THE TARES, THE MUSTARD SEED, THE LEAVEN, ETC.
[Sidenote: St. Matthew 13]
ANOTHER parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven
is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: but while men
slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his
way. But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then
appeared the tares also. 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? He said unto them, An enemy hath done this.
The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them
up? But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up
also the wheat with them. 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.
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: 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. 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.
Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his
disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the
tares of the field. He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the
good seed is the Son of man; the field is the world; the good seed are
the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the
wicked one; the enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the
end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. As therefore the
tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of
this world. The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall
gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do
iniquity; and shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be
wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as
the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him
hear.
[Illustration: CHRIST HEALING THE SICK OF THE PALSY, BY VAN DYCK
IN THE POSSESSION OF KING EDWARD VII]
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the
which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and
selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. Again, the kingdom of
heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: who, when he
had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and
bought it. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was
cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind: which, when it was full,
they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels,
but cast the bad away. So shall it be at the end of the world: the
angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, and
shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and
gnashing of teeth.
Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say
unto him, Yea, Lord. Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe
which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that
is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new
and old.
And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these parables, he
departed thence. And when he was come into his own country, he taught
them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said,
Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works? Is not this
the carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren,
James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? And his sisters, are they not
all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things? And they were
offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without
honour, save in his own country, and in his own house. And he did not
many mighty works there because of their unbelief.