撒種的比喻
1當天，耶穌離開房子，坐在湖邊。 2有一大群人聚集到祂周圍，祂只好上船坐下，眾人都站在岸上。 3祂用比喻給他們講許多道理，說：「有一個農夫出去撒種。 4撒種的時候，有些種子落在路旁，被飛鳥吃掉了； 5有些落在石頭地上，因為泥土不深，種子很快就發芽了， 6然而因為沒有根，被太陽一曬，就枯萎了； 7有些落在荊棘叢中，荊棘長起來便把幼苗擠住了； 8有些落在沃土裡，就結出果實，有的多達一百倍，有的六十倍，有的三十倍。 9有耳朵的，都應當聽。」
用比喻的目的
10門徒上前問耶穌：「你為什麼要用比喻來教導他們呢？」
11耶穌回答說：「天國的奧祕只讓你們知道，不讓他們知道。 12因為凡有的，還要給他更多，讓他豐富有餘；凡沒有的，連他僅有的也要奪去。 13我用比喻教導他們是因為他們視而不見，聽而不聞，聞而不悟。 14以賽亞的預言正應驗在他們身上，
「『你們聽了又聽，卻不明白；
看了又看，卻不領悟。
15因為這些人心靈麻木，
耳朵發背，眼睛昏花，
以致眼睛看不見，耳朵聽不見，
心裡不明白，無法回心轉意，
得不到我的醫治。』13·15 以賽亞書6·9、10。
16「但你們的眼睛是有福的，因為看得見；你們的耳朵也是有福的，因為聽得見。 17我實在告訴你們，以前有許多先知和義人曾渴望看見你們所看見的，聽見你們所聽見的，卻未能如願。
解釋比喻
18「所以，你們應當留心這撒種的比喻。 19種子落在路旁，是指人聽了天國的道理卻不明白，魔鬼乘虛而入，把撒在他心裡的奪走了。 20種子落在石頭地上，是指人聽了道後，立刻歡喜地接受了， 21但他們心裡沒有根基，不過是暫時接受，一旦為道遭受患難或迫害，就立刻放棄了。 22種子落在荊棘叢中，是指人雖然聽過道，但生活的憂慮和錢財的迷惑把道擠住了，以致不能結出果實。 23種子落在沃土裡，是指人聽了道，並明白了道，就結出果實，有的多達一百倍，有的六十倍，有的三十倍。」
毒麥的比喻
24耶穌又給他們講了一個比喻，說：「天國就像一個人，將好種子撒在田裡。 25人們睡覺的時候，仇敵過來把毒麥撒在他的麥田裡，就走了。 26當麥子長苗吐穗時，毒麥也長起來了。 27奴僕看見了就來對主人說，『主人啊！你不是把好種子撒在田裡了嗎？從哪裡來的毒麥呢？』
28「主人回答說，『這是仇敵做的。』奴僕問道，『要我們去拔掉它們嗎？』
29「主人說，『不用了，因為拔毒麥會連麥子一起拔掉。 30讓它們一起生長吧。到收割的時候，我會吩咐收割的工人先把毒麥拔出來，紮成捆，留著燒，然後將麥子存入穀倉。』」
芥菜種和麵酵的比喻
31耶穌又給他們講了一個比喻：「天國就像一粒芥菜種，人把它種在田裡。 32它雖然是種子中最小的，長起來之後卻比其他蔬菜都大，並且長成一棵樹，飛鳥也來在它枝頭棲息。」
33祂又給他們講了個比喻：「天國就像麵酵，婦人拿來摻在三斗麵裡，直到整團麵都發起來。」
34耶穌用比喻對眾人講這些事，祂每次對他們講話時都用比喻。 35這是要應驗先知的話：「我要開口講比喻，道出創世以來隱藏的事。」13·35 詩篇78·2。
解釋毒麥的比喻
36後來，耶穌離開人群，進到屋裡。門徒來到祂面前，說：「請給我們解釋田間毒麥的比喻。」
37耶穌說：「那撒下好種子的就是人子， 38麥田代表世界，那些好種子就是天國的子民。毒麥就是那些屬魔鬼的人， 39撒毒麥的仇敵就是魔鬼。收割的日子便是世界的末日，收割的工人就是天使。
40「毒麥怎樣被拔出來扔進火裡燒，在世界末日的時候也是一樣， 41人子將派天使把一切引人犯罪的和作惡的從祂國裡挑出來， 42扔進火爐裡。他們將在那裡哀哭切齒。 43那時，義人在他們天父的國度要像太陽一樣發出光輝。有耳朵的，都應當聽。
寶藏與珍珠的比喻
44「天國就像藏在地裡的寶貝，有人發現了，就把它埋好，然後歡然變賣他所有的財產去買那塊地。
45「天國又像一個四處搜購貴重珍珠的商人。 46他找到一顆極貴重的珍珠，就去變賣了一切產業，把它買下來。
撒網的比喻
47「天國又像一張漁網，撒在海裡捕到了各種魚。 48網滿了，人們把網拉上岸，然後坐下來挑選，好的就收進筐裡，不好的就丟掉。 49世界末日的時候也是這樣。天使必把惡人從義人中揀出來， 50扔進火爐裡，他們將在那裡哀哭切齒。 51你們明白這些事了嗎？」
他們回答說：「明白了。」
52耶穌說：「律法教師成為天國的門徒後，就像一個家主從他的庫房裡拿出新的和舊的東西來。」
拿撒勒人厭棄耶穌
53耶穌講完了這些比喻，就離開那裡， 54回到自己的家鄉，在會堂裡教導人。人們很驚奇，說：「這個人從哪裡得到如此的智慧和異能呢？ 55這不是那木匠的兒子嗎？祂母親不是瑪麗亞嗎？祂的弟弟不是雅各、約瑟、西門和猶大嗎？ 56祂的妹妹們不也都在我們這裡嗎？祂究竟從哪裡得了這些能力呢？」 57他們就對祂很反感。
耶穌對他們說：「先知到處受人尊敬，只有在本鄉本家例外。」 58因為他們不信，耶穌就沒有在那裡多行神蹟。
The Parable of the Sower
1That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. 2Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. 3Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 9Whoever has ears, let them hear.”
10The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?”
11He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. 12Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 13This is why I speak to them in parables:
“Though seeing, they do not see;
though hearing, they do not hear or understand.
14In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah:
“ ‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding;
you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.
15For 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.’13:15 Isaiah 6:9,10 (see Septuagint)
16But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. 17For 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: 19When 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. 20The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 22The 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. 23But 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.”
The Parable of the Weeds
24Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. 25But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. 26When 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. 30Let 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.’ ”
The Parables of the Mustard Seed and the Yeast
31He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. 32Though 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.”
33He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds13:33 Or about 27 kilograms of flour until it worked all through the dough.”
34Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable. 35So 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.”13:35 Psalm 78:2
The Parable of the Weeds Explained
36Then 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.”
37He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. 38The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one, 39and 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. 41The 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. 42They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear.
The Parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl
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. 46When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.
The Parable of the Net
47“Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. 48When 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. 49This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous 50and 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.
52He 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.”
A Prophet Without Honor
53When Jesus had finished these parables, he moved on from there. 54Coming 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? 56Aren’t all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” 57And 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.”
58And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.
