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

¹⁰ And the disciples said to Him, Why do You speak to them in parables?

¹¹ He answered and said to them, Because it is given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of Heaven, but it is not given to them. ¹² For whoever has, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance. But whoever does not have, from him shall be taken away even that which he has. ¹³ Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they see not, and hearing they hear not; nor do they understand. ¹⁴ And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah which said, "By hearing you shall hear and shall not understand; and seeing you shall see and shall not perceive; ¹⁵ for this people's heart has become gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and they have closed their eyes, lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them."

¹⁶ But blessed are your eyes, for they see; and your ears, for they hear. ¹⁷ For truly I say to you that many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which you see, and have not seen them; and to hear what you hear, and have not heard them.

¹⁰ And when He was alone, they who were about Him, with the Twelve, asked Him concerning 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 outside, all these things are given in parables ¹² so that seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.

⁹ And His disciples asked Him, saying, What might this parable be? ¹⁰ And He said, To you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God. But to others I speak in parables, so that seeing they might not see and hearing they might not understand.