Matthew 13:10-17
Christian Standard Bible
Why Jesus Used Parables
10 Then the disciples(A) came up and asked him, “Why are you speaking to them in parables?” (B)
11 He 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. 12 For 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) 13 That is why I speak to them in parables, because looking they do not see,(E) and hearing they do not listen or understand.(F) 14 Isaiah’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)
15 For 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) 17 For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see the things you see but didn’t see them, to hear the things you hear but didn’t hear them.(K)
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 13:14–15 Is 6:9–10
Matthew 13:10-17
International Standard Version
The Purpose of the Parables(A)
10 Then the disciples came and asked Jesus,[a] “Why do you speak to people[b] in parables?”
11 He answered them, “You have been given knowledge about the secrets of the kingdom from[c] heaven, but it hasn’t been given to them, 12 because to anyone who has something, more will be given, and he will have more than enough. But from the one who doesn’t have anything, even what he has will be taken away from him. 13 That’s why I speak to them in parables, because
‘they look but don’t see,
and they listen but don’t hear or understand.’
14 “With them the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled, which says:
‘You will listen and listen but never understand.
You will look and look but never comprehend,
15 for this people’s heart has become dull,
and their ears are hard of hearing.[d]
They have shut their eyes
so that they might not see with their eyes,
and hear with their ears,
and understand with their heart and turn,
and I would heal them.’[e]
16 “How blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear! 17 I tell all of you[f] with certainty, many prophets and righteous people longed to see the things you see but did not see them, and to hear the things you hear but did not hear them.”
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Matthew 13:10 Lit. him
- Matthew 13:10 Lit. to them
- Matthew 13:11 Lit. of
- Matthew 13:15 Lit. they hear with ears of heaviness
- Matthew 13:15 Cf. Isa 6:9-10
- Matthew 13:17 The Gk. pronoun you is pl.
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