38. The field is the world. And the good seeds are the followers of the kingdom. But the weeds are the followers of the evil one.
39. The enemy who planted them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the present age. The harvesters are the angels.
40. Just as people gather weeds and burn them in the fire, so it will be at the end of the present age.
41. The Human One will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all things that cause people to fall away and all people who sin.
42. He will throw them into a burning furnace. People there will be weeping and grinding their teeth.
43. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in their Father’s kingdom. Those who have ears should hear."
44. “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure that somebody hid in a field, which someone else found and covered up. Full of joy, the finder sold everything and bought that field.
45. “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls.
46. When he found one very precious pearl, he went and sold all that he owned and bought it.
47. “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that people threw into the lake and gathered all kinds of fish.
48. When it was full, they pulled it to the shore, where they sat down and put the good fish together into containers. But the bad fish they threw away.
49. That’s the way it will be at the end of the present age. The angels will go out and separate the evil people from the righteous people,
50. and will throw the evil ones into a burning furnace. People there will be weeping and grinding their teeth.
51. "Have you understood all these things?" Jesus asked. They said to him, "Yes."