The Gospel of Matthew 11:2-18:35

10. And (then) approaching his disciples said to him. “Why do you speak to them in parables?” And he answered “The mysteries of the kingdom of the heavens has been given to you to know. But it has not been given to those (people) For whoever has (this knowledge) more (knowledge) will be given to them and such a one will have an abundance. But for the one who does not have (this knowledge) even what they have will be taken away from them. Therefore I speak to these people in parables because in seeing they do not see and in hearing they do not hear nor understand. The prophecy of Isaiah is thereby fulfilled in them saying “In hearing you will hear but you will by no means understand. And seeing you will see but by no means will you perceive.” For the heart of this people waxes grossly and they hear heavily with their ears and their eyes are closed. (This is the case) lest they see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their heart and turn back (from their sins) and I will heal them. But you are blessed with your eyes because they see and with your ears because they hear. For truly I tell you that many prophets and righteous men wanted to see the things that you see and they did not see them. They wanted to hear the things that you hear and they did not hear them. You therefore hear the parable of the sower. If anyone on hearing the word about the kingdom and does not understand it then the evil one comes and seizes what has been sown in their heart. This is pictured in the image of the word sown by the wayside, or the word sown on the rocky places where someone hears and immediately rejoices on receiving the word. But he has no root in himself and so the word is short-lived. When trials or persecution comes on account of the word he is immediately offended. In terms of the word which is sown in the thorns, this is the image of the person who hears the word. But the anxieties around them and the deceit of riches chokes the word and it becomes unfruitful. But when the word is sown on the good earth this is the image of the one who hears the word and understands it. That one indeed bears fruit, one person a hundred fold, another sixty and another thirty." 13:10-23

Wisdom

Hears

11. (Then) He (Jesus) set another parable before them saying. “the kingdom of heaven was likened to a man sowing good seed in his field. But while people slept other people came. They were the man’s enemy and they over-sowed tares (weeds) amongst the wheat and then they went away. When the grass sprouted up and produced fruit the tares also appeared. So the slaves of the house-master approached and said to him (Jesus). “Lord did you not sow good seed in your field? Where have these tares come from?” And he said to them. “An enemy has done this.” His slaves say to him “Do you want us to pull them out and collect them?” But he said “No in case in gathering the weeds you should also pull up the wheat with them. Leave both of them to grow together until the harvest. At the time of the harvest I will tell the reapers. “First gather the seeds and bind them into bundles to burn. But gather the wheat into my barn.” He (Jesus) set another parable before them saying. “The Kingdom of the heavens is like a grain of mustard which a man takes and sows in his field. This is indeed smaller than all the seeds. But when it grows it is bigger than all the herbs and becomes a tree so that the birds of the heavens come and live in its branches. He spoke another parable to them. “To what can the kingdom of the heavens be compared? It is like a woman who takes leaven and hides it in a meal of three measures until all the food is leavened.” Jesus spoke all these things to the crowds in the form of parables and he spoke nothing to them outside of the parable form. Thus was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet “I will open my mouth to them in parables. I will utter things that have been hidden from the foundation of the world.” 13:24-35

Wisdom

Proclaims

12. Then sending away the crowds he came (back) into the house . His disciples approached him saying “Explain to us the parable of the tares in the field. And he answering said “The one sowing the good seed is the Son of man. The field is the world. The good seed consists of the sons of the kingdom. The tares (weeds) are the sons of the evil one. The enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is at the completion of the age. and the reapers are the angels. Just as the tares are collected and consumed by fire, so it will be at the completion of the age. The Son of man will send forth his angels and they will collect out of his kingdom all the things that lead to sin and those who are lawless and they will cast them into the furnace of fire where there will be wailing and the gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous people will shine forth like the sun in their Father’s kingdom. Let the one who has ears for this hear. The kingdom of heaven is like treasure which has been hidden in the field. A man finds what has been hidden and with joy goes and sells whatever he has and buys that field. Again the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls. Finding one very valuable pearl he goes away and sells whatever things he had and he buys it. Again the kingdom of the heavens is like a net someone casts into the sea gathering up things of every kind. When it has been filled it is brought to the shore. Sitting down this person collects the good things into vessels. But the bad things are thrown out. Thus it will be at the completion of the age. The angels will go forth and will separate evil people from the midst of the righteous and will cast them into the furnace of fire where there will be wailing and the gnashing of teeth. Do you understand all these things?” They say to him. “Yes.” So he said to them. “Every scribe who is made a disciple of the kingdom of the heavens is like a man who is a housemaster. He puts forth out of his treasure both new things and old things.” 13:36-52

Wisdom

Retrieves

It came to pass when Jesus ended these parables (note: as distinct from "words") he went from there.13:53