Matthew 13:10–17

The Purpose of the Parables

¹⁰Then the disciples came and asked him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” ¹¹He answered, “To you it has been given to know the secrets^l of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.^{* 12}For to those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance, but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away.^{* 13}The reason I speak to them in parables is that ‘seeing they do not perceive, and hearing they do not listen, nor do they understand.’^{* 14}With them indeed is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah that says:

‘You will indeed listen but never understand,

and you will indeed look but never perceive.^*

¹⁵For this people’s heart has grown dull,

and their ears are hard of hearing,

and they have shut their eyes,

so that they might not look with their eyes,

and hear with their ears

and understand with their heart and turn—

and I would heal them.’^*

¹⁶“But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear.^{* 17}Truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.^*