Thematic Bible


Thematic Bible



He told another illustration, saying: The kingdom of heaven is like a man that sowed good seed in his field. While he slept, his enemy came and sowed weeds with the wheat, and went away. When the blade sprouted and brought forth fruit, it looked like wheat. read more.
The servants of the householder said to him: 'Sir, did you sow good seed in your field? Why does it have weeds mixed in with the good wheat?' He replied: 'An enemy did this.' The servants offered to remove the weeds. He said: 'No, you might uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. In the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers: Gather weeds first, and bind them in bundles to burn them. Then gather the wheat into my barn.' In another illustration Jesus said: The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man sowed in his field. Mustard seed is the smallest of all seeds. Yet when it grows it becomes as large as a tree. In fact the birds of heaven lodge in the branches. He offered another illustration: The kingdom of heaven is similar to leaven. A woman hid leaven in three measures of meal until it was all leavened. Jesus spoke with illustrations to the crowds. He did not speak anything without using illustrations. That which was spoken through the prophet was fulfilled, saying: I will open my mouth in illustrations. I will utter things hidden from the foundation of the world. Then he left the crowds and went into the house. His disciples gathered near him. They said: Explain to us the illustration of the weeds in the field. Jesus said: He that sows the good seed is the Son of man. The field is the world (the society of mankind). The good seed are the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one. The enemy that sowed them is the Devil. The harvest is the end of the age. The reapers are angels. The weeds are gathered up and burned (destroyed) with fire. It will be this way at the end of the age. The Son of man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all who stumble others and commit lawlessness. The angels will cast them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. The righteous will shine as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He that has ears let him hear. The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field. A man found the treasure and hid it again in the field. He is so filled with joy he sells everything he owns and buys the field. The kingdom of heaven is also like a merchant seeking valuable pearls. When he found one pearl of great value, he sold all that he had, and bought it. The kingdom of heaven is like a net cast into the sea. It gathered fish of every kind. They drew it up on the beach when it was full. They gathered the good into containers and threw away the bad. It will be that way at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, and separate the wicked from among the righteous. The wicked will be cast into the furnace of fire where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Have you understood all these things? They said to him: Yes. And he said to them: Every scribe (journalist) (writer) who has been made a disciple to the kingdom of heaven is like a man that is a householder, who brings out of his treasure things new and old. After Jesus finished telling these illustrations, he left.

He added: The kingdom of God is like this. A man plants seed in the earth. He sleeps and gets up night and day until the plants grow though he has no idea how. The earth gives fruit by itself. First comes the leaf, then the head, then full grain. read more.
When the grain is ready he immediately sends men to cut it, because the time for cutting has come. He said: What illustration should we use to picture the kingdom of God? What story will make it clear? It is like a grain of mustard seed. When it is planted in the earth it is smaller than all the seeds on the earth. But when it is planted it grows and becomes taller than all the plants. It grows out great branches so that the birds of heaven are able to take rest in its shade. He spoke the word to them with many illustrations as long as they were able to listen. He spoke only with illustrations. However he made all things clear to his disciples in private.

After Jesus finished telling these illustrations, he left. He went to his own country and taught in the synagogue. They were astonished and asked where this man got this wisdom and these mighty works. Is this man the carpenter's son? Is his mother called Mary? Are his brothers James and Joseph, Simon, and Judas? read more.
Are his sisters all with us? Where did he get all these things? They resented him. But Jesus responded to them: A prophet is without honor in his own country, and in his own house. He did not do many mighty works there because of their lack of faith.

He left there and went to his own country. His disciples followed him. Jesus taught in the synagogue on the Sabbath. Many were astonished when they heard him. They asked: Where did this man get these things? What is the wisdom given to this man and how did he perform these mighty works by his hands? Is this the carpenter, the son of Mary, brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? Are not his sisters here with us? He offended them. read more.
Jesus said to them: A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own people and in his own house. He laid his hands upon a few sick and healed them. Otherwise he did no mighty work there. He wondered at their unbelief. Then he went around to the villages teaching.