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:

¹⁶ But ^(L)blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. ^17 (M)For truly, I say to you, ^(N)many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.

Prophecy and Parables

^34 (A)All these things Jesus said to the crowds in parables; indeed, he said nothing to them without a parable. ³⁵ This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet:^[a]

The Parable of the Weeds Explained

³⁶ Then he left the crowds and went into ^(E)the house. And his disciples came to him, saying, ^(F)“Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.”