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<!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=1.0; maximum-scale=1.0; user-scalable=0;"/><title>Matthew 13 New American Bible</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="/bmcc/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/catholic">Bible</a> > <a href="../">NABRE</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 American Bible Revised Edition</td><td width="1%" valign="top"></td></tr></table></div><div class="chap"><section id="ch47013" class="chapter"> <h1 id="cn47013" class="cn"></h1> <p class="pf"><span class="hemb">The Parable of the Sower.</span> <span id="v47013001" class="ver">1</span><a id="rfn47013001-1" class="fnref" href="footnotes.htm#fn47013001-1">*</a> On that day, Jesus went out of the house and sat down by the sea.<a id="ren47013001-a" class="enref" href="footnotes.htm#en47013001-a">a</a> <span id="v47013002" class="ver">2</span>Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat down, and the whole crowd stood along the shore. <span id="v47013003" class="ver">3</span><a id="rfn47013003-1" class="fnref" href="footnotes.htm#fn47013003-1">*</a> And he spoke to them at length in parables,<a id="rfn47013003-2" class="fnref" href="footnotes.htm#fn47013003-2">*</a> saying: “A sower went out to sow. <span id="v47013004" class="ver">4</span>And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and birds came and ate it up. <span id="v47013005" class="ver">5</span>Some fell on rocky ground, where it had little soil. It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep, <span id="v47013006" class="ver">6</span>and when the sun rose it was scorched, and it withered for lack of roots. <span id="v47013007" class="ver">7</span>Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it. <span id="v47013008" class="ver">8</span>But some seed fell on rich soil, and produced fruit, a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold. <span id="v47013009" class="ver">9</span>Whoever has ears ought to hear.”</p> <p class="psec"><span class="hemb">The Purpose of Parables.</span> <span id="v47013010" class="ver">10</span>The disciples approached him and said, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” <span id="v47013011" class="ver">11</span><a id="rfn47013011-1" class="fnref" href="footnotes.htm#fn47013011-1">*</a> He said to them in reply, “Because knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven has been granted to you, but to them it has not been granted. <span id="v47013012" class="ver">12</span><a id="ren47013012-b" class="enref" href="footnotes.htm#en47013012-b">b</a> To anyone who has, more will be given<a id="rfn47013012-1" class="fnref" href="footnotes.htm#fn47013012-1">*</a> and he will grow rich; from anyone who has not, even what he has will be taken away. <span id="v47013013" class="ver">13</span><a id="rfn47013013-1" class="fnref" href="footnotes.htm#fn47013013-1">*</a> <a id="ren47013013-c" class="enref" href="footnotes.htm#en47013013-c">c</a> This is why I speak to them in parables, because ‘they look but do not see and hear but do not listen or understand.’ <span id="v47013014" class="ver">14</span><a id="ren47013014-d" class="enref" href="footnotes.htm#en47013014-d">d</a> Isaiah’s prophecy is fulfilled in them, which says:</p> <div class="senseline"> <p class="slf">‘You shall indeed hear but not understand,</p> <p class="sl1">you shall indeed look but never see.</p> <p class="sl"><span id="v47013015" class="ver">15</span>Gross is the heart of this people,</p> <p class="sl1">they will hardly hear with their ears,</p> <p class="sl1">they have closed their eyes,</p> <p class="sl2">lest they see with their eyes</p> <p class="sl1">and hear with their ears</p> <p class="sl">and understand with their heart and be converted,</p> <p class="sl1">and I heal them.’</p> </div> <p class="psec"><span class="hemb">The Privilege of Discipleship.<a id="rfn47013016-1" class="fnref" href="footnotes.htm#fn47013016-1">*</a></span> <span id="v47013016" class="ver">16</span><a id="ren47013016-e" class="enref" href="footnotes.htm#en47013016-e">e</a> “But blessed are your eyes, because they see, and your ears, because they hear. <span id="v47013017" class="ver">17</span>Amen, I say to 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.</p> <p class="psec"><span class="hemb">The Explanation of the Parable of the Sower.<a id="rfn47013018-1" class="fnref" href="footnotes.htm#fn47013018-1">*</a></span> <span id="v47013018" class="ver">18</span><a id="ren47013018-f" class="enref" href="footnotes.htm#en47013018-f">f</a> “Hear then the parable of the sower. <span id="v47013019" class="ver">19</span>The seed sown on the path is the one who hears the word of the kingdom without understanding it, and the evil one comes and steals away what was sown in his heart. <span id="v47013020" class="ver">20</span>The seed sown on rocky ground is the one who hears the word and receives it at once with joy. <span id="v47013021" class="ver">21</span>But he has no root and lasts only for a time. When some tribulation or persecution comes because of the word, he immediately falls away. <span id="v47013022" class="ver">22</span>The seed sown among thorns is the one who hears the word, but then worldly anxiety and the lure of riches choke the word and it bears no fruit. <span id="v47013023" class="ver">23</span>But the seed sown on rich soil is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold.”