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Matthew 13
Douay-Rheims Bible, Challoner revision (1749–1752), the traditional Catholic English Bible, translated from the Latin Vulgate. If you read a modern Bible, this is the same Scripture in older English; some names are spelled differently (Cesarea for Caesarea, Apocalypse for Revelation). About this translation
1 The same day Jesus going out of the house, sat by the sea side.
2 And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went up into a boat and sat: and all the multitude stood on the shore.
3 And he spoke to them many things in parables, saying: Behold the sower went forth to sow. CCC · Fathers
4 And whilst he soweth some fell by the way side, and the birds of the air came and ate them up. CCC
5 And other some fell upon stony ground, where they had not much earth: and they sprung up immediately, because they had no deepness of earth. CCC
6 And when the sun was up they were scorched: and because they had not root, they withered away. CCC
7 And others fell among thorns: and the thorns grew up and choked them. CCC
8 And others fell upon good ground: and they brought forth fruit, some an hundred fold, some sixty fold, and some thirty fold. CCC
9 He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. CCC
10 And his disciples came and said to him: Why speakest thou to them in parables? CCC
11 Who answered and said to them: Because to you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven: but to them it is not given. CCC
12 For he that hath, to him shall be given, and he shall abound: but he that hath not, from him shall be taken away that also which he hath. CCC
13 Therefore do I speak to them in parables: because seeing they see not, and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. CCC
14 And the prophecy of Isaias is fulfilled in them, who saith: By hearing you shall hear, and shall not understand: and seeing you shall see, and shall not perceive. CCC
15 For the heart of this people is grown gross, and with their ears they have been dull of hearing, and their eyes they have shut: lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them. CCC
16 But blessed are your eyes, because they see, and your ears, because they hear. CCC
17 For, amen, I say to you, many prophets and just men have desired to see the things that you see, and have not seen them: and to hear the things that you hear and have not heard them. CCC · Fathers
18 Hear you therefore the parable of the sower.
19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, there cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart: this is he that received the seed by the way side.
20 And he that received the seed upon stony ground, is he that heareth the word, and immediately receiveth it with joy.
21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but is only for a time: and when there ariseth tribulation and persecution because of the word, he is presently scandalized.
22 And he that received the seed among thorns, is he that heareth the word, and the care of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choketh up the word, and he becometh fruitless. CCC
23 But he that received the seed upon good ground, is he that heareth the word, and understandeth, and beareth fruit, and yieldeth the one an hundredfold, and another sixty, and another thirty.
24 Another parable he proposed to them, saying: The kingdom of heaven is likened to a man that sowed good seed in his field. CCC
25 But while men were asleep, his enemy came and oversowed cockle among the wheat and went his way. CCC · Fathers
26 And when the blade was sprung up, and had brought forth fruit, then appeared also the cockle. CCC
27 And the servants of the good man of the house coming said to him. Sir, didst thou not sow good seed in thy field? Whence then hath it cockle? CCC
28 And he said to them: An enemy hath done this. And the servants said to him: Wilt thou that we go and gather it up? CCC · Fathers
29 And he said: No, lest perhaps gathering up the cockle, you root up the wheat also together with it. CCC
30 Suffer both to grow until the harvest, and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers: Gather up first the cockle, and bind it into bundles to burn, but the wheat gather ye into my barn. 1 CCC · Fathers
31 Another parable he proposed unto them, saying: The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field.
32 Which is the least indeed of all seeds; but when it is grown up, it is greater than all herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come, and dwell in the branches thereof.
33 Another parable he spoke to them: The kingdom of heaven is like to leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, until the whole was leavened.
34 All these things Jesus spoke in parables to the multitudes: and without parables he did not speak to them. Fathers
35 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter things hidden from the foundation of the world.
36 Then having sent away the multitudes, he came into the house, and his disciples came to him, saying: Expound to us the parable of the cockle of the field.
