36. Then He dismissed the crowds and went into the house. His disciples approached Him and said, “Explain the parable of the weeds in the field to us.”
37. He replied: “The One who sows the good seed is the Son of Man;
38. the field is the world; and the good seed — these are the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one,
39. and the enemy who sowed them is the Devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.
40. Therefore, just as the weeds are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age.
41. The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather from His kingdom everything that causes sin and those guilty of lawlessness.
42. They will throw them into the blazing furnace where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
43. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in their Father’s kingdom. Anyone who has ears should listen!
44. “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure, buried in a field, that a man found and reburied. Then in his joy he goes and sells everything he has and buys that field.
45. “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls.
46. When he found one priceless pearl, he went and sold everything he had, and bought it.
47. “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a large net thrown into the sea. It collected every kind of fish,
48. and when it was full, they dragged it ashore, sat down, and gathered the good fish into containers, but threw out the worthless ones.
49. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will go out, separate the evil people from the righteous,
50. and throw them into the blazing furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
51. “Have you understood all these things? ” “Yes,” they told Him.