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

¹⁰ The disciples asked him: Why do you speak in illustrations?

¹¹ He responded: You are allowed to know the divine secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but it is not for others to know. (The Greek word for you is plural and is applied to the disciples as a group.) ¹² He who has shall receive more to the point of abundance. He who does not have, it shall be taken away including that which he has. ¹³ I speak to them in illustrations (stories) (parables) (allegories), because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear. They just do not understand. ¹⁴ The prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled. 'By hearing, you shall hear, and shall in no way understand. By seeing you shall see, and shall in no way perceive. ¹⁵ The heart of this people is callous and dull. Their ears are plugged. They cannot hear. They closed their eyes and cannot see. They cannot see nor hear nor understand with their heart. They should turn around and I would heal them.'

¹⁶ Happy and blessed are your eyes, for they see; and your ears, for they hear. ¹⁷ Truly, I tell you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see the things that you see, and could not see them. They also desired to hear the things that you hear, and could not hear them.

¹⁰ When he was alone his followers including the twelve asked about the illustrations. ¹¹ He told them: The secret of the kingdom of God is given to you. Illustrations are spoken to outsiders. ¹² So that seeing they may see and not perceive. And hearing they may hear and not understand. Otherwise they might repent and be forgiven.

⁹ His disciples asked him what this illustration means. ¹⁰ He said: You are meant to know the secrets of the kingdom of God. I speak to the rest in illustrations, that seeing they may not see and hearing they may not understand.