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Matthew 13 NLT
<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Matthew 13 NLT</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/chapnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../cmenus/matthew/13.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="../topmenuchap/matthew/13-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="http://biblehub.com">Bible</a> > <a href="../">NLT</a> > Matthew 13</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../matthew/12.htm" title="Matthew 12">◄</a> Matthew 13 <a href="../matthew/14.htm" title="Matthew 14">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top">New Living Translation</td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/p/nlt/esv/matthew/13.shtml" style="color:#001320" title="Parallel Chapters"> Par ▾ </a></td></tr></table></div><div class="chap"><p class="hdg">Parable of the Farmer Scattering Seed</p><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/13-1.htm"><b>1</b></a></span>Later that same day Jesus left the house and sat beside the lake. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/13-2.htm"><b>2</b></a></span>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. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/13-3.htm"><b>3</b></a></span>He told many stories in the form of parables, such as this one:</p><p class="reg"><span class="red">“Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seeds.</span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/13-4.htm"><b>4</b></a></span><span class="red">As he scattered them across his field, some seeds fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate them.</span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/13-5.htm"><b>5</b></a></span><span class="red">Other seeds fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seeds sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow.</span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/13-6.htm"><b>6</b></a></span><span class="red">But the plants soon wilted under the hot sun, and since they didn’t have deep roots, they died.</span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/13-7.htm"><b>7</b></a></span><span class="red">Other seeds fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants.</span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/13-8.htm"><b>8</b></a></span><span class="red">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!</span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/13-9.htm"><b>9</b></a></span><span class="red">Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”</span></p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/13-10.htm"><b>10</b></a></span>His disciples came and asked him, “Why do you use parables when you talk to the people?”</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/13-11.htm"><b>11</b></a></span>He replied, <span class="red">“You are permitted to understand the secrets<a href="#footnotes"><span class="fn">a</span></a> of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others are not.</span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/13-12.htm"><b>12</b></a></span><span class="red">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.</span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/13-13.htm"><b>13</b></a></span><span class="red">That is why I use these parables,</span></p><p class="b"/><p class="line1"><span class="red">For they look, but they don’t really see.</span></p><p class="line2"><span class="red">They hear, but they don’t really listen or understand.</span></p><p class="b"/><p class="m"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/13-14.htm"><b>14</b></a></span><span class="red">This fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah that says,</span></p><p class="b"/><p class="line1"><span class="red">‘When you hear what I say,</span></p><p class="line2"><span class="red">you will not understand.</span></p><p class="line1"><span class="red">When you see what I do,</span></p><p class="line2"><span class="red">you will not comprehend.</span></p><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/13-15.htm"><b>15</b></a></span><span class="red">For the hearts of these people are hardened,</span></p><p class="line2"><span class="red">and their ears cannot hear,</span></p><p class="line1"><span class="red">and they have closed their eyes—</span></p><p class="line2"><span class="red">so their eyes cannot see,</span></p><p class="line1"><span class="red">and their ears cannot hear,</span></p><p class="line2"><span class="red">and their hearts cannot understand,</span></p><p class="line1"><span class="red">and they cannot turn to me</span></p><p class="line2"><span class="red">and let me heal them.’<a href="#footnotes"><span class="fn">b</span></a></span></p><p class="b"/><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/13-16.htm"><b>16</b></a></span><span class="red">“But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear.</span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/13-17.htm"><b>17</b></a></span><span class="red">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.</span></p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/13-18.htm"><b>18</b></a></span><span class="red">“Now listen to the explanation of the parable about the farmer planting seeds:</span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/13-19.htm"><b>19</b></a></span><span class="red">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.</span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/13-20.htm"><b>20</b></a></span><span class="red">The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy.</span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/13-21.htm"><b>21</b></a></span><span class="red">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.</span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/13-22.htm"><b>22</b></a></span><span class="red">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.</span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/13-23.htm"><b>23</b></a></span><span class="red">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!”</span></p><p class="hdg">Parable of the Wheat and Weeds</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/13-24.htm"><b>24</b></a></span>Here is another story Jesus told: <span class="red">“The Kingdom of Heaven is like a farmer who planted good seed in his field.</span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/13-25.htm"><b>25</b></a></span><span class="red">But that night as the workers slept, his enemy came and planted weeds among the wheat, then slipped away.</span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/13-26.htm"><b>26</b></a></span><span class="red">When the crop began to grow and produce grain, the weeds also grew.</span></p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/13-27.htm"><b>27</b></a></span><span class="red">“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?’</span></p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/13-28.htm"><b>28</b></a></span><span class="red">“‘An enemy has done this!’ the farmer exclaimed.</span></p><p class="reg"><span class="red">“‘Should we pull out the weeds?’ they asked.</span></p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/13-29.htm"><b>29</b></a></span><span class="red">“‘No,’ he replied, ‘you’ll uproot the wheat if you do.</span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/13-30.htm"><b>30</b></a></span><span class="red">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.’”