Mfano Wa Mbegu

13 Siku hiyo hiyo Yesu alitoka nyumbani akaketi kando ya bahari. Umati mkubwa mno wa watu wakasongamana hata ikabidi aingie katika mashua akaketi humo; na wale watu wakakaa ukingoni mwa bahari. Kisha akawaambia mambo mengi kwa mifano, akasema: “Mpanzi alikwenda kupanda mbegu. Alipokuwa akitawanya mbegu, baadhi zikaanguka njiani, ndege wakaja wakazila. Nyingine zikaanguka kwenye mawe, ambapo hapakuwa na udongo wa kutosha. Zikakua haraka kwa sababu udongo ulikuwa kidogo. Lakini jua kali lilipowaka, mimea hiyo ilinyauka na kukauka kwa sababu mizizi yake haikwenda chini. Mbegu nyingine zilianguka kwenye miiba. Miiba hiyo ikakua ikazisonga. Mbegu nyingine zilianguka kwenye udongo mzuri zikatoa mazao, nyingine mara mia moja zaidi ya mbegu zilizopandwa, nyingine mara sitini na nyingine mara the lathini. Mwenye nia ya kusikia na asikie.”

Sababu Ya Kufundisha Kwa Mifano

10 Wanafunzi wake wakamwendea wakamwuliza, “Kwa nini unazungumza na watu kwa mifano?” 11 Akawajibu, “Ninyi mmejal iwa kuzifahamu siri za Ufalme wa mbinguni, lakini wao hawakujal iwa. 12 Kwa maana mtu aliye na kitu ataongezewa mpaka awe navyo tele; lakini mtu asiye na kitu, hata kile alichonacho atany ang’anywa. 13 Hii ndio sababu nazungumza nao kwa mifano; wanata zama lakini hawaoni, wanasikiliza lakini hawasikii, wala hawae lewi. 14 Hali yao inatimiza ule utabiri wa nabii Isaya ali posema:’Hakika mtasikiliza lakini hamtaelewa, na pia mtatazama lakini hamtaona. 15 Kwa maana mioyo ya watu hawa imekuwa mizito, hawasikii kwa masikio yao, na wamefumba macho yao. Wasije wakaona kwa macho yao, na kusikia kwa masikio yao, na kuelewa kwa mioyo yao, wakanigeukia, nami nikawaponya.’ 16 Lakini macho yenu yame barikiwa, kwa maana yanaona, na masikio yenu yamebarikiwa kwa maana yanasikia. 17 Nawaambieni kweli, manabii wengi na wenye haki walitamani kuona mnayoyaona, na hawakuyaona; na kusikia mnayosikia lakini hawakuyasikia.”

Maelezo Ya Mfano Wa Mbegu

18 “Sikilizeni basi maana ya ule mfano wa mpanzi aliyepanda mbegu. 19 Mtu anaposikia neno la Ufalme na asilielewe, yule mwovu huja na kunyakua kile kilichopandwa moyoni mwake; hii ndio mbegu iliyopandwa njiani. 20 Mbegu iliyopandwa kwenye mawe ni mtu yule ambaye hulisikia neno na kulipokea mara moja kwa furaha. 21 Lakini kwa kuwa hana mizizi ndani yake, neno hilo hukaa kwa muda mfupi; na inapotokea dhiki au mateso kwa ajili ya hilo neno, yeye mara moja huanguka. 22 Mbegu iliyopandwa katika miiba ni yule mtu alisikiaye neno na mahangaiko ya maisha haya na anasa za mali hulisonga lile neno na kulifanya lisizae matunda. 23 Lakini mbegu iliyopandwa kwenye udongo mzuri ni yule mtu ambaye hulisikia neno na kulielewa. Naye hakika huzaa matunda, mara mia, au mara sitini, au mara thelathini zaidi ya mbegu iliyo pandwa.”

Mfano Wa Magugu

24 Yesu akawaambia mfano mwingine, akasema, “Ufalme wa mbi nguni unaweza kufananishwa na mtu aliyepanda mbegu nzuri katika shamba lake. 25 Lakini watu walipokuwa wamelala, adui yake aka ja akapanda magugu katikati ya ngano, akaenda zake. 26 Ngano ilipoota na kuzaa, magugu nayo yakachipua.

