Matthew 13:10-17

New King James Version

The Purpose of Parables^(A)

¹⁰And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?”

¹¹He answered and said to them, “Because ^(B)it has been given to you to know the ^[a]mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. ¹²^(C)For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. ¹³Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. ¹⁴And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says:

^(D)‘Hearing you will hear and shall not understand,
And seeing you will see and not ^(E)perceive;
¹⁵For the hearts of this people have grown dull.
Their ears ^(F)are hard of hearing,
And their eyes they have ^(G)closed,
Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears,
Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn,
So that I ^[b]should ^(H)heal them.’

¹⁶But ^(I)blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear; ¹⁷for assuredly, I say to you ^(J)that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.