[98]all the seeds that be in the earth: but when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.
Another parable spake he unto them,
The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.
And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it. But without a parable spake he not unto them: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world. And when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.
CHAPTER XX.
PARABLES AND INTERPRETATIONS.
THEN Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be? And he said unto them,
Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables; that seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.