10 When he was alone, the Twelve and the others around him asked him about the parables. 11 He told them, “The secret of the kingdom of God(A) has been given to you. But to those on the outside(B) everything is said in parables 12 so that,

“‘they may be ever seeing but never perceiving,
    and ever hearing but never understanding;
otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!’[a](C)

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Footnotes

  1. Mark 4:12 Isaiah 6:9,10

The Purpose of Parables(A)

10 (B)But when He was alone, those around Him with the twelve asked Him about the parable. 11 And He said to them, “To you it has been given to (C)know the [a]mystery of the kingdom of God; but to (D)those who are outside, all things come in parables, 12 so that

(E)‘Seeing they may see and not perceive,
And hearing they may hear and not understand;
Lest they should turn,
And their sins be forgiven them.’

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Footnotes

  1. Mark 4:11 secret or hidden truths

The Purpose of the Parables

10 And (A)when he was alone, those around him with the twelve asked him about the parables. 11 And he said to them, (B)“To you has been given (C)the secret of the kingdom of God, but for (D)those outside everything is in parables, 12 (E)so that

“‘they (F)may indeed see but not perceive,
    and may indeed hear but not understand,
lest they (G)should turn and be forgiven.’”

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