For this [reason] I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand,

and with reference to them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says, "{You will listen carefully} and will never understand, and {you will look closely} and will never perceive.

For the heart of this people has become dull, and with their ears they hear with difficulty, and they have shut their eyes, so that they would not see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them."

[When] anyone hears the word about the kingdom and does not understand [it], the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is what was sown on the side of the path.

And summoning the crowd, he said to them, "Hear and understand:

Do you not understand that everything that enters into the mouth goes into the stomach and is evacuated into the latrine?

Do you not yet understand or do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you took up?

How do you not understand that I did not speak to you about bread? But beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees!"

"So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken about by the prophet Daniel standing in the holy place" (let the one who reads understand),

But understand this: that if the master of the house had known what watch of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into.