24 Jesus told the crowd another story. “Here is what the kingdom of heaven is like,” he said. “A man planted good seed in his field. 25 But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came. The enemy planted weeds among the wheat and then went away. 26 The wheat began to grow and form grain. At the same time, weeds appeared.

27 “The owner’s slaves came to him. They said, ‘Sir, didn’t you plant good seed in your field? Then where did the weeds come from?’

28 “ ‘An enemy did this,’ he replied.

“The slaves asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull up the weeds?’

29 “ ‘No,’ the owner answered. ‘While you are pulling up the weeds, you might pull up the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the workers what to do. Here is what I will say to them. First collect the weeds. Tie them in bundles to be burned. Then gather the wheat. Bring it into my storeroom.’ ”

31 Jesus told the crowd another story. He said, “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed. Someone took the seed and planted it in a field. 32 It is the smallest of all seeds. But when it grows, it is the largest of all garden plants. It becomes a tree. Birds come and rest in its branches.”

33 Jesus told them still another story. “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast,” he said. “A woman mixed it into 60 pounds of flour. The yeast worked its way all through the dough.”

34 Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd using stories. He did not say anything to them without telling a story. 35 So the words spoken by the prophet came true. He had said,

“I will open my mouth and tell stories.

    I will speak about things that were hidden since the world was made.” (Psalm 78:2)

36 Then Jesus left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him. They said, “Explain to us the story of the weeds in the field.”

37 He answered, “The one who planted the good seed is the Son of Man. 38 The field is the world. The good seed stands for the people who belong to the kingdom. The weeds are the people who belong to the evil one. 39 The enemy who plants them is the devil. The harvest is judgment day. And the workers are angels.

40 “The weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire. That is how it will be on judgment day. 41 The Son of Man will send out his angels. They will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin. They will also get rid of all who do evil. 42 They will throw them into the blazing furnace. There people will weep and grind their teeth. 43 Then God’s people will shine like the sun in their Father’s kingdom. Whoever has ears should listen.

44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure that was hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again. He was very happy. So he went and sold everything he had. And he bought that field.

45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a trader who was looking for fine pearls. 46 He found one that was very valuable. So he went away and sold everything he had. And he bought that pearl.


Discussion:

The Parable of the Weeds (v. 24–30, 36–43)

1. The Mixed Field: In verses 24-30, the master tells the servants to let the wheat and weeds grow together. What does this suggest about the current state of the world and the presence of both "good" and "evil" within it?

2. The Urge to Weed: The servants were eager to pull up the weeds immediately. Why are we often tempted to "weed" the people in our communities or churches, and what are the dangers of doing so according to Jesus?

3. The Final Harvest: Jesus explains that the harvest represents the "end of the age." How does the reality of a future judgment (v. 40-43) change the way you view injustice or the presence of evil in the world today?

The Mustard Seed and the Yeast (v. 31–33)

4. Small Beginnings: The Mustard Seed and Yeast both start small but have a massive impact. Can you think of a "small" act of faith or a "small" ministry that grew into something that blessed many people?

5. Invisible Influence: Yeast works from the “inside out” until the whole batch is leavened. How does the Kingdom of Heaven change a person or a culture from within, rather than just through external rules?

The Hidden Treasure and the Pearl (v. 44–46)

6. Discovery vs. Seeking: The man in the field "stumbled" upon the treasure, while the merchant was "searching" for the pearl. Reflecting on your own faith journey, did you feel like you found God while you weren't looking, or were you on a long search for truth?

7. The Joy of Loss: Both characters in these parables "sold all they had" with joy to obtain the prize. What are some things (attitudes, habits, or possessions) you’ve had to "sell" or give up to prioritize the Kingdom of Heaven?

8. Inestimable Value: If the Kingdom of Heaven is the "Pearl of Great Value," why do you think we often struggle to treat it as more valuable than our daily distractions or earthly treasures?