Matthew 13:10-16

Christian Standard Bible

Why Jesus Used Parables

¹⁰Then the disciples^(A) came up and asked him, “Why are you speaking to them in parables?” ^(B)

¹¹He answered, “Because the secrets of the kingdom of heaven have been given for you to know,^(C) but it has not been given to them. ¹²For whoever has, more will be given to him, and he will have more than enough; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.^(D) ¹³That is why I speak to them in parables, because looking they do not see,^(E) and hearing they do not listen or understand.^(F) ¹⁴Isaiah’s prophecy is fulfilled in them, which says:

You will listen and listen,
but never understand;
you will look and look,
but never perceive.^(G)
¹⁵For this people’s heart has grown callous;
their ears are hard of hearing,
and they have shut their eyes;
otherwise they might see with their eyes,
and hear with their ears, and
understand with their hearts,
and turn back—
and I would heal them.^[a]^(H)

¹⁶“Blessed are your eyes^(I) because they do see, and your ears because they do hear.^(J)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

13:14–15 Is 6:9–10

Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.