Why Jesus Used Parables

10 When He was alone with the Twelve,(A) those who were around Him asked Him about the parables.(B) 11 He answered them, “The secret(C) of the kingdom of God(D) has been given to you, but to those outside,(E) everything comes in parables 12 so that

they may look and look,
yet not perceive;
they may listen and listen,
yet not understand;(F)
otherwise, they might turn back—
and be forgiven.[a](G)[b]

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Footnotes

  1. Mark 4:12 Other mss read and their sins be forgiven them
  2. Mark 4:12 Is 6:9-10

10 · kai When hote he was ginomai alone kata monos, those ho around peri him autos with syn the ho twelve dōdeka asked erōtaō him autos about erōtaō the ho parables parabolē. 11 And kai he said legō to them autos, “ To you hymeis has been given didōmi the ho mystery mystērion of the ho kingdom basileia of ho God theos, but de to those ekeinos · ho outside exō, everything pas is ginomai in en parables parabolē, · ho 12 so hina that when they look blepō, they may see blepō yet kai not perceive, and kai when they listen akouō, they may hear akouō yet kai not understand syniēmi; otherwise mēpote they might turn epistrephō and kai be forgiven aphiēmi.’”

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