27 “Watumishi wa yule mwenye shamba wakamwendea, wakamwul iza, ‘Bwana, si ulipanda mbegu nzuri shambani mwako? Imekuwaje kuna magugu?’ 28 Akawajibu, ‘Adui ndiye amefanya jambo hili’. Wale watumishi wakamwuliza, ‘Sasa unataka tukayang’oe?’ 29 Lakini akasema, ‘Hapana msiyang’oe, kwa maana huenda katika kung’oa magugu mkang’oa na ngano pia. 30 Acheni ngano na magugu yakue pamoja mpaka wakati wa mavuno. Wakati huo nitawaambia wavu naji wayang’oe magugu kwanza wayafunge katika mafurushi tayari kwa kuchomwa moto, lakini wavune ngano na kuikusanya ghalani mwangu.’ ”

Mfano Wa Haradali

31 Akawaambia mfano mwingine, akasema, “Ufalme wa mbinguni unafanana na punje ndogo ya haradali ambayo mtu aliichukua akaipa nda shambani mwake. 32 Ijapokuwa mbegu hiyo ni ndogo kuliko mbegu zote, lakini inapokua, mmea wake huwa mkubwa kuliko mimea yote bustanini; nao huwa mti mkubwa ambao ndege wa angani huja na kujenga viota katika matawi yake.”

Mfano Wa Chachu

33 Akawaambia mfano mwingine: “Ufalme wa mbinguni unafanana na chachu ambayo mwanamke aliichukua akaichanganya katika vipimo vitatu vya unga mpaka wote ukaumuka.”

Sababu Ya Yesu Kutumia Mifano

34 Haya yote Yesu aliwaeleza umati wa watu kwa kutumia mifano. Na hakika hakuwaambia lo lote pasipo kutumia mfano. 35 Hii ilikuwa kutimiza utabiri wa nabii, kwamba, ‘Nitazungumza nao kwa mifano; nitatamka mambo yaliyofichika tangu kuumbwa kwa ulimwengu.’

Ufafanuzi Wa Mfano Wa Magugu

36 Kisha Yesu akaagana na huo umati wa watu, akaingia nyum bani. Wanafunzi wake wakamjia wakamwambia, “Tueleze maana ya ule mfano wa magugu shambani.”

37 Akawaambia, “Aliyepanda mbegu nzuri ni mimi Mwana wa Adamu. 38 Shamba ni ulimwengu, na mbegu nzuri ni wana wa ufalme. Magugu ni wana wa yule mwovu. 39 Yule adui aliyepanda magugu ni shetani. Mavuno ni mwisho wa ulimwengu; na wavunaji ni malaika. 40 Kama vile magugu yanavyong’olewa na kuchomwa motoni, ndivyo itakavyokuwa wakati wa mwisho wa ulimwengu. 41 Mwana wa Adamu atawatuma malaika wake wang’oe kutoka katika Ufalme wake kila kitu kinachosababisha dhambi na watenda maovu wote. 42 Nao wata watupa katika tanuru la moto ambako kutakuwa na kilio na kusaga meno. 43 Ndipo wenye haki watang’aa kama jua katika Ufalme wa Baba yao. Mwenye nia ya kusikia, na asikie.”

Mfano Wa Hazina Iliyofichwa

44 “Ufalme wa mbinguni unafanana na hazina iliyofichwa shambani ambayo mtu mmoja aliigundua akaificha tena. Kisha katika furaha yake, akaenda akauza vyote alivyokuwa navyo, akanu nua lile shamba.” 45 Tena, Ufalme wa mbinguni unafanana na mfanya biashara aliyekuwa akitafuta lulu safi, 46 ambaye alipo pata lulu moja ya thamani kubwa, alikwenda akauza vyote alivyo kuwa navyo akainunua.”

Mfano Wa Wavu

47 “Na tena Ufalme wa mbinguni ni kama wavu wa kuvulia samaki ambao ulitandazwa baharini ukakamata samaki wa kila aina. 48 Ulipojaa, wavuvi waliuvuta ukingoni, wakachagua samaki wazuri wakawaweka kwenye vyombo safi, lakini wale samaki wabaya wakawat upa.

