New Testament · Gospel

Matthew 13:36

Secrets of the Kingdom

Then Jesus dismissed the crowds and went into the house. His disciples came to Him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.” Matthew 13:36 · Berean Standard Bible

What It Means

Matthew 13:36, in plain English

Jesus sent the crowds away and went inside. His disciples came to Him and asked: explain to us the parable about the weeds in the field.

Why it's here

The disciples are hungry for understanding. They do not just want stories -- they want the truth behind them.

Who's speaking

The disciples approach Jesus privately.

Where it sits in the story

The crowd goes home with stories; the disciples stay for answers. They want to know what the weeds parable really means.

A Closer Look

The scholarly reading

Jesus dismisses the crowds and enters the house (eis ten oikian), where His disciples request an explanation of the parable of the weeds (ten parabolen ton zizanion tou agrou), continuing the private-public teaching distinction.

Language and setting

The transition from lakeside to house mirrors the parable chapter's two-level structure: public parables for crowds (vv. 1-35) and private interpretations for disciples (vv. 36-52).

Voice

The narrator describes the scene transition; the disciples make their request.

Significance

Jesus moves from public to private setting as the disciples seek the hidden meaning of the weeds parable, continuing the pattern of privileged explanation for committed followers.

In context

Matthew 13:34–38

34Jesus spoke all these things to the crowds in parables. He did not tell them anything without using a parable.

35So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet: “I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things hidden since the foundation of the world.”

36Then Jesus dismissed the crowds and went into the house. His disciples came to Him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.”

37He replied, “The One who sows the good seed is the Son of Man.

38The field is the world, and the good seed represents the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one,

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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