So the slaves ¹  of the owner came and said to him, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Then where did the weeds come from?’

“A sower went out to sow ¹  his seed. ²  And as he sowed, some fell along the path and was trampled on, and the wild birds ³  devoured it.

Then ¹  he began to tell the people this parable: “A man ²  planted a vineyard, ³  leased it to tenant farmers, ⁴  and went on a journey for a long time.

Then ¹  he began to speak to them in parables: “A man planted a vineyard. ²  He put a fence around it, dug a pit for its winepress, and built a watchtower. Then ³  he leased it to tenant farmers ⁴  and went on a journey.

Ezri son of Kelub was in charge of the field workers who farmed the land. ¹ 

The plowers plowed my back; they made their furrows long.

His God instructs him; he teaches him the principles of agriculture. ¹ 

“I am the true vine ¹  and my Father is the gardener. ² 

¹ The rain and snow fall from the sky and do not return, but instead water the earth and make it produce and yield crops, and provide seed for the planter and food for those who must eat.

Yes, ¹  the Lord has this to say to the people of Judah and Jerusalem: “Like a farmer breaking up hard unplowed ground, you must break your rebellious will and make a new beginning; just as a farmer must clear away thorns lest the seed is wasted, you must get rid of the sin that is ruining your lives. ² 

They ¹  utter empty words, ²  taking ³  false oaths and making empty ⁴  agreements. Therefore legal disputes sprout up like poisonous weeds ⁵  in the furrows of a plowed field.

He presented them with another parable: ¹  “The kingdom of heaven is like a person who sowed good seed in his field.

He goes to sleep and gets up, night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how.

Now God ¹  who provides seed for the sower and bread for food will provide and multiply your supply of seed and will cause the harvest of your righteousness to grow.

As when one plows and breaks up the soil, ¹  so our bones are scattered at the mouth of Sheol.

The sluggard will not plow ¹  during the planting season, ²  so at harvest time he looks ³  for the crop ⁴  but has nothing.

At that time ¹  a man will keep alive a young cow from the herd and a couple of goats.

This also comes from the Lord who commands armies, who gives supernatural guidance and imparts great wisdom. ¹ 

¹ “Foreigners will take care of ²  your sheep; foreigners will work in your fields and vineyards.

Philip and Bartholomew; ¹  Thomas ²  and Matthew the tax collector; ³  James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; ⁴