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

¹⁰ And the disciples came and said to him: "Why dost thou speak to them in parables?

¹¹ He answered, and said to them: Because it is given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven; but to them it is not given. ¹² For whoever has, to him shall be given, and he shall have abundance; but whoever has not, even that which he has shall be taken from him. ¹³ For this reason I speak to them in parables; because when they see, they see not; and when they hear, they hear not, nor do they understand. ¹⁴ And in them is fulfilled the prophesy of Isaiah, which says: You shall surely hear, and you will not understand; and you shall surely see, and you will not perceive. ¹⁵ For the heart of this people has become fat; and with their ears they hear heavily; and their eyes they have closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should turn to me, and I should give them health.

¹⁶ But blessed are your eyes, for they see; and your ears, for they hear. ¹⁷ For verily I say to you, Many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see; and to hear what you hear, and did not hear.

¹⁰ And when he was alone, those who were about him, with the twelve, asked him the meaning 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 those who are without, all things are done in parables; ¹² that they may surely see, and not perceive; and that they may surely hear, and not understand; lest they should turn to me, and their sins should be forgiven them.

⁹ And the disciples asked him, saying: What does this parable mean? ¹⁰ He replied: To you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that when they see, they may not see, and when they hear, they may not understand.