14 And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says:

(A)‘Hearing you will hear and shall not understand,
And seeing you will see and not (B)perceive;
15 For the hearts of this people have grown dull.
Their ears (C)are hard of hearing,
And their eyes they have (D)closed,
Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears,
Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn,
So that I [a]should (E)heal them.’

16 But (F)blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear; 17 for assuredly, I say to you (G)that many prophets and righteous men desired 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(H)

18 (I)“Therefore hear the parable of the sower: 19 When anyone hears the word (J)of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. 20 But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately (K)receives it with joy; 21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when (L)tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately (M)he stumbles. 22 Now (N)he who received seed (O)among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 13:15 NU, M would

14 Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says:

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

16 But (F)blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. 17 (G)For truly, I say to you, (H)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 (I)“Hear then the parable of the sower: 19 When anyone hears the word of (J)the kingdom and (K)does not understand it, (L)the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path. 20 As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately (M)receives it with joy, 21 yet he has no root in himself, but (N)endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately (O)he falls away.[a] 22 As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but (P)the cares of (Q)the world and (R)the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 13:21 Or stumbles