1Toho istého dňa vyšiel Ježiš z domu a pobral sa na breh jazera.2Onedlho sa okolo neho zhromaždil taký veľký zástup, že musel vstúpiť do člna. Kázal v člne a zástup ho počúval na brehu.3Aby mu lepšie rozumeli, používal mnohé podobenstvá.
O rozsievačovi
4„Roľník sial na poli obilie. Ako rozsieval, padli niektoré zrná na okraj cesty, zlietli sa vtáky a pozobali ich.5Iné zrná dopadli na skalnatú pôdu, kde bolo málo ornice. Obilie rýchlo vzklíčilo,6ale keď začalo páliť slnko, uschlo, lebo korienky nemohli ísť do hĺbky.7Poniektoré zrná padli medzi bodliaky. Keď bodľačie vyrástlo, udusilo klásky.8Ostatné zrná padli do úrodnej pôdy. Obilie vyrástlo a prinieslo úrodu. Na niektorom klase bolo sto zrniek, na inom šesťdesiat a na ďalšom tridsať.9Tak teda, kto má uši, nech počuje!“
Prečo Ježiš hovorí v podobenstvách
10Pristúpili k nemu učeníci a spýtali sa ho: „Prečo im hovoríš v podobenstvách?“11Odpovedal im: „Vám už Boh zjavil tajomstvo nebeského kráľovstva, ale im ešte nie.12Lebo ten, kto už pochopil, pochopí aj viac. Ale kto chápe málo, príde aj o to málo.13Používam podobenstvá, ľudia totiž počujú a vidia, a predsa nechápu.14Tak sa na nich plní Izaiášovo proroctvo: Budete počúvať, ale neporozumiete, budete sa dívať, ale neuvidíte.15Lebo srdce tohto ľudu otupelo, sú duchovne hluchí a zavreli oči, aby nevideli, nepočuli a neporozumeli, aby sa neobrátili k Bohu, ktorý by ich mohol uzdraviť.16Ale šťastné sú vaše oči, že vidia, a vaše uši, že počujú.17Mnohí proroci túžili vidieť, čo vy vidíte, a počuť, čo vy počujete, ale nemohli.“
Prečo Božie slovo v ľudskom srdci vždy nevyklíči
18„A teraz počúvajte, aký je zmysel príbehu o rozsievačovi.19Cesta, kam padli niektoré zrná, predstavuje srdce ľudí, ktorí počujú o Božom kráľovstve, ale nerozumejú tomu. Prichádza satan a vyrve to, čo bolo zasiate.20Skalnatá pôda predstavuje srdce človeka, ktorý počuje Božie posolstvo a prijíma ho síce s veľkou radosťou,21ale povrchne, a tak v ňom nezapustí korene. Keď potom prídu ťažkosti alebo prenasledovanie pre vieru, jeho nadšenie ochabne a to, čo bolo zasiate, sa stratí.22Pôda zarastená bodľačím predstavuje človeka, ktorý počuje Božie posolstvo, ale každodenné starosti a túžba po bohatstve udusia slovo.23Úrodná pôda predstavuje srdce človeka, ktorý počuje Božie posolstvo, oddá sa jeho životodarnému vplyvu. Úžitok z toho je mnohonásobný, u niekoho väčší, u iného menší.“
Kúkoľ medzi pšenicou
24Potom použil ďalšie podobenstvo: „Nebeské kráľovstvo je podobné hospodárovi, ktorý zasial na svojom poli dobré semeno.25Ale v noci, keď ľudia spali, jeho nepriateľ rozhodil medzi pšenicu kúkoľ a odišiel.26Keď obilie vyrástlo a vyklasilo sa, ukázal sa aj kúkoľ.27Sluhovia prišli za hospodárom a povedali mu: ‚Veď si zasial čisté semeno, kde sa vzal kúkoľ?‘ –28‚To urobil nepriateľ!‘ odpovedal im.‚Pôjdeme to pole vyplieť,‘ ponúkli sa.29Ale hospodár nesúhlasil: ‚Nie, nerobte to. S kúkoľom by ste mohli ľahko vytrhnúť aj pšenicu.30Necháme oboje dorásť a pri žatve rozkážem žencom, aby najprv vybrali kúkoľ, zviazali ho do snopkov a spálili a pšenicu zhromaždili do mojej stodoly.‘ “