</p> <p class="psec"><span class="hemb">The Parable of the Weeds Among the Wheat.</span> <span id="v47013024" class="ver">24</span>He proposed another parable to them.<a id="rfn47013024-1" class="fnref" href="footnotes.htm#fn47013024-1">*</a> “The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a man who sowed good seed in his field. <span id="v47013025" class="ver">25</span>While everyone was asleep his enemy came and sowed weeds<a id="rfn47013025-1" class="fnref" href="footnotes.htm#fn47013025-1">*</a> all through the wheat, and then went off. <span id="v47013026" class="ver">26</span>When the crop grew and bore fruit, the weeds appeared as well. <span id="v47013027" class="ver">27</span>The slaves of the householder came to him and said, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where have the weeds come from?’ <span id="v47013028" class="ver">28</span>He answered, ‘An enemy has done this.’ His slaves said to him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ <span id="v47013029" class="ver">29</span>He replied, ‘No, if you pull up the weeds you might uproot the wheat along with them. <span id="v47013030" class="ver">30</span>Let them grow together until harvest;<a id="rfn47013030-1" class="fnref" href="footnotes.htm#fn47013030-1">*</a> then at harvest time I will say to the harvesters, “First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles for burning; but gather the wheat into my barn.” ’ ”<a id="ren47013030-g" class="enref" href="footnotes.htm#en47013030-g">g</a></p> <p class="psec"><span class="hemb">The Parable of the Mustard Seed.<a id="rfn47013031-1" class="fnref" href="footnotes.htm#fn47013031-1">*</a></span> <span id="v47013031" class="ver">31</span><a id="ren47013031-h" class="enref" href="footnotes.htm#en47013031-h">h</a> He proposed another parable to them. “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a person took and sowed in a field. <span id="v47013032" class="ver">32</span><a id="rfn47013032-1" class="fnref" href="footnotes.htm#fn47013032-1">*</a> <a id="ren47013032-i" class="enref" href="footnotes.htm#en47013032-i">i</a> It is the smallest of all the seeds, yet when full-grown it is the largest of plants. It becomes a large bush, and the ‘birds of the sky come and dwell in its branches.’ ”</p> <p class="psec"><span class="hemb">The Parable of the Yeast.</span> <span id="v47013033" class="ver">33</span>He spoke to them another parable. “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast<a id="rfn47013033-1" class="fnref" href="footnotes.htm#fn47013033-1">*</a> that a woman took and mixed with three measures of wheat flour until the whole batch was leavened.”<a id="ren47013033-j" class="enref" href="footnotes.htm#en47013033-j">j</a></p> <p class="psec"><span class="hemb">The Use of Parables.</span> <span id="v47013034" class="ver">34</span><a id="rfn47013034-1" class="fnref" href="footnotes.htm#fn47013034-1">*</a> <a id="ren47013034-k" class="enref" href="footnotes.htm#en47013034-k">k</a> All these things Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables. He spoke to them only in parables, <span id="v47013035" class="ver">35</span>to fulfill what had been said through the prophet:<a id="rfn47013035-1" class="fnref" href="footnotes.htm#fn47013035-1">*</a></p> <div class="senseline"> <p class="slf">“I will open my mouth in parables,</p> <p class="sl1">I will announce what has lain hidden from the foundation [of the world].”<a id="ren47013035-l" class="enref" href="footnotes.htm#en47013035-l">l</a></p> </div> <p class="psec"><span class="hemb">The Explanation of the Parable of the Weeds.</span> <span id="v47013036" class="ver">36</span>Then, dismissing the crowds,<a id="rfn47013036-1" class="fnref" href="footnotes.htm#fn47013036-1">*</a> he went into the house. His disciples approached him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.” <span id="v47013037" class="ver">37</span><a id="rfn47013037-1" class="fnref" href="footnotes.htm#fn47013037-1">*</a> He said in reply, “He who sows good seed is the Son of Man, <span id="v47013038" class="ver">38</span>the field is the world,<a id="rfn47013038-1" class="fnref" href="footnotes.htm#fn47013038-1">*</a> the good seed the children of the kingdom. The weeds are the children of the evil one, <span id="v47013039" class="ver">39</span>and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age,<a id="rfn47013039-1" class="fnref" href="footnotes.htm#fn47013039-1">*</a> and the harvesters are angels. <span id="v47013040" class="ver">40</span>Just as weeds are collected and burned [up] with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. <span id="v47013041" class="ver">41</span>The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his kingdom<a id="rfn47013041-1" class="fnref" href="footnotes.htm#fn47013041-1">*</a> all who cause others to sin and all evildoers. <span id="v47013042" class="ver">42</span><a id="ren47013042-m" class="enref" href="footnotes.htm#en47013042-m">m</a> They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth. <span id="v47013043" class="ver">43</span><a id="rfn47013043-1" class="fnref" href="footnotes.htm#fn47013043-1">*</a> <a id="ren47013043-n" class="enref" href="footnotes.htm#en47013043-n">n</a> Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears ought to hear.