402 : The Grain Of Mustard Seed
HE put forth another parable to them, saying:
"The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in the field.
It is indeed the least of all seeds, but when it is grown it is the greatest among plants,
and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and build nests in its branches."
THE TARES
Another parable he gave to them, saying:
"The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field, but while he slept,
his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.
So when the blades sprang up and brought forth fruit, the tares appeared also.
"So the servants of the man came and said to him, 'Did you not sow good seed in the field?
From where then have come the tares?'
" 'An enemy has done this,' he said to them, and the servants asked,
'Do you wish then that we go and gather them up?'
But he said, 'No, lest while you gather up the tares, you root up the wheat with them also.
Let both grow together until the harvest, and in the time of harvest, I will say to the reapers,
"Gather together first the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them.
But gather the wheat into my barn." "'
THE MEANING OF THE TARES
All these things Jesus spoke to the multitude in parables.
He did not speak to them without a parable,
so that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying:
"I will open my mouth in parables.
I will utter things which have been kept secret since the foundation of the world."
Then Jesus sent the multitude away and went into a house, and his disciples came to him, saying,
"Explain to us the parable of the tares of the field."
And when they were alone together, he answered:
"He that sows 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; the reapers are the angels.
Therefore, as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so shall it be at the end of the world.
"The Son of man shall send forth his angels,
and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and those who do evil,
and they shall throw them into a furnace of fire.
There shall be a wailing and a gnashing of teeth.
Then the righteous shall shine forth like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.
Who has ears to hear, let him hear."
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