O horčičnom semene a o kvásku
31Predložil im iný obraz: „S nebeským kráľovstvom je to ako s horčičným semienkom, ktoré človek zasial na poli.32Je síce najdrobnejšie zo všetkých semien, ale keď vyrastie, je to najmohutnejšia bylina, ba je z neho ker, takže prilietajú vtáci a hniezdia v ňom.“33A použil ďalšie podobenstvo: „S nebeským kráľovstvom je to ako s kváskom, ktorý žena vzala, zarobila do troch meríc múky a všetko cesto nakyslo.“34V tomto kázaní používal Ježiš výhradne podobenstvá. Tak sa naplnilo staré proroctvo: „Budem im hovoriť v obrazoch.35Tajomstvá, ktoré boli skryté, im odhalím.“
Ježiš vysvetľuje podobenstvo o kúkoli
36Ježiš potom rozpustil zástupy a šiel domov. Obklopili ho jeho učeníci a poprosili ho, aby im vyložil podobenstvo o kúkoli na poli.37„Dobre,“ súhlasil, „ja som hospodár, ktorý seje dobré semeno.38Pole predstavuje tento svet, dobré semeno sú deti nebeského kráľovstva, a kúkoľ sú ľudia, ktorí podľahli zlu.39Nepriateľ, ktorý kúkoľ rozosial, je diabol. Žatva predstavuje koniec sveta a ženci sú anjeli.40Tak ako v tomto príbehu je kúkoľ oddelený a spálený, tak bude i na konci sveta.41Pošlem svojich anjelov a tí vyženú z nebeského kráľovstva všetkých, ktorí sa proti nemu stavali, i všetkých, ktorí páchali zlo.42Ich koniec bude hrozný. Spáli ich oheň, budú plakať a škrípať zubami.43A vtedy tí, čo plnili Božiu vôľu, sa zaskvejú v kráľovstve nebeského Otca ako slnko. Zapamätajte si to a premýšľajte o tom!“
O poklade a vzácnej perle
44„Nebeské kráľovstvo je ako skrytý poklad, ktorý nejaký človek objaví na poli a znova ho zakope. Od radosti predá všetko, čo má, a kúpi to pole.45Alebo je podobné kupcovi s perlami, ktorý hľadá vzácne perly.46Keď objaví mimoriadne krásnu perlu, predá všetko, čo má, len aby ju získal.47Nebeské kráľovstvo môžeme ďalej prirovnať k sieti, ktorá sa spustí do mora. Zachytí sa v nej všetko možné.48Keď je sieť plná, vytiahnu ju rybári na breh, jedlé ryby vyberú do košov, zlé vyhodia.49Tak to bude na konci sveta. Prídu Boží anjeli, oddelia zlých od spravodlivých50a hodia ich do ohnivej pece. Tam bude plač a škrípanie zubami.51Porozumeli ste všetkému?“ – „Áno,“ odpovedali.52Potom doložil: „Každý učiteľ Zákona, ktorý sa stal učeníkom nebeského kráľovstva, je ako hospodár, ktorý ponúka zo svojej komory nové aj staré veci.“
Je to iba syn tesárov?
53Keď Ježiš dorozprával tieto podobenstvá, vrátil sa do Nazareta,54do svojho domovského mesta. Učil v tamojšej synagóge. Všetci sa čudovali: „Kde sa v ňom berie taká múdrosť a moc?55Veď je to tesárov syn, matka je predsa Mária a Jakub, Jozef, Šimon a Júda sú jeho bratia!56Aj jeho sestry žijú medzi nami. Odkiaľ to ten človek má?“57A pohoršovali sa nad ním. Ježiš im povedal: „Proroka si vážia všade omnoho väčšmi ako v jeho rodnom meste a v jeho domove!“58Pre ich nevieru tam nemohol vykonať mnoho zázrakov.
1That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. (Mk 4,1; Lk 8,4)2And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat down. And the whole crowd stood on the beach. (Mk 3,9; Lk 5,1)3And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. (Iz 55,10; Am 9,13; Mt 13,34)4And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them.5Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil,6but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. (Jn 15,6; Jak 1,11)7Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. (Jer 4,3)8Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. (Gn 26,12; Mt 13,23)9He who has ears,[1] let him hear.” (Mt 11,15)
The Purpose of the Parables
10Then the disciples came and said to him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?”11And he answered them, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. (Mt 11,25; Mt 19,11; Rim 16,25; 1 Kor 2,6; Kol 1,27; 1 Jn 2,20; 1 Jn 2,27)12For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. (Mt 25,29; Mk 4,25; Lk 8,18; Lk 19,26; Jn 15,2; Jak 4,6; Zjv 2,5)13This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. (Dt 29,4; Iz 42,19; Jer 5,21; Ez 12,2; Mt 13,19; Mt 13,51; Mt 15,10; Mt 16,12; Mk 8,21; Rim 11,8; 2 Kor 3,14; 2 Kor 4,4)14Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says: “‘“You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive.” (Iz 6,9; Jn 12,40; Sk 28,26)15For this people’s heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.’ (Lk 22,32; Jn 9,39; Jn 9,41; Rim 10,10; Hebr 5,11)16But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. (Mt 16,17; Lk 10,23)17For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it. (Mt 13,16; Jn 8,56; Hebr 11,13; 1 Pt 1,10)
The Parable of the Sower Explained
18“Hear then the parable of the sower: (Mk 4,13; Lk 8,11)19When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path. (Mt 4,23; Mt 8,12; Mt 13,13; Mt 13,38; Jn 17,15; Ef 6,16; 2 Sol 3,3; 1 Jn 2,13; 1 Jn 3,12; 1 Jn 5,18)20As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, (Iz 58,2; Ez 33,31; Mk 6,20; Jn 5,35)21yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away.[2] (Oz 6,4; Mt 11,6; Gal 1,6; Gal 5,7)22As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. (Mt 6,25; Mt 19,23; Mk 10,23; Sk 5,1; 1 Tim 6,9; 1 Tim 6,17; 2 Tim 4,10; Hebr 3,13)23As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.” (Oz 14,8; Mt 13,8; Mt 13,19; Jn 15,5; Jn 15,16; Flp 1,11; Kol 1,6)
The Parable of the Weeds
24He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, (Mt 13,37; Mk 4,26)25but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds[3] among the wheat and went away.26So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also.27And the servants[4] of the master of the house came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?’28He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ So the servants said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’29But he said, ‘No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. (1 Kor 4,5)30Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, “Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.”’” (Mt 3,12)
The Mustard Seed and the Leaven
31He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. (Mt 17,20; Mk 4,30; Lk 13,18; Lk 17,6)32It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.”33He told them another parable. “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened.” (Gn 18,6; Lk 13,20; 1 Kor 5,6; Gal 5,9)
36Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples came to him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.” (Mt 13,1; Mt 13,24; Mt 15,15)37He answered, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man.38The field is the world, and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, (Mt 13,19; Mt 13,43; Mt 23,15; Jn 8,44; Sk 13,10; 1 Jn 3,10)39and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. (Dan 12,13; Joel 3,13; Mt 13,49; Mt 24,3; Mt 28,20; Hebr 9,26; Zjv 14,15)40Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. (Mt 3,12; Mt 13,39; Jn 15,6)41The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, (Sof 1,3; Mt 7,23; Mt 18,7; Mt 24,31)42and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Mt 8,12; Mt 13,50; Zjv 9,2; Zjv 19,20; Zjv 20,10)43Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear. (Prís 4,18; Dan 12,3; Mt 11,15; Mt 13,38; Mt 25,34; Mt 26,29; Lk 12,32; 1 Kor 15,41)
The Parable of the Hidden Treasure
44“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. (Prís 2,4; Prís 23,23; Iz 55,1; Mt 25,9; Flp 3,7; Zjv 3,18)
The Parable of the Pearl of Great Value
45“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls,46who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it. (Mt 7,6; Mt 13,44)
The Parable of the Net
47“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind. (Mt 4,19; Mt 13,38; Mt 22,10; Mt 25,2)48When it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into containers but threw away the bad. (Jn 21,11)49So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous (Mt 13,39; Mt 13,41; Mt 25,32)50and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Mt 13,42)
New and Old Treasures
51“Have you understood all these things?” They said to him, “Yes.” (Mt 13,10; Jn 10,6; Jn 16,29)52And he said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house, who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.” (Mt 12,35; Mt 23,34; Mt 28,19)
Jesus Rejected at Nazareth
53And when Jesus had finished these parables, he went away from there,54and coming to his hometown he taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished, and said, “Where did this man get this wisdom and these mighty works? (Mt 2,23; Mt 4,23; Mt 7,28; Mk 6,1; Lk 4,16; Lk 4,23)55Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? (Mt 12,46; Mk 6,3; Lk 4,22; Jn 6,42)56And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?”57And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own household.” (Jer 11,21; Jer 12,6; Mt 11,6; Lk 4,24; Jn 4,44; Jn 7,5)58And he did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief. (Mt 17,20)