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

¹⁰ And when his disciples came, they said to him, Why speakest thou to them in parables?

¹¹ And he answered and said unto them, Because to you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. ¹² For whosoever hath, more shall be given to him, and he shall have abundance: but whosoever hath not, even that he hath shall be taken from him. ¹³ Therefore I speak to them in parables: that seeing, they may not see; and hearing, they may not hear nor understand. ¹⁴ And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, which saith, With the hearing ye shall hear, and not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and in no wise perceive: ¹⁵ for the heart of this people is waxed gross, and with their ears they have heard heavily, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with the eves, and hear with the ears, and understand with the heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.

¹⁶ But blessed are your eyes; for ye see: and your ears; for ye hear. ¹⁷ For verily I tell you, That many prophets and righteous men have greatly desired to see the things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear the things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

¹⁰ But when they were alone, those who were about him with the twelve, asked him the meaning of the parable. ¹¹ And he said to them, To you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are without, all things are in parables: ¹² That seeing they may see, yet not perceive; and hearing may hear, yet not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins be forgiven them.

⁹ Then his disciples asked him, saying. What might this parable mean? ¹⁰ And he said, To you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God; but to the rest in parables: that seeing they may not perceive, and hearing may not comprehend.