Matthew 13:10-23

English Standard Version

The Purpose of the Parables

¹⁰Then the disciples came and said to him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” ¹¹And he answered them, ^(A)“To you it has been given to know ^(B)the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. ¹²^(C)For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, ^(D)even what he has will be taken away. ¹³This is why I speak to them in parables, because ^(E)seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, ^(F)nor do they understand. ¹⁴Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says:

^(G)“‘“You will indeed hear but never understand,
    and you will indeed see but never perceive.”
¹⁵For this people's heart has grown dull,
    and with their ears ^(H)they can barely hear,
    and ^(I)their eyes they have closed,
lest they should see with their eyes
    and hear with their ears
and ^(J)understand with their heart
    and ^(K)turn, and I would heal them.’

¹⁶But ^(L)blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. ¹⁷^(M)For truly, I say to you, ^(N)many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.

The Parable of the Sower Explained

¹⁸^(O)“Hear then the parable of the sower: ¹⁹When anyone hears the word of ^(P)the kingdom and ^(Q)does not understand it, ^(R)the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path. ²⁰As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately ^(S)receives it with joy, ²¹yet he has no root in himself, but ^(T)endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately ^(U)he falls away.^[a] ²²As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but ^(V)the cares of ^(W)the world and ^(X)the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. ²³As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and ^(Y)understands it. He indeed ^(Z)bears fruit and yields, in one case ^(AA)a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”