49 “Hivi ndivyo itakavyokuwa wakati wa mwisho wa dunia. Malaika watakuja na kuwatenganisha watu waovu na watu wenye haki. 50 Na watawatupa hao waovu katika tanuru ya moto ambako kutakuwa na kilio na kusaga meno. 51 Je, mmeyaelewa haya yote?” Wakam jibu, “Ndio.” 52 Akawaambia, “Basi kila mwalimu wa sheria aliye mwanafunzi wa Ufalme wa mbinguni ni kama mwenye nyumba anayetoa kutoka katika ghala yake mali mpya na mali ya zamani.”

Yesu Akataliwa Nazareti

53 Yesu alipomaliza kutoa mifano hii, aliondoka. 54 Alipo fika mji wa kwao, aliwafundisha watu katika sinagogi lao. Nao wakastaajabu, wakauliza, “Mtu huyu amepata wapi hekima hii na uwezo huu wa kufanya miujiza? 55 Huyu si yule mwana wa seremala? Mama yake si anaitwa Mariamu, na ndugu zake ni Yakobo, Yusufu, Simoni na Yuda? 56 Na dada zake si wako hapa nasi? Amepata wapi basi mambo haya yote?” 57 Wakakataa kumpokea. Lakini Yesu aka waambia, “Nabii hakosi heshima isipokuwa katika nchi yake na nyumbani kwake.”

58 Na hakufanya miujiza mingi huko kwa sababu ya kutokuamini kwao.

The Parable of the Sower(A)(B)(C)

13 That same day Jesus went out of the house(D) and sat by the lake. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat(E) and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred,(F) sixty or thirty times what was sown. Whoever has ears, let them hear.”(G)

10 The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?”

11 He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven(H) has been given to you,(I) but not to them. 12 Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.(J) 13 This is why I speak to them in parables:

“Though seeing, they do not see;
    though hearing, they do not hear or understand.(K)

14 In them is fulfilled(L) the prophecy of Isaiah:

“‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding;
    you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.
15 For this people’s heart has become calloused;
    they hardly hear with their ears,
    and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
    hear with their ears,
    understand with their hearts
and turn, and I would heal them.’[a](M)

16 But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear.(N) 17 For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see(O) but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.

18 “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom(P) and does not understand it, the evil one(Q) comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 20 The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.(R) 22 The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth(S) choke the word, making it unfruitful. 23 But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”(T)

The Parable of the Weeds

24 Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like(U) a man who sowed good seed in his field. 25 But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. 26 When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.

27 “The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’

28 “‘An enemy did this,’ he replied.

“The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’

29 “‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’”(V)

The Parables of the Mustard Seed and the Yeast(W)(X)

31 He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like(Y) a mustard seed,(Z) which a man took and planted in his field. 32 Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.”(AA)

33 He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like(AB) yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds[b] of flour(AC) until it worked all through the dough.”(AD)

34 Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable.(AE) 35 So was fulfilled(AF) what was spoken through the prophet:

“I will open my mouth in parables,
    I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world.”[c](AG)

The Parable of the Weeds Explained

36 Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, “Explain to us the parable(AH) of the weeds in the field.”

37 He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man.(AI) 38 The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one,(AJ) 39 and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest(AK) is the end of the age,(AL) and the harvesters are angels.(AM)

40 “As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man(AN) will send out his angels,(AO) and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. 42 They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.(AP) 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun(AQ) in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear.(AR)

The Parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl

44 “The kingdom of heaven is like(AS) treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.(AT)

45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like(AU) a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46 When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.

The Parable of the Net

47 “Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like(AV) a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds(AW) of fish. 48 When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. 49 This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous(AX) 50 and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.(AY)

51 “Have you understood all these things?” Jesus asked.

“Yes,” they replied.

52 He said to them, “Therefore every teacher of the law who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.”

A Prophet Without Honor(AZ)

53 When Jesus had finished these parables,(BA) he moved on from there. 54 Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue,(BB) and they were amazed.(BC) “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?” they asked. 55 “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son?(BD) Isn’t his mother’s(BE) name Mary, and aren’t his brothers(BF) James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? 56 Aren’t all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” 57 And they took offense(BG) at him.

But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town and in his own home.”(BH)

58 And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 13:15 Isaiah 6:9,10 (see Septuagint)
  2. Matthew 13:33 Or about 27 kilograms
  3. Matthew 13:35 Psalm 78:2