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The Purpose of the Parables

10 When he was alone, those who were around him along with the twelve asked him about the parables. 11 And he said to them, “To you has been given the secret[a] of the kingdom of God, but for those outside everything comes in parables,(A) 12 in order that

‘they may indeed look but not perceive,
    and may indeed hear but not understand;
so that they may not turn again and be forgiven.’ ”(B)

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Footnotes

  1. 4.11 Or mystery

Why Jesus Used Parables

10 When he was alone, those around him with the Twelve(A) 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 indeed look,
and yet not perceive;
they may indeed listen,
and yet not understand;(F)
otherwise, they might turn back
and be forgiven.”[a][b] (G)

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Footnotes

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