Matthew 13:24-40

²⁴ Another parable set he before them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man that sowed good seed in his field: ²⁵ but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares also among the wheat, and went away.

²⁶ But when the blade sprang up and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.

²⁷ And the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst thou not sow good seed in thy field? whence then hath it tares?

²⁸ And he said unto them, An enemy hath done this. And the servants say unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?

²⁹ But he saith, Nay; lest haply while ye gather up the tares, ye root up the wheat with them.

³⁰ Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather up first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them; but gather the wheat into my barn.

³¹ Another parable set he before them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like unto a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: ³² which indeed is less than all seeds; but when it is grown, it is greater than the herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the heaven 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 it was all leavened.

³⁴ All these things spake Jesus in parables unto the multitudes; and without a parable spake he nothing unto them: 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.

³⁶ Then he left the multitudes, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Explain unto us the parable of the tares of the field.

³⁷ And he answered and said, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; ³⁸ and the field is the world; and the good seed, these are the sons of the kingdom; and the tares are the sons of the evil [one]; ³⁹ and the enemy that sowed them is the devil: and the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are angels.

⁴⁰ As therefore the tares are gathered up and burned with fire; so shall it be in the end of the world.