As the disciples did not understand the meaning of this parable, Jesus gave them this explanation: The seed is the Word of God; when any one hears the Word and does not understand it, then comes the evil one and snatches away that which is sowed in his heart. This is the seed sown by the wayside.—That which fell upon rocky places is he that hears the Word, and straightway with joy receives it; and when tribulation and persecution arise because of the Word, he straightway stumbles.—That which is sown among thorns is he that hears the Word, and the care of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches choke the Word, and it becomes unfruitful.—But that sown in the good ground is he that hears the Word and keeps it in his heart, and it bears fruit. (Matt. 13:1-23.)
[64. The Tares Among the Wheat]
The Kingdom of Heaven is likened unto a man that sowed good seed in his field. But in the night an enemy came, and sowed tares among the wheat. When the seed sprang up, the tares appeared also. And the servants went to the householder and said: Sir, didst thou not sow good seed in thy field? Whence has it then tares? He answered: An enemy has done this. The servants said: Wilt thou, then, that we go and gather them up? He answered: Nay, lest haply ye root up the wheat with them. Let both grow together until harvest; then I will say to the reapers: Gather up first the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them; but gather the wheat into my barn.
Jesus has explained also this parable: He that soweth the good seed is the Son of Man, and the field is the world; the good seed is the children of the kingdom, and the tares are the children of the evil one; and the enemy that sowed the tares is the devil. The harvest is the end of the world, and the servants are the angels. As the tares are gathered up and burned with fire, so shall it be in the end of the world. Then shall the Son of Man send forth His angels, and they shall gather the ungodly, and shall cast them into the furnace of fire, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. But the righteous shall shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. (Matt. 13:24-43.)
[65. The Good Samaritan]
A lawyer came to Jesus and said: Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? Jesus said: What is written in the law? He answered; Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself. Jesus said: Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live. But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus: Who is my neighbor? Jesus answered: A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who both stripped him and beat him, and departed, leaving him half dead. And by chance a certain priest was going down that way, and he saw him, but passed by on the other side. A Levite did the same thing. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was; and when he saw him, he was moved with compassion. And he went to him, bound up his wounds, pouring on them oil and wine. And he set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn and took care of him. And on the morrow when he left, he took out two pieces of money, gave them to the host and said: Take care of him, and whatsoever thou spendest more I will repay thee when I come back again.—Which of these three, thinkest thou, proved neighbor to him that fell among the robbers? And he said: He that showed mercy on him. Jesus said: Go, and do thou likewise. (Luke 10:25-37.)
[66. The Rich Man]
The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully. And he reasoned within himself: What shall I do, because I have not room to bestow my fruit? And he said: This will I do: I will pull down my barns and build them greater, and there will I bestow all my grain and goods. And I will say to my soul: Soul, take thine ease, eat, drink, be merry! But God said unto him: Thou fool, this night is thy soul required of thee, and whose shall those things be which thou hast prepared? (Luke 12:16-20.)
[67. The Fig Tree]
A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came seeking fruit thereon, and found none. Then he said to the vinedresser: Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none. Cut it down! Why shall it take the strength from the ground to no use? But the vinedresser answered: Lord, let it alone this year also, till I dig about it and dung it; perhaps it may then bear fruit; if not, thou shalt cut it down. (Luke 13:6-9.)