Matthew 13:10-17 - The Reason For The Parables

¹⁰ And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?

¹¹ And he answered and said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. ¹² For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that which he hath. ¹³ Therefore speak I to them in parables; because seeing they see not, and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. ¹⁴ And unto them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall in no wise understand; And seeing ye shall see, and shall in no wise perceive: ¹⁵ For this people's heart is waxed gross, And their ears are dull of hearing, And their eyes they have closed; Lest haply they should perceive with their eyes, And hear with their ears, And understand with their heart, And should turn again, And I should heal them.

¹⁶ But blessed are your eyes, for they see; and your ears, for they hear. ¹⁷ For verily I say unto you, that many prophets and righteous men desired to see the things which ye see, and saw them not; and to hear the things which ye hear, and heard them not.

¹⁰ And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parables. ¹¹ And he said unto them, Unto you is given the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all things are done in parables: ¹² that seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest haply they should turn again, and it should be forgiven them.

⁹ And his disciples asked him what this parable might be. ¹⁰ And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to the rest in parables; that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.