</span></p><p class="hdg">Parable of the Mustard Seed</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/13-31.htm"><b>31</b></a></span>Here is another illustration Jesus used: <span class="red">“The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed planted in a field.</span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/13-32.htm"><b>32</b></a></span><span class="red">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.”</span></p><p class="hdg">Parable of the Yeast</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/13-33.htm"><b>33</b></a></span>Jesus also used this illustration: <span class="red">“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.”</span></p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/13-34.htm"><b>34</b></a></span>Jesus always used stories and illustrations like these when speaking to the crowds. In fact, he never spoke to them without using such parables. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/13-35.htm"><b>35</b></a></span>This fulfilled what God had spoken through the prophet:</p><p class="b"/><p class="line1">“I will speak to you in parables.</p><p class="line2">I will explain things hidden since the creation of the world.<a href="#footnotes"><span class="fn">c</span></a>”</p><p class="hdg">Parable of the Wheat and Weeds Explained</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/13-36.htm"><b>36</b></a></span>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.”</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/13-37.htm"><b>37</b></a></span>Jesus replied, <span class="red">“The Son of Man<a href="#footnotes"><span class="fn">d</span></a> is the farmer who plants the good seed.</span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/13-38.htm"><b>38</b></a></span><span class="red">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.</span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/13-39.htm"><b>39</b></a></span><span class="red">The enemy who planted the weeds among the wheat is the devil. The harvest is the end of the world,<a href="#footnotes"><span class="fn">e</span></a> and the harvesters are the angels.</span></p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/13-40.htm"><b>40</b></a></span><span class="red">“Just as the weeds are sorted out and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the world.</span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/13-41.htm"><b>41</b></a></span><span class="red">The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will remove from his Kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil.</span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/13-42.htm"><b>42</b></a></span><span class="red">And the angels will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.</span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/13-43.htm"><b>43</b></a></span><span class="red">Then the righteous will shine like the sun in their Father’s Kingdom. Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!</span></p><p class="hdg">Parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/13-44.htm"><b>44</b></a></span><span class="red">“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.</span></p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/13-45.htm"><b>45</b></a></span><span class="red">“Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant on the lookout for choice pearls.</span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/13-46.htm"><b>46</b></a></span><span class="red">When he discovered a pearl of great value, he sold everything he owned and bought it!</span></p><p class="hdg">Parable of the Fishing Net</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/13-47.htm"><b>47</b></a></span><span class="red">“Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a fishing net that was thrown into the water and caught fish of every kind.</span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/13-48.htm"><b>48</b></a></span><span class="red">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.</span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/13-49.htm"><b>49</b></a></span><span class="red">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,</span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/13-50.htm"><b>50</b></a></span><span class="red">throwing the wicked into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.</span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/13-51.htm"><b>51</b></a></span><span class="red">Do you understand all these things?”</span></p><p class="reg">“Yes,” they said, “we do.”</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/13-52.htm"><b>52</b></a></span>Then he added, <span class="red">“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.”</span></p><p class="hdg">Jesus Rejected at Nazareth</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/13-53.htm"><b>53</b></a></span>When Jesus had finished telling these stories and illustrations, he left that part of the country. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/13-54.htm"><b>54</b></a></span>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?” <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/13-55.htm"><b>55</b></a></span>Then they scoffed, “He’s just the carpenter’s son, and we know Mary, his mother, and his brothers—James, Joseph,<a href="#footnotes"><span class="fn">f</span></a> Simon, and Judas. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/13-56.htm"><b>56</b></a></span>All his sisters live right here among us. Where did he learn all these things?” <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/13-57.htm"><b>57</b></a></span>And they were deeply offended and refused to believe in him.</p><p class="reg">Then Jesus told them, <span class="red">“A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his own family.”</span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/13-58.htm"><b>58</b></a></span>And so he did only a few miracles there because of their unbelief.</p><A name="footnotes"></a><hr size="1" color="DDEEFF"><span class="mainfootnotes"><span class="mainfootnoteshdg">Footnotes:</span><br><span class="fn">a</span><note caller="+" style="f"><span class="fr">13:11 </span><span class="ft">Greek </span><span class="it">the mysteries.</span><br><span class="fn">b</span><note caller="+" style="f"><span class="fr">13:14-15 </span><span class="ft">Isa 6:9-10 (Greek version).</span><br><span class="fn">c</span><note caller="+" style="f"><span class="fr">13:35 </span><span class="ft">Some manuscripts do not include </span><span class="it">of the world.</span><span class="ft"> Ps 78:2.</span><br><span class="fn">d</span><note caller="+" style="f"><span class="fr">13:37 </span><span class="ft">“Son of Man” is a title Jesus used for himself.</span><br><span class="fn">e</span><note caller="+" style="f"><span class="fr">13:39 </span><span class="ft">Or </span><span class="it">the age;</span><span class="ft"> also in 13:40, 49.</span><br><span class="fn">f</span><note caller="+" style="f"><span class="fr">13:55 </span><span class="ft">Other manuscripts read </span><span class="it">Joses;</span><span class="ft"> still others read </span><span class="it">John.</span><br></span></div></div><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center"><em>Holy Bible</em>, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of <a href="http://www.tyndale.com">Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.</a>, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. 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