Matthew — Chapter 13

📖 Matthew — Chapter 13 (KJV)

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Red lettering identifies words spoken by Jesus; it is an editorial reading aid. Scripture source: Project Gutenberg KJV, ebook 10.

Matthew 13:1 The same day went Jesus out of the house, and ^Rsat by the sea side.

Matthew 13:2 And ^Rgreat multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.

Matthew 13:3 And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, ^Ra sower went forth to sow;

Matthew 13:4 And when he sowed, some seeds fell by ^Rthe way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:

Matthew 13:5 Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:

Matthew 13:6 And ^Rwhen the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.

Matthew 13:7 ^RAnd some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:

Matthew 13:8 But other fell into ^Rgood ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.

Matthew 13:9 ^RWho hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Matthew 13:10 And the disciples came, and said unto him, ^RWhy speakest thou unto them in parables?

Matthew 13:11 He answered and said unto them, ^RBecause it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.

Matthew 13:12 ^RFor 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.

Matthew 13:13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.

Matthew 13:14 And in them is fulfilled ^Rthe prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:

Matthew 13:15 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, ^Rand should be converted, and I should heal them.

Matthew 13:16 ^RBut blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.

Matthew 13:17 For verily I say unto you, ^RThat 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.

Matthew 13:18 ^RHear ye therefore the parable of the sower.

Matthew 13:19 When any one heareth ^Rthe 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.

Matthew 13:20 But he that ^Rreceived the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;

Matthew 13:21 Yet hath he not ^Rroot in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.

Matthew 13:22 He also that received ^Rseed 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.

Matthew 13:23 But he ^Rthat 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.

Matthew 13:24 Another parable ^Rput he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:

Matthew 13:25 But while ^Rmen slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.

Matthew 13:26 But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.

Matthew 13:27 So ^Rthe 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?

Matthew 13:28 He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, ^RWilt thou then that we go and gather them up?

Matthew 13:29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.

Matthew 13:30 Let ^Rboth 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.

Matthew 13:31 Another parable ^Rput 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:

Matthew 13:32 Which indeed is ^Rthe 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.

Matthew 13:33 ^RAnother 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.

Matthew 13:34 All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them:

Matthew 13:35 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, ^RI will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.

Matthew 13:36 Then ^RJesus 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.

Matthew 13:37 He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;

Matthew 13:38 The ^Rfield is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;

Matthew 13:39 The ^Renemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.

Matthew 13:40 As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.

Matthew 13:41 ^RThe 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;

Matthew 13:42 And shall ^Rcast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

Matthew 13:43 Then ^Rshall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Matthew 13:44 Again, the kingdom of heaven is ^Rlike 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.

Matthew 13:45 Again, the kingdom of heaven is ^Rlike unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:

Matthew 13:46 Who, when he had found ^Rone pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.

Matthew 13:47 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto ^Ra net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind:

Matthew 13:48 Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, ^Rand gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.

Matthew 13:49 So shall it be at the end of the world: ^Rthe angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just,

Matthew 13:50 And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be ^Rwailing and gnashing of teeth.

Matthew 13:51 Jesus saith unto them, ^RHave ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord.

Matthew 13:52 Then said he unto them, Therefore every ^Rscribe 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.

Matthew 13:53 And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these parables, he departed thence.

Matthew 13:54 And ^Rwhen 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?

Matthew 13:55 ^RIs not this the carpenter’s son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?

Matthew 13:56 And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?

Matthew 13:57 And ^Rthey 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.

Matthew 13:58 ^RAnd he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

📚 Study This Chapter

📖 What We’re Reading

Matthew 13:1–23 — The sower pictures different responses to the kingdom word

🌱 What These Verses Teach Us

Jesus tells the crowd about seed falling on different soils and explains the purpose of parables to disciples. His interpretation distinguishes lost, shallow, choked, and fruitful reception of the word.

Key Truth: Receive the word with understanding and a fruit-bearing response.

Check What You Remember

📖 What We’re Reading

Matthew 13:24–43 — Growing kingdom parables include a final separation

🌱 What These Verses Teach Us

Tares grow among wheat until harvest, while mustard seed and leaven picture growth. Jesus explains the tares privately, identifying the sower, field, enemy, harvest, and separation.

Key Truth: Take the given interpretation seriously rather than inventing its meaning.

Check What You Remember

📖 What We’re Reading

Matthew 13:44–58 — Treasures, a net, and hometown unbelief

🌱 What These Verses Teach Us

Hidden treasure and a costly pearl picture the kingdom’s value, while the net leads to another separation warning. A taught scribe brings old and new treasures, but Jesus’ hometown takes offence at him.

Key Truth: Do not let familiarity conceal the worth of the kingdom.

Check What You Remember

Related Scripture (KJV)

Isaiah 6:9 — Jesus cites Isaiah when addressing hearing without understanding.

Isaiah 6:9 (KJV) And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not.

This related passage is selected for its connection with this chapter. It is separate from the chapter text.

Reflect and Apply

What threatens fruitful reception of God’s word in your present circumstances?

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