Matthew 13:10-17

The disciples came to him. They asked, “Why do you use stories when you speak to the people?” He replied, “Because you have been given the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven. It has not been given to outsiders. Everyone who has this kind of knowledge will be given more knowledge. In fact, they will have very much. If anyone doesn’t have this kind of knowledge, even what little they have will be taken away from them. Here is why I use stories when I speak to the people. I say, “They look, but they don’t really see. They listen, but they don’t really hear or understand. In them the words of the prophet Isaiah come true. He said, “ ‘You will hear but never understand. You will see but never know what you are seeing. The hearts of these people have become stubborn. They can barely hear with their ears. They have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes. They might hear with their ears. They might understand with their hearts. They might turn to the Lord, and then he would heal them.’ But blessed are your eyes because they see. And blessed are your ears because they hear. What I’m about to tell you is true. Many prophets and godly people wanted to see what you see. But they didn’t see it. They wanted to hear what you hear. But they didn’t hear it.