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

¹⁰ And the disciples came and said to him, Why do you say things to them in the form of stories?

¹¹ And he said to them in answer, To you is given the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. ¹² Because whoever has, to him will be given, and he will have more; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away. ¹³ For this reason I put things into the form of stories; because they see without seeing, and give ear without hearing, and the sense is not clear to them. ¹⁴ And for them the words of Isaiah have come true, Though you give ear, you will not get knowledge; and seeing, you will see, but the sense will not be clear to you: ¹⁵ For the heart of this people has become fat and their ears are slow in hearing and their eyes are shut; for fear that they might see with their eyes and give hearing with their ears and become wise in their hearts and be turned again to me, so that I might make them well.

¹⁶ But a blessing be on your eyes, because they see; and on your ears, because they are open. ¹⁷ For truly, I say to you that prophets and upright men had a desire to see the things which you see, and saw them not; and to have knowledge of the words which have come to your ears, and they had it not.

¹⁰ And when he was by himself, those who were round him with the twelve put questions to him about the purpose of the stories. ¹¹ And he said to them, To you is given the secret of the kingdom of God, but to those who are outside, all things are given in the form of stories; ¹² So that seeing they may see, and it will not be clear to them; and hearing it, they will not get the sense; for fear that they may be turned again to me and have forgiveness.

⁹ And his disciples put questions to him about the point of the story. ¹⁰ And he said, To you is given knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God; but to the others, they are given in stories, so that seeing, they may not see, and though they give hearing, the sense will not be clear to them.