³⁷ Though he had done so many signs before them, they still did not believe in him, ^38 (A)so that the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:

³⁹ Therefore they ^(C)could not believe. For again Isaiah said,

⁴¹ Isaiah said these things because ^(F)he saw his glory and ^(G)spoke of him.

The Purpose of the Parables

¹⁰ Then the disciples came and said to him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” ¹¹ And 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. ¹³ This 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. ¹⁴ Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says:

The Purpose of the Parables

⁹ And when his disciples asked him what this parable meant, ¹⁰ he said, ^(A)“To you it has been given to know ^(B)the secrets of the kingdom of God, but for others they are in parables, so ^(C)that ‘seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.’ ^11 (D)Now the parable is this: The seed is ^(E)the word of God. ¹² The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not ^(F)believe and be saved. ¹³ And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it ^(G)with joy. But these have no root; they ^(H)believe for a while, and in time of testing ^(I)fall away. ¹⁴ And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but ^(J)as they go on their way they are choked by the ^(K)cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. ¹⁵ As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and ^(L)bear fruit ^(M)with patience.

^19 (A)They went out from us, but they were not of us; for ^(B)if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, ^(C)that it might become plain that they all are not of us.