The Purpose of Parables

10 Then the disciples came and said to him, “Why do yoʋ speak to the people in parables?” 11 Jesus answered [fn]them, “To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 12 For whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. But whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. 13 That is why I speak to them in parables, [fn]because ‘they see but do not perceive, and they hear but do not listen or understand.’ 14 In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, which says,

‘Yoʋ will hear but never understand,

and you will see but never perceive.

15 For the heart of this people has become dull;

with their ears they have barely heard,

and their eyes they have closed,

lest they should see with their eyes,

hear with their ears,

and understand with their heart and turn back,

and I would heal them.’

16 But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. 17 For truly I say to you, many prophets and righteous people desired to see the things you see but did not see them, and to hear the things you hear but did not hear them.