Jesus told them another parable: "The Kingdom of heaven is like this. A man sowed good seed in his field.

While the people were listening to this, Jesus continued and told them a parable. He was now almost at Jerusalem, and they supposed that the Kingdom of God was just about to appear.

Then Jesus told the people this parable: "There was once a man who planted a vineyard, rented it out to tenants, and then left home for a long time.

"What shall we say the Kingdom of God is like?" asked Jesus. "What parable shall we use to explain it?

After a while it grows up and becomes the biggest of all plants. It puts out such large branches that the birds come and make their nests in its shade."

Jesus asked, "What is the Kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it with?

It is like this. A man takes a mustard seed and plants it in his field. The plant grows and becomes a tree, and the birds make their nests in its branches."