90 Christ explains the Parable of the Sower.

hear the word of the kingdom, and understand it not; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. And these are they likewise which have received the seed into stony places, who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with joy; and these have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: which for a while believe, and in time of temptation, when tribulation, affliction, or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended, and fall away. And these are they which are sown among thorns; which, when they have heard the word, go forth, and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and pleasures of this life, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it bringeth no fruit to perfection. And these are they that received seed into the good ground; such as hear the word, and understand, and receive it in an honest and good heart; and having heard the word keep it; which also bear fruit with patience, and bring forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

And he said unto them, No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bushel, or under

Parable of the Wheat and Tares. 91

a bed; but setteth it on a candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light. For nothing is hid, which shall not be manifested, neither was any thing kept secret, that shall not be known and come abroad. If any man have ears to hear, let him hear. And he said unto them, Take heed therefore how and what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you and unto you that hear shall more be given; for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have '.

The Parables of the Wheat and the Tares: the Grain of Mustard Seed: and the hidden Leaven.

ANOTHER parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? He said unto them, An

1 Matt. xiii. 18-23. Mark iv. 10-25. Luke viii.

92 The Parable of the Mustard Seed.

enemy hath done this.

The servants said

unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

And he said, So is the kingdom of God as if a man should cast seed into the ground; and should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how. For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.

And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it? And another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field; which, when it is sown in the earth, is indeed the least of all seeds that be in the earth: but when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and becom

The Parable of the hidden Leaven.

93

eth a tree, and shooteth out great branches; so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof, and under the shadow of it.

Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened. All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it. But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples. 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 from the foundation of the world. Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house.

And his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field. He answered and said unto them, He that soweth 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; and the reapers are the angels. As there

94 Parables of the hidden Treasure, &c.

fore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; and shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear 2.

2

The hidden Treasure. The Pearl of great price. The Net cast into the Sea.

AGAIN, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.

2 Matt. xiii. 24-43. Mark iv. 26-34. Luke xiii.