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

¹⁰ Jesus' disciples came and said to Him, "Why are you speaking to them [i.e., the large crowds] by using parables?"

¹¹ He replied, "You disciples are being given an understanding of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but the crowds of people are not. ¹² For to the person who [already] has something, [more] will be given, so he will have a larger amount [i.e., of understanding], but from the person who has [almost] nothing, even [the little] he has will be taken away from him. ¹³ Therefore, I am speaking to them with parables because [although] they can see, they [really] do not perceive, and [although] they can hear, they [really] do not comprehend, and so they [utterly] fail to understand [what I am trying to get across]. ¹⁴ So, the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled by them, which says, [Isa. 6:9f] 'You will hear all right, but you will not understand [what you hear]. You will see all right but you will not perceive [what you see]. ¹⁵ For these people's minds are dull, and their ears have difficulty hearing, and they have shut their eyes. For if this were not the case, they would perceive what they see with their eyes, and comprehend what they hear with their ears, and understand with their minds and would turn [back to God] again so I would heal them [from their sins].'

¹⁶ But your eyes are fortunate for they [really] see, and so are your ears, for they [really] hear. ¹⁷ For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people have desired to see the things you are seeing, but did not get to. They desired to hear the things you are hearing, but did not get to.

¹⁰ And when He was alone those people who gathered around Him, along with the twelve apostles, asked Him what the parables meant. ¹¹ He said to them, "You disciples are being given an understanding of the secret of the kingdom of God, but to outsiders everything will be told in parables. ¹² This is so that even though they see, they will see and yet not perceive. And even though they hear, they will hear and yet not understand. For if they did, they would turn [back to God] again and receive forgiveness."

⁹ Then Jesus' disciples asked Him what this parable meant. ¹⁰ And He said to them, "You [disciples] are being given an understanding of the secrets of the kingdom of God, but the rest of the people [are being told] in parables, so that [even though they appear to be] seeing, they will not [actually] see; and [even though they seem to] hear, they will not understand.