn from it. 14 What God said by speaking through the prophet Isaiah has come true for them:

‘You will hear things, but you will not learn from them.

You will look at things, but you will not really see them.

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their ears are almost deaf;

and they have closed their eyes because they do not want to see.

They do not want to listen

or try to understand,

for then they would come back to me,

and I would welcome and forgive them.’

16 However, it is very good for you, because you really see. It is very good for you, because you really listen. 17 Indeed, many people who spoke for God and other people who did what was right would have wanted to see the things that you are seeing me do. But they did not get to see them, because they lived long ago. They would have wanted to hear the things that I have said to you. But they did not get to hear them, because they lived long ago. What I have said is true.

18 So then, listen to me explain the story about the farmer who planted grain seeds. 19 Some people hear the message about God’s kingdom, but they do not learn from it. Then Satan comes and takes the message they heard away from their minds. These people are like the seeds that fell on the path. 20 Other people are like the seeds that fell on shallow soil on top of a layer of rocks. When they hear the message about God’s kingdom, they rejoice and quickly believe it. 21 However, they are like plants without good roots, which do not live very long. In fact, when bad things happen or when people hurt them because they accepted the message about God’s kingdom, they quickly stop believing it. 22 Other people are like the seeds that fell onto an area full of thorny plants. After they hear the message about God’s kingdom, they continue to focus on things in this world and on becoming rich, even though being rich is not as helpful as they think it will be. Focusing on these things makes the message ineffective, just as thorny plants crowd out the good plants and keep them from producing a crop. 23 Other people are like the seeds that fell on fertile soil. When they hear the message about God’s kingdom, they learn from it. They are like the plants that produced a crop. Some plants produced 100 grains of wheat each, others produced 60 grains each, and others produced 30 grains each.”

24 Then Jesus told the people another story. He said, “Here is what God’s heavenly kingdom is like: a farmer planted some fertile grain seeds in his field. 25 However, as the farmer and his workers were asleep, someone who hated the farmer went into the field and planted weed seeds among the grain seeds. Then, he left before the farmer and his workers woke up. 26 Some time later, the wheat plants sprouted and began to produce grain. At the same time, the weed plants also sprouted, and the workers noticed them. 27 So, the workers reported this to the farmer. They said, ‘Sir, we know that you planted fertile seeds in your field. However, weed plants are growing there!’ 28 The farmer replied, ‘A person who hates me planted these weed plants.’ Then his servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go to the field and remove all the weeds plants?’ 29 He answered, ‘Do not do that. If you did, you might remove some of the wheat plants while you were removing the weed plants, since they are growing together. 30 Allow the wheat and weed plants to grow in the field together until we begin to harvest them. Then, I will command the people who are harvesting, ‘Pull up the weed plants first. Collect them in groups and burn them. After that, harvest the wheat plants and store the grain in my storehouse.’ ”

31 Then Jesus told the people another story. He said, “Here is what God’s heavenly kingdom is like: a man plants a tiny mustard seed in his field. 32 This kind of seed is smaller than other kinds of seeds. However, after it sprouts, the plant becomes a tree that is bigger than other plants that people grow. In fact, birds land on its branches and make nests there.”

33 Then Jesus told the people another story. He said, “Here is what God’s heavenly kingdom is like: a woman measured out some yeast and mixed it with about 25 kilograms of flour. The yeast made the whole batch of dough swell up.”

34 Jesus used stories to teach all these things to the large groups of people who were standing on the shore of the sea. In fact, he taught them by using stories only. 35 So, what God said by speaking through one of the prophets came true:

“I will speak by using stories.

I will reveal things that have been secret since God created everything.”

36 After speaking these stories, Jesus departed from the large groups of people and entered the house where he was staying. His apprentices went to him and asked, “Please teach us what the story about the weed plants in the field means.” 37 Jesus replied, “The farmer who planted some fertile grain seeds is like me, the Son of Man. 38 The field is like the world. The fertile grain seeds are like people who participate in God’s kingdom. The weed plants are like people who obey Satan. 39 The person who hated the farmer and planted the weed seeds is like the devil. The time when the workers begin to harvest the grain is like when this time period will end. The people who are harvesting are like angels. 40 The workers collect the weed plants and burn them. That is like what will happen when this time period ends. 41 I, the Son of Man, will have my angels collect everything that causes people to sin and everyone who does what is wrong. They will remove those things and people from my kingdom. 42 Then, the angels will cast those things and people into hell, which is like a burning oven. There people will cry and sorrowfully grind their teeth. 43 After that, the people who did what was right will live in God their Father’s kingdom. They will be as glorious as the sun when it shines. You should think carefully about what you just heard me say!

44 Here is what God’s heavenly kingdom is like: A man discovered a secret treasure in a field. He was very happy, but he put the treasure back into its secret place. He went home and sold everything that he owned. Then, he bought the field so that he could have the treasure in it.

45 Here is what God’s heavenly kingdom is also like: a trader wanted some valuable pearls. 46 Eventually, he saw a very expensive pearl. He went home and sold everything that he owned. Then, he bought that pearl.

47 Here is what God’s heavenly kingdom is also like: people used a net to catch fish in a lake. They caught many kinds of fish. 48 When the net was full of fish, the people pulled it onto the shore. They sat down to sort through the fish that they had caught. They put the edible fish into buckets and threw away the useless fish. 49 That is like what will happen when this time period ends. Angels will come, and they will divide people who do what is wrong from people who do what is right. 50 Then, the angels will cast the people who do what is wrong into hell, which is like a burning oven. There they will cry and sorrowfully grind their teeth. 51 Do you know what all these things that I have taught you mean?”

The apprentices answered, “Yes, we know what they mean.”

52 Jesus responded, “So then, consider teachers whose leader has trained them to participate in God’s heavenly kingdom. They are like people who manage households. That is because both the teachers and the people who manage households offer old and new things that are valuable.”

53 So, Jesus completed telling these stories. Then, he left that place. 54 Then Jesus traveled to the city of Nazareth, where he had grown up. He instructed the people there when they gathered in the Jewish meeting place. What he said impressed them, and they said to each other, “We do not know how this man became so wise and powerful. 55 He is just the woodworker’s son. His mother’s name is Mary, and his younger brothers are James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas. 56 All his sisters live here in our town. So, we do not know how this man learned to do these things.” 57 These people rejected Jesus. So, Jesus told them, “The only ones who do not respect people who speak for God are those from where they grew up and their own families.” 58 Since the people did not trust in him, Jesus did very few powerful things in that place.

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