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    Matthew 13:24-35
    ​ Lesson 26

    Read both the "King James Bible" and the "New Living Translation."

    In this Lesson​

    Weeds (13:24-30), mustard seeds (13:31-32), and bread (13:33-35).

    Study Tip:
     
    It helps to study more than one Bible translation. 
    As you read, scroll back and forth between the "King James Version" and the "New Living Translation" below.

    ​Also, check the "margin notes" in blue and click on the links.​

    The Gospel According to St. Matthew

    The King James Bible    ​

    Matthew 13:24-35
    More parables

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

    25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.
     
    26 But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.
     
    27 So the 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?
     
    28 He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?
     
    29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.
     
    30 Let both 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.
     
    31 Another parable put 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:
     
    32 Which indeed is the 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.
     
    33 Another 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.
     
    34 All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them:
     
    35 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.                       ​
    ​​Margin notes: 
     
    "His enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat." (13:25) -  "And sowed tares" is translated from the original Greek "epespeiren ta zizania."  Zizania is a form of degenerate wheat sometimes called "false wheat."  Zizania looks like real wheat when it first sprouts, but as it grows, its grain turns black and becomes easier to spot and be weeded out.  Since Jesus' audience would have known this, it was an easily understood analogy to highlight an important point.  This is also referred to as the "good seed" parable.  Read question one below.   
     
    "The least of all seeds." (13:32) - The mustard seed is tiny compared to other seeds but grows into a fifteen-foot-tall plant when mature.  
     
    "Leaven." (13:33) - Yeast or other fermenting agents are added to dough to make it rise.  A small piece of dough from each baking is saved to make the next baking rise.    
     
    "Hid in three measures of meal." (13:33) - "Mixed in three measures of flour."
     
    "I will open my mouth in parables..." (13:35) - Jesus spoke in parables, as prophesied in Psalm 78:2 centuries before His birth.

                                                  New Living Translation 
     

    Matthew 13:24-35
    Parable of the Wheat and Weeds
     
    24 Here is another story Jesus told: "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a farmer who planted good seed in his field.

    25 But that night as the workers slept, his enemy came and planted weeds among the wheat, then slipped away.

    26 When the crop began to grow and produce grain, the weeds also grew.
     
    27 "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?'
     
    28 "'An enemy has done this!' the farmer exclaimed.
     
      "'Should we pull out the weeds?' they asked.
     
    29 "'No,' he replied, 'you'll uproot the wheat if you do.

    30 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.'"
     
    Parable of the Mustard Seed
     
    31 Here is another illustration Jesus used: "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed planted in a field.

    ​32 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."
     
    Parable of the Yeast
     
    33 Jesus also used this illustration: "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."
     
    34 Jesus always used stories and illustrations like these when speaking to the crowds. In fact, he never spoke to them without using such parables.

    ​35 This fulfilled what God had spoken through the prophet:
     
      "I will speak to you in parables.
        I will explain things hidden since the creation of the world."
    ​The "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word-for-word translation of the Bible.  However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."
    Today's Question:

    1. What does the "good seed" parable mean? (13:24-30).
     
    2. What is the message of the "mustard seed" parable? (13:31-32)



    An important goal of these lessons is to spark an interest in the Bible, so take time each day to explore the Scriptures on your own.
    Answers: (Do you agree?) 
    ​
    1. Like all the parables in Matthew chapter 13, the "good seed" parable is about the Kingdom of Heaven.  Jesus is depicted as the farmer who sows only good seeds (believers) in the field (world).  However, his enemy (Satan) came and planted tares (unbelievers).  When asked what to do, the farmer (Jesus) says, "let both grow together until the harvest" (final judgment).  Then, the reapers (angels) will separate the good from the evil.  Jesus further explains this in verses 13:36-43 (lesson 27). 

    Please note, in the parable of the four soils (Matthew 13:3-9) found in lesson 25, seeds represent the "Word" of God.  Here, they represent those who believe in the "Word" of God (Matthew 13:38).
     
    2. The message of this parable is that, like the mustard seed that starts small but steadily grows, the reach of God's Kingdom will grow in the hearts of believers and be felt worldwide.

    The parable of the leaven (yeast), a fermenting agent, in verses 13:33-35 teaches a similar lesson: that God's kingdom will grow (leavened by the Gospel).  You can read more about the mustard seed parable in Mark 4:30-34 and Luke 13:18-19.



    ​Application thought for the day: 
     
    Create your own parable to help others understand the message in this passage.     ​
    Thanks to the writings and commentary of John Wesley and Adam Clarke.  Also, "The Layman's Bible Study Notebook" by Irving Jensen, published by Harvest House Publishing, Irvine, California; the "Life Change Series" published by NavPress books, Colorado Springs, Colorado; "Robertson's New Testament Word Studies;" "The MacArthur Bible Commentary" by John MacArthur, published by Thomas Nelson, Nashville, Tennessee; "Wisdom of the Bible" CD by Topics Entertainment, Inc., Renton, Washington for their inspiring pictures; "My utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers, published by Barbour Publishing, Inc., Uhrichsville, Ohio; The "Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge" by Reuben Archer Torrey; "Hope For Each Day" by Billy Graham, published by J. Countryman, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee; "Easton's Bible Dictionary" by Matthew George Easton; "Unger's Bible Dictionary" by Merrill F. Unger, published by Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois; "Atlas of the Bible" edited by Joseph L. Gardner, published by Readers Digest, Pleasantville, New York; "Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "The Everyday Bible" published by World Wide Publications, Minneapolis, Minnesota; "The New Testament" Recovery Version published by Living Stream Ministry, Anaheim, California; "The Living New Testament" published by Tyndale house, Wheaten, Illinois; "The New Living Translation" published by Tyndale House, Wheaten, Illinois; "The New Testament" translated from the Latin Vulgate, published by Guild Press, New York, New York; the "Life Application Study Bible" published by Tyndale House Publishing, Carol Stream, Illinois; the "Quest Study Bible" published by The Zondervan Corporation, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "The New Scofield Reference Bible" published by Oxford University Press, New York, New York; BibleGateway.com for all their wonderful links; and of course, the "King James Bible."  All were critical in putting these lessons together.
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