48. The Parable of the Sower (continued)
10Then the disciples came and asked him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?”11And he answered them, “To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 12And we will do this so that they may indeed see but not perceive, and may indeed hear but not understand.b 12For to him who has shall more be given, and he shall have an abundance; but from him who has not, even what he has shall be taken away.”c
14“With them indeed is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah which says: 15'For this people's heart has waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed lest they should perceive with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart.'”
26And he said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed upon the ground; 27and should sleep and rise night and day, and the seed should sprout and grow he knows not how. 28The earth produces of itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. 29And when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”
(Mt. 13:10, 11; Mk. 4:12; Mt. 13:12, 14, 15; Mk. 4:26–29)
b “they may indeed see but not perceive, and may indeed hear but not understand.”—The multitudes that now gather to hear Jesus' teachings are composed not only of genuine truth seekers, but also of others who lack spiritual discernment, as well as enemies who seek his destruction. By teaching in parables Jesus enables those who desire to know the truth to understand his meaning, while those who lack discernment or seek to use his teachings against him are only confounded. They “see but do not perceive” and “hear but do not understand.”
Jesus refers to these individuals who are not seeking truth by quoting the prophet Isaiah: “For this people's heart has waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed lest they should perceive with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart.”
c “For to him who has shall more be given, and he shall have an abundance; but from him who has not, even what he has shall be taken away.”—Those who love the truth and seek entrance into the kingdom will gain new truth from parables because they will be able to understand the parables' meaning, while those who do not follow in the way of truth are only more confused and confounded by parables—“even what (understanding) he has shall be taken away.”
Mt. 13:10 and asked him, / and said to him, (RSV)
Mt. 13:11 the mysteries of (KJV) / the secrets of (RSV) • of heaven, but (KJV) / of God, but (RSV)
Mk. 4