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

¹⁰ And the disciples having come near, said to him, Why speakest thou to them in parables?

¹¹ And having answered, he said to them, For to you it was given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of the heavens, but to them it was not given. ¹² For whoever has shall be given to him, and he shall have in excess; and whoever has not, also what he has shall be taken away from him. ¹³ For this I speak to them in parables: for seeing they see not, and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. ¹⁴ And the prophecy of Esaias is filled up in them, saying, In hearing shall ye hear, and not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive. ¹⁵ For the heart of this people has been thickened, and with their ears have they heard heavily, and their eyes have they closed; lest perhaps they should see with the eyes, and hear with the ears, and understand with the heart, and turn back, and I should heal them.

¹⁶ But happy your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. ¹⁷ For verily I say to you, that many prophets and just desired eagerly to see what ye see, and saw not; and to hear what ye hear, and heard not.

¹⁰ And when he was alone, they about him with the twelve asked him of the parable. ¹¹ And he said to them, To you has it been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but to those without, all are in parables: ¹² That seeing they might see, and not know; and hearing they might hear, and not understand; lest they turn back, and their sins be remitted to them.

⁹ And his disciples asked him, saying, What may this parable be? ¹⁰ And he said, To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: and to the rest in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.