17. For verily I say to you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see the things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear the things which ye hear, and have not heard them.
18. Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.
19. When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the way side.
20. But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and immediately with joy receiveth it;
21. Yet he hath not root in himself, but endureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, forthwith he is offended.
22. He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
23. But he that receiveth seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; who also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some a hundred fold, some sixty, some thirty.
24. Another parable he proposed to them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened to a man who sowed good seed in his field:
25. But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and departed.
26. But when the blade had sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.
27. So the servants of the householder came and said to him, Sir, didst thou not sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?
28. He said to them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said to him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them?
29. But he said, No; lest while ye gather the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.
30. Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.
31. Another parable he proposed to them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard-seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field:
32. 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 on its branches.
33. Another parable he spoke to them; The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.