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

Matthew 13:10-17

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

11 He answered and said to 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, to him shall be given; and he shall have abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even what he hath. 13 Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they see not, and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. 14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah who saith, Hearing ye will hear, but in no wise understand, and seeing ye will see, but in no wise perceive. 15 For the heart of this people is waxed fat, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed: lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, 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 verily I say to you, That many prophets and righteous men have 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.

Mark 4:10-12

10 And when he was alone, they that were about him, with the twelve, asked him 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 them that are without, all things are in parables: 12 So that seeing they see, and do not perceive, and hearing they hear, and do not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.

Luke 8:9-10

9 And his disciples asked him, What is this parable? 10 And he said, To you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to others in parables, so that seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not understand.