New Testament · Gospel

Matthew 13:24

Secrets of the Kingdom

Jesus put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. Matthew 13:24 · Berean Standard Bible
What It Means

Matthew 13:24, in plain English

Jesus tells another story: the kingdom of heaven is like a man who planted good seed in his field.

Why it's here

This parable addresses a question everyone asks: if God is good, why is there so much evil in the world? And when will it be dealt with?

Who's speaking

Jesus begins a new parable.

Where it sits in the story

Jesus tackles one of the biggest questions of all: why does evil exist alongside good? His answer, wrapped in a farming story, is profound.

A Closer Look

The scholarly reading

Jesus introduces the parable of the weeds (zizania): the kingdom of heaven is compared to a man who sowed good seed (kalon sperma) in his field, beginning a narrative about the coexistence of good and evil.

Language and setting

This is the first of several 'kingdom of heaven is like' (homoia estin he basileia) parables in this chapter. The good seed represents the kingdom's authentic subjects; the field is the world stage where the drama unfolds.

Voice

Jesus introduces a new parable to the crowd.

Significance

Jesus begins a second agricultural parable addressing one of the most perplexing questions about God's kingdom: why do good and evil coexist, and when will God sort them out?

In context

Matthew 13:22–26

22The seed sown among the thorns is the one who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

23But the seed sown on good soil is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and produces a crop—a hundredfold, sixtyfold, or thirtyfold.”

24Jesus put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field.

25But while everyone was asleep, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and slipped away.

26When the wheat sprouted and bore grain, then the weeds also appeared.

Read all of Matthew 13 — A farmer scatters seed, a woman hides yeast, a merchant finds a pearl. Jesus teaches in parables — and not everyone is meant to understand.

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