An Explanation for Parables

10 And the disciples came up and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” 11 And [a]Jesus answered them, (A)To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted. 12 (B)For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him. 13 Therefore I speak to them in parables; because while (C)seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. 14 And [b]in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled, which says,

[c](D)You shall keep on listening, [d]but shall not understand;
And [e]you shall keep on looking, [f]but shall not perceive;
15 (E)For the heart of this people has become dull,
With their ears they scarcely hear,
And they have closed their eyes,
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
Hear with their ears,
Understand with their heart, and return,
And I would heal them.’

16 (F)But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. 17 For truly I say to you that (G)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.

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 13:11 Lit He
  2. Matthew 13:14 Lit for them
  3. Matthew 13:14 Lit With a hearing you shall hear; a Heb idiom
  4. Matthew 13:14 Lit and
  5. Matthew 13:14 Lit Seeing you shall see
  6. Matthew 13:14 Lit and

10 And kai the ho disciples mathētēs came proserchomai to him autos and said legō, “ Why dia tis do you speak laleō to them autos in en parables parabolē?” 11 He ho · de answered apokrinomai them autos, saying legō, “ Because hoti to you hymeis it has been given didōmi to know ginōskō the ho mysteries mystērion of the ho kingdom basileia of ho heaven ouranos, but de to them ekeinos it has not ou been given didōmi. 12 For gar to autos the one autos who hostis has echō, more will be given didōmi, and kai he will have an abundance perisseuō; but de from apo the one autos who hostis does not ou have echō, even kai what hos he has echō will be taken airō away . 13 This is why dia I speak laleō to them autos in en parables parabolē, because hoti seeing blepō they do not ou see blepō and kai hearing akouō they do not ou hear akouō nor oude do they understand syniēmi. 14 And kai in them autos the ho prophecy prophēteia of Isaiah ēsaias is being fulfilled anaplēroō that ho says legō: ‘ You will surely akoē hear akouō but kai never ou mē understand syniēmi, and kai you will surely blepō see blepō but kai never ou mē perceive. 15 For gar the ho heart kardia of ho this houtos people laos has become dull pachunō, and kai with their ho ears ous they scarcely bareōs hear akouō, and kai · ho their autos eyes ophthalmos they have closed kammyō, lest mēpote they should see with their ho eyes ophthalmos and kai hear akouō with their ho ears ous and kai understand syniēmi with their ho hearts kardia and kai turn epistrephō, and kai I would heal iaomai them autos.’ 16 But de blessed makarios are your hymeis · ho eyes ophthalmos, because hoti they see blepō, and kai · ho your hymeis ears ous, because hoti they hear akouō. 17 I tell legō you hymeis the truth amēn, many polys prophets prophētēs and kai righteous dikaios people longed epithumeō to see the hos things you are seeing blepō but kai did not ou see them, and kai to hear akouō the hos things you are hearing akouō but kai did not ou hear akouō them.

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