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

¹⁰ And the disciples came, and said to him, "Why speakest thou to them in parables?"

¹¹ He answered, and said unto them, "It is given unto you to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. ¹² For whosoever hath, to him shall be given: and he shall have abundance. But whosoever hath not: from him shall be taken away even that same that he hath. ¹³ Therefore speak I to them in similitudes: For though they see, they see not; and hearing, they hear not, neither understand. ¹⁴ And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, which prophecy saith, 'With the ears ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and with the eyes ye shall see, and shall not perceive." ¹⁵ For this people's hearts are waxed gross. And their ears were dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed, lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their hearts, and should turn, that I might heal them.

¹⁶ But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. ¹⁷ "Verily I say unto you, that many prophets and perfect men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

¹⁰ And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked him of the similitude. ¹¹ And he said unto them, "To you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: But unto them that are without, shall all things be done in similitudes: ¹² that when they see, they shall see, and not discern: and when they hear they shall hear, and not understand: lest at any time they should turn, and their sins should be forgiven them."

⁹ And his disciples asked him, saying, "What manner similitude is this?" ¹⁰ And he said, "Unto you is it given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God: but to others in similitudes, that when they see, they should not see, and when they hear they should not understand.