An Explanation for Parables

10 And the disciples came up and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” 11 And [a]Jesus answered them, (A)To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted. 12 (B)For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him. 13 Therefore I speak to them in parables; because while (C)seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. 14 And [b]in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled, which says,

[c](D)You shall keep on listening, [d]but shall not understand;
And [e]you shall keep on looking, [f]but shall not perceive;
15 (E)For the heart of this people has become dull,
With their ears they scarcely hear,
And they have closed their eyes,
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
Hear with their ears,
Understand with their heart, and return,
And I would heal them.’

16 (F)But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. 17 For truly I say to you that (G)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.

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 13:11 Lit He
  2. Matthew 13:14 Lit for them
  3. Matthew 13:14 Lit With a hearing you shall hear; a Heb idiom
  4. Matthew 13:14 Lit and
  5. Matthew 13:14 Lit Seeing you shall see
  6. Matthew 13:14 Lit and

Why Jesus Used Parables

10 Then the disciples(A) came up and asked Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?”(B)

11 He answered them, “Because the secrets of the kingdom of heaven have been given for you to know,(C) but it has not been given to them. 12 For whoever has, more will be given to him, and he will have more than enough. But whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.(D) 13 For this reason I speak to them in parables, because looking they do not see,(E) and hearing they do not listen or understand.(F) 14 Isaiah’s prophecy is fulfilled in them, which says:

You will listen and listen,
yet never understand;
and you will look and look,
yet never perceive.(G)
15 For this people’s heart has grown callous;
their ears are hard of hearing,
and they have shut their eyes;
otherwise they might see with their eyes
and hear with their ears,
understand with their hearts
and turn back—
and I would cure them.(H)[a]

16 “But your eyes are blessed(I) because they do see, and your ears because they do hear!(J) 17 For I assure you: Many prophets and righteous people longed to see the things you see yet didn’t see them; to hear the things you hear yet didn’t hear them.(K)

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