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The Weeds Among The Good Fruit

43. But he put before them another parable and said, "The spiritual kingdom is like a man who planted good seeds in his field.

44. "But while he slept, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the good seeds and went away.

45. "As the plantings grew and bore fruit, the weeds also appeared.

46. "Then the servants came to the sower and said, 'Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where have the weeds come from?'

47. "He spoke to them, 'An enemy has done this.' Then the servants said, 'Do you want us to go out and pull up the weeds?'

48. "He replied, 'No, lest you uproot the good fruit when you pull up the weeds.

49. "'Let both grow together until the harvest, and near harvest time I will tell the reapers: First gather the weeds and bind them in bundles, that they may be burned and the ashes strewn over the field so that the soil will be nourished; but gather the good fruit and stack it for me in my barn.

50. "For behold:' said Jmmanuel, "both grow side by side, the weeds and the good fruit.

51. "The weeds hinder the good fruit from growing, yet later the weeds will become compost and nourish the ground.

52. "Were it not for the weeds being made into nourishment for the soil, the good fruit could not grow, since it needs nourishment."