37 Who made answer and said to them: He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man.
38 And the field is the world. And the good seed are the children of the kingdom. And the cockle are the children of the wicked one. Fathers
39 And the enemy that sowed them, is the devil. But the harvest is the end of the world. And the reapers are the angels.
40 Even as cockle therefore is gathered up, and burnt with fire: so shall it be at the end of the world. Fathers
41 The Son of man shall send his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all scandals, and them that work iniquity. CCC · Fathers
42 And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. CCC · Fathers
43 Then shall the just shine as the sun, in the kingdom of their Father. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. Fathers
44 The kingdom of heaven is like unto a treasure hidden in a field. Which a man having found, hid it, and for joy thereof goeth, and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. CCC · Fathers
45 Again the kingdom of heaven is like to a merchant seeking good pearls. CCC
46 Who when he had found one pearl of great price, went his way, and sold all that he had, and bought it.
47 Again the kingdom of heaven is like to a net cast into the sea, and gathering together of all kinds of fishes.
48 Which, when it was filled, they drew out, and sitting by the shore, they chose out the good into vessels, but the bad they cast forth.
49 So shall it be at the end of the world. The angels shall go out, and shall separate the wicked from among the just.
50 And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. CCC
51 Have ye understood all these things? They say to him: Yes.
52 He said unto them: Therefore every scribe instructed in the kingdom of heaven, is like to a man that is a householder, who bringeth forth out of his treasure new things and old. CCC · Fathers
53 And it came to pass: when Jesus had finished these parables, he passed from thence.
54 And coming into his own country, he taught them in their synagogues, so that they wondered and said: How came this man by this wisdom and miracles?
55 Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother called Mary, and his brethren James, and Joseph, and Simon, and Jude: CCC
56 And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence therefore hath he all these things?
57 And they were scandalized in his regard. But Jesus said to them: A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house.
58 And he wrought not many miracles there, because of their unbelief.
Where our lessons quote this chapter
This chapter in the Catechism and the early Church
Where the Catechism of the Catholic Church cites these verses (from its footnotes on vatican.va), and where the earliest Church Fathers quote them (Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1, public domain). Short quotes only; follow the links for the full text.
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- CCC 546 “Jesus' invitation to enter his kingdom comes in the form of parables, a characteristic feature of his teaching. Through his parables he…”
- CCC 1724 “The Decalogue, the Sermon on the Mount, and the apostolic catechesis describe for us the paths that lead to the Kingdom of…”
“… yourselves, to be continually solicitous; but I speak all things simply and candidly, as my Lord said: A sower went forth to sow the seed; and some fell by the wayside; and some among thorns, and some on stony ground, and some on good ground.”
Quoted in Dialogue with Trypho, St. Justin Martyr (c. AD 160), Chapter CXXV. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
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- CCC 546 “Jesus' invitation to enter his kingdom comes in the form of parables, a characteristic feature of his teaching. Through his parables he…”
Read the Catechism
- CCC 546 “Jesus' invitation to enter his kingdom comes in the form of parables, a characteristic feature of his teaching. Through his parables he…”
Read the Catechism
- CCC 546 “Jesus' invitation to enter his kingdom comes in the form of parables, a characteristic feature of his teaching. Through his parables he…”
Read the Catechism
- CCC 546 “Jesus' invitation to enter his kingdom comes in the form of parables, a characteristic feature of his teaching. Through his parables he…”
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- CCC 546 “Jesus' invitation to enter his kingdom comes in the form of parables, a characteristic feature of his teaching. Through his parables he…”
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- CCC 546 “Jesus' invitation to enter his kingdom comes in the form of parables, a characteristic feature of his teaching. Through his parables he…”
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- CCC 787 “From the beginning, Jesus associated his disciples with his own life, revealed the mystery of the Kingdom to them, and gave them…”
Read the Catechism and Fathers
- CCC 787 “From the beginning, Jesus associated his disciples with his own life, revealed the mystery of the Kingdom to them, and gave them…”
“… His words, the Lord has made manifest, when He says to His disciples, "Many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book IV, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XI. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
“prophets and righteous men have desired to see and hear what ye do see and hear.”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book IV, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XXII. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
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- CCC 29 “But this "intimate and vital bond of man to God" (GS 19 # 1) can be forgotten, overlooked, or even explicitly rejected…”
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- CCC 827 “Christ, 'holy, innocent, and undefiled,' knew nothing of sin, but came only to expiate the sins of the people. the Church, however,…”
Read the Catechism and Fathers
- CCC 827 “Christ, 'holy, innocent, and undefiled,' knew nothing of sin, but came only to expiate the sins of the people. the Church, however,…”
“For when men sleep, the enemy sows the material of tares;”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book V, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter X. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