</p> <p class="psec"><span class="hemb">More Parables.<a id="rfn47013044-1" class="fnref" href="footnotes.htm#fn47013044-1">*</a></span> <span id="v47013044" class="ver">44</span><a id="ren47013044-o" class="enref" href="footnotes.htm#en47013044-o">o</a> “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field,<a id="rfn47013044-2" class="fnref" href="footnotes.htm#fn47013044-2">*</a> which a person finds and hides again, and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. <span id="v47013045" class="ver">45</span>Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls. <span id="v47013046" class="ver">46</span>When he finds a pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it. <span id="v47013047" class="ver">47</span>Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net thrown into the sea, which collects fish of every kind. <span id="v47013048" class="ver">48</span>When it is full they haul it ashore and sit down to put what is good into buckets. What is bad they throw away. <span id="v47013049" class="ver">49</span>Thus it will be at the end of the age. The angels will go out and separate the wicked from the righteous <span id="v47013050" class="ver">50</span>and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.</p> <p class="psec"><span class="hemb">Treasures New and Old.</span> <span id="v47013051" class="ver">51</span>“Do you understand<a id="rfn47013051-1" class="fnref" href="footnotes.htm#fn47013051-1">*</a> all these things?” They answered, “Yes.” <span id="v47013052" class="ver">52</span><a id="rfn47013052-1" class="fnref" href="footnotes.htm#fn47013052-1">*</a> And he replied, “Then every scribe who has been instructed in the kingdom of heaven is like the head of a household who brings from his storeroom both the new and the old.” <span id="v47013053" class="ver">53</span>When Jesus finished these parables, he went away from there.</p> <h1 class="bksect">V. <span class="ac">Jesus, the Kingdom, and the Church</span></h1> <p class="paft"><span class="hemb">The Rejection at Nazareth.</span> <span id="v47013054" class="ver">54</span><a id="rfn47013054-1" class="fnref" href="footnotes.htm#fn47013054-1">*</a> He came to his native place and taught the people in their synagogue.<a id="ren47013054-p" class="enref" href="footnotes.htm#en47013054-p">p</a> They were astonished<a id="rfn47013054-2" class="fnref" href="footnotes.htm#fn47013054-2">*</a> and said, “Where did this man get such wisdom and mighty deeds?<a id="ren47013054-q" class="enref" href="footnotes.htm#en47013054-q">q</a> <span id="v47013055" class="ver">55</span>Is he not the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother named Mary and his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas?<a id="ren47013055-r" class="enref" href="footnotes.htm#en47013055-r">r</a> <span id="v47013056" class="ver">56</span>Are not his sisters all with us? Where did this man get all this?” <span id="v47013057" class="ver">57</span>And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and in his own house.”<a id="ren47013057-s" class="enref" href="footnotes.htm#en47013057-s">s</a> <span id="v47013058" class="ver">58</span>And he did not work many mighty deeds there because of their lack of faith.</p> </section> <br /><h1 class="cn"><a class="xref" href="intro.htm"><span class="ac">Book Introduction</span></a></h1><h1 class="cn"><a class="xref" href="footnotes.htm"><span class="ac">Footnotes</span></a></h1></div></div><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center">Scripture texts, prefaces, introductions, footnotes and cross references used in this work are taken from the <i>New American Bible, revised edition</i> © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/">Bible Hub</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span></div></div></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="../matthew/12.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Matthew 12"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Matthew 12" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="../matthew/14.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Matthew 14"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Matthew 14" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhchap.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>