Matthew 13: Parables of the Kingdom

Jesus teaches in parables from a boat. A farmer sows seed on four kinds of soil; only the good soil bears fruit, like people who hear God's word and understand it. The Kingdom of Heaven is like a tiny mustard seed that grows big, yeast in dough, a hidden treasure, a pearl of great price, and a net that gathers fish.

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Read Matthew 13

World English Bible · 58 verses

¹ On that day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the seaside.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
² Great multitudes gathered to him, so that he entered into a boat and sat; and all the multitude stood on the beach.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³ He spoke to them many things in parables, saying, “Behold, a farmer went out to sow.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴ As he sowed, some seeds fell by the roadside, and the birds came and devoured them.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁵ Others fell on rocky ground, where they didn’t have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, because they had no depth of earth.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁶ When the sun had risen, they were scorched. Because they had no root, they withered away.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁷ Others fell among thorns. The thorns grew up and choked them.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁸ Others fell on good soil and yielded fruit: some one hundred times as much, some sixty, and some thirty.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁹ He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁰ The disciples came, and said to him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹¹ He answered them, “To you it is given to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, but it is not given to them.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹² For whoever has, to him will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever doesn’t have, from him will be taken away even that which he has.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹³ Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they don’t see, and hearing, they don’t hear, neither do they understand.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁴ In them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says, ‘By hearing you will hear, and will in no way understand; Seeing you will see, and will in no way perceive;This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁵ for this people’s heart has grown callous, their ears are dull of hearing, and they have closed their eyes; or else perhaps they might perceive with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their heart, and would turn again, and I would heal them.’This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁶ “But blessed are your eyes, for they see; and your ears, for they hear.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁷ For most certainly I tell you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see the things which you see, and didn’t see them; and to hear the things which you hear, and didn’t hear them.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁸ “Hear, then, the parable of the farmer.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁹ When anyone hears the word of the Kingdom and doesn’t understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away that which has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown by the roadside.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁰ What was sown on the rocky places, this is he who hears the word and immediately with joy receives it;This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²¹ yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while. When oppression or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²² What was sown among the thorns, this is he who hears the word, but the cares of this age and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²³ What was sown on the good ground, this is he who hears the word and understands it, who most certainly bears fruit and produces, some one hundred times as much, some sixty, and some thirty.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁴ He set another parable before them, saying, “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁵ but while people slept, his enemy came and sowed darnel weeds also among the wheat, and went away.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁶ But when the blade sprang up and produced grain, then the darnel weeds appeared also.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁷ The servants of the householder came and said to him, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where did these darnel weeds come from?’This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁸ “He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ “The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and gather them up?’This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁹ “But he said, ‘No, lest perhaps while you gather up the darnel weeds, you root up the wheat with them.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³⁰ Let both grow together until the harvest, and in the harvest time I will tell the reapers, “First, gather up the darnel weeds, and bind them in bundles to burn them; but gather the wheat into my barn.”’”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³¹ He set another parable before them, saying, “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a grain of mustard seed which a man took, and sowed in his field,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³² which indeed is smaller than all seeds. But when it is grown, it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in its branches.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³³ He spoke another parable to them. “The Kingdom of Heaven is like yeast which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, until it was all leavened.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³⁴ Jesus spoke all these things in parables to the multitudes; and without a parable, he didn’t speak to them,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³⁵ that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophet, saying, “I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things hidden from the foundation of the world.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³⁶ Then Jesus sent the multitudes away, and went into the house. His disciples came to him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the darnel weeds of the field.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³⁷ He answered them, “He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³⁸ the field is the world, the good seeds are the children of the Kingdom, and the darnel weeds are the children of the evil one.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³⁹ The enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴⁰ As therefore the darnel weeds are gathered up and burned with fire; so will it be at the end of this age.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴¹ The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will gather out of his Kingdom all things that cause stumbling and those who do iniquity,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴² and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴³ Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the Kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴⁴ “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid. In his joy, he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴⁵ “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who is a merchant seeking fine pearls,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴⁶ who having found one pearl of great price, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴⁷ “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some fish of every kind,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴⁸ which, when it was filled, fishermen drew up on the beach. They sat down and gathered the good into containers, but the bad they threw away.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴⁹ So it will be in the end of the world. The angels will come and separate the wicked from among the righteous,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁵⁰ and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁵¹ Jesus said to them, “Have you understood all these things?” They answered him, “Yes, Lord.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁵² He said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has been made a disciple in the Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who is a householder, who brings out of his treasure new and old things.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁵³ When Jesus had finished these parables, he departed from there.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁵⁴ Coming into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, “Where did this man get this wisdom and these mighty works?This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁵⁵ Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother called Mary, and his brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas?This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁵⁶ Aren’t all of his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all of these things?”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁵⁷ They were offended by him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country and in his own house.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁵⁸ He didn’t do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org

Worksheets

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Matthew 13 · Preschool

Good Soil

Name Date

Color the picture. Point to the farmer, the seeds, the growing plants, the birds and the wheat.

Can you find these in the picture? Circle each one!

Bible Verse

“Others fell on good soil and yielded fruit: some one hundred times as much, some sixty, and some thirty.”

Matthew 13:8 (WEB)

Prayer

Thank You, God, for making me!

Take It Home

Read the verse aloud. Say: When we listen to God's Word, we grow like healthy plants! Plant a seed in a cup together this week.

Open Grade 4 on its own page

Matthew 13 · Grade 4

Hearing With Good Hearts

Name Date

Read and Think

In Matthew 13 Jesus teaches in parables, everyday stories that carry heavenly truth. The first is the parable of the sower. Seed falls on four kinds of ground: the hard path, where birds snatch it; rocky ground, where it springs up but withers in the sun; thorny ground, where weeds choke it; and good soil, where it produces thirty, sixty, or a hundred times as much.

Jesus explains the story. The seed is the word of the Kingdom. The evil one snatches it from hard hearts. Some receive it with joy but fall away when trouble comes. Others let worries and the love of riches choke it out. But the one who hears the word and understands it bears much fruit.

Jesus also tells parables about weeds among the wheat, a mustard seed, yeast, a hidden treasure, a pearl of great price, and a dragnet. At the end of the age, God will separate the righteous from the wicked. Until then, His Kingdom grows quietly, and it is worth giving everything to have.

Show What You Know

Name the four kinds of ground in the parable of the sower.
What chokes the seed among the thorns?
What does the good soil produce?
What do the treasure and the pearl teach about God's Kingdom?

Word Bank Fill-In

Use the word bank to fill in each blank.

Godseedwordpearlparable

The first is the of the sower.
The is the word of the Kingdom.
But the one who hears the and understands it bears much fruit.
Jesus also tells parables about weeds among the wheat, a mustard seed, yeast, a hidden treasure, a of great price, and a dragnet.
At the end of the age, will separate the righteous from the wicked.

Think About It

Which kind of soil best describes your heart right now? What helps a heart become good soil?
Why do you think Jesus taught using stories about farming, bread and fishing?

Memory Verse

What was sown on the good ground, this is he who hears the word and understands it, who most certainly bears fruit and produces, some one hundred times as much, some sixty, and some thirty.”

Matthew 13:23 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for this Bible story. Help me to . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

What things can choke out God's Word in our lives, like thorns?
What helps God's Word grow in your heart?

Open Grade 5 on its own page

Matthew 13 · Grade 5

Secrets of the Kingdom

Name Date

Read and Think

Matthew 13 is the third great teaching section in Matthew. Jesus speaks in parables, and His disciples ask why. He explains that the secrets of the Kingdom have been given to them, but many in the crowd, like the people in Isaiah's day, see without perceiving and hear without understanding. Parables reveal truth to open hearts and hide it from those who refuse to listen.

The parable of the sower explains why people respond to the same message so differently. The problem is never the seed. It is the condition of the heart. Satan snatches the word, trouble scorches shallow faith, and worries and wealth choke it. But the good hearer understands and bears fruit, some a hundredfold.

The parables of the weeds and the dragnet show that good and evil will exist side by side until the end, when the Son of Man sends His angels to separate them. The mustard seed and the yeast show the Kingdom's surprising growth from small beginnings. The treasure and the pearl show its surpassing worth. A scribe trained for the Kingdom brings out treasures old and new.

Show What You Know

Why did Jesus speak in parables, according to His explanation?
According to the parable of the sower, why do people respond differently to God's word?
What do the weeds among the wheat teach about the present age?
What two parables show the Kingdom growing from a small start?
What do the treasure and the pearl show about the Kingdom?

Crossword

Across

They choked the plants.
A merchant found one of great price.
They ate the seeds on the path.

Down

Good ____ grew lots of grain.
A story that teaches about God's Kingdom.
What the farmer threw on the ground.

Think About It

What thorns in your world might choke out God's word in a person's life?
The man in the parable sold everything in his joy. How is following Jesus a joy and not just a cost?

Memory Verse

He answered them, “To you it is given to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, but it is not given to them.

Matthew 13:11 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for this Bible story. Help me to . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

What keeps you too busy for God?
Why do you think Jesus taught with stories instead of just plain rules?
What is one specific way you could live out this chapter this week?

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Matthew 13: Parables of the Kingdom

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Worksheets

Good Soil

Prayer

Take It Home

Seeds and Soil

Trace the Words

Match the Pictures

Mini Maze

Draw It

Prayer

Take It Home

Stories Jesus Told

Trace the Words

Match the Pictures

Prayer

Take It Home

The Farmer and the Seeds

Read the Story

Show What You Know

Word Search

Prayer

Take It Home

The Kingdom Is Like...

Read the Story

Answer the Questions

Put the Story in Order

Prayer

Take It Home

Hearing With Good Hearts

Read and Think

Show What You Know

Word Bank Fill-In

Think About It

Copy It

Prayer

Take It Home

Secrets of the Kingdom

Read and Think

Show What You Know

Crossword

Think About It

Copy It

Prayer

Take It Home

More print options