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- CCC 827 “Christ, 'holy, innocent, and undefiled,' knew nothing of sin, but came only to expiate the sins of the people. the Church, however,…”
Read the Catechism
- CCC 827 “Christ, 'holy, innocent, and undefiled,' knew nothing of sin, but came only to expiate the sins of the people. the Church, however,…”
Read the Catechism and Fathers
- CCC 827 “Christ, 'holy, innocent, and undefiled,' knew nothing of sin, but came only to expiate the sins of the people. the Church, however,…”
“The Lord, indeed, sowed good seed in His own field; and He says, "The field is the world." But while men slept, the enemy came, and "sowed tares in the midst of the wheat, and went his way.”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book IV, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XL. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
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- CCC 827 “Christ, 'holy, innocent, and undefiled,' knew nothing of sin, but came only to expiate the sins of the people. the Church, however,…”
Read the Catechism and Fathers
- CCC 827 “Christ, 'holy, innocent, and undefiled,' knew nothing of sin, but came only to expiate the sins of the people. the Church, however,…”
“… mill, to take one and leave the other: [also] at the time of the end, to order the reapers to collect first the tares together, and bind them in bundles, and burn them with unquenchable fire, but to gather up the wheat into the barn;”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book V, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XXVII. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
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“The Lord, indeed, sowed good seed in His own field;”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book IV, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XL. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
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“those] of the devil, for whom eternal fire is prepared; and as, again, He declares with regard to the tares, "The tares are the children of the wicked one,”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book IV, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XLI. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
“The blessing of Isaac with which he blessed his younger son Jacob has the same meaning, when he says, "Behold, the smell of my son is as the smell of a full field which the Lord has blessed." But "the field is the world.”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book V, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XXXIII. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
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“Then shall the just shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book IV, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XL. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
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- CCC 333 “From the Incarnation to the Ascension, the life of the Word incarnate is surrounded by the adoration and service of angels. When…”
- CCC 1034 “Jesus often speaks of "Gehenna" of "the unquenchable fire" reserved for those who to the end of their lives refuse to believe…”
“Then shall the just shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book IV, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XL. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
Read the Catechism and Fathers
- CCC 1034 “Jesus often speaks of "Gehenna" of "the unquenchable fire" reserved for those who to the end of their lives refuse to believe…”
“And every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit, is hewn down and cast into the fire.”
Quoted in First Apology, St. Justin Martyr (c. AD 155), Chapter XVI. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
“Then shall the just shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book IV, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XL. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
Read the Fathers
“Then shall the just shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book IV, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XL. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
Read the Catechism and Fathers
- CCC 546 “Jesus' invitation to enter his kingdom comes in the form of parables, a characteristic feature of his teaching. Through his parables he…”
“For Christ is the treasure which was hid in the field,”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book IV, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XXVI. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
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- CCC 546 “Jesus' invitation to enter his kingdom comes in the form of parables, a characteristic feature of his teaching. Through his parables he…”
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- CCC 1034 “Jesus often speaks of "Gehenna" of "the unquenchable fire" reserved for those who to the end of their lives refuse to believe…”
Read the Catechism and Fathers
- CCC 1117 “As she has done for the canon of Sacred Scripture and for the doctrine of the faith, the Church, by the power…”
“… from one and the same God; as also the Lord says to the disciples "Therefore every scribe, which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven, is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book IV, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter IX. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
“… "that Christ must suffer, and enter into His glory, and that remission of sins should be preached in His name throughout all the world." And the disciple will be perfected, and [rendered] like the householder, "who bringeth forth from his treasure things new and old.”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book IV, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XXVI. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
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A modern English Catholic translation will be added once its publisher grants permission.