28. “The man answered, ‘An enemy planted weeds.’ “The servants asked, ‘Do you want us to go and pull up the weeds?’
29. “He answered, ‘No, because when you pull up the weeds, you might also pull up the wheat.
30. Let the weeds and the wheat grow together until the harvest time. At the harvest time I will tell the workers this: First, gather the weeds and tie them together to be burned. Then gather the wheat and bring it to my barn.’”
31. Then Jesus told the people another story: “God’s kingdom is like a mustard seed that a man plants in his field.
32. It is the smallest of all seeds. But when it grows, it is the largest of all garden plants. It becomes a tree big enough for the birds to come and make nests in its branches.”
33. Then Jesus told them another story: “God’s kingdom is like yeast that a woman mixes into a big bowl of flour to make bread. The yeast makes all the dough rise.”
34. Jesus used stories to tell all these things to the people. He always used stories to teach them.
35. This was to make clear the full meaning of what the prophet said: “I will speak using stories; I will tell things that have been secrets since the world was made.” Psalm 78:2
36. Then Jesus left the people and went into the house. His followers came to him and said, “Explain to us the meaning of the story about the weeds in the field.”
37. He answered, “The man who planted the good seed in the field is the Son of Man.
38. The field is the world. The good seed are the people in God’s kingdom. The weeds are the people who belong to the Evil One.
39. And the enemy who planted the bad seed is the devil. The harvest is the end of time. And the workers who gather are God’s angels.
40. “The weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire. It will be the same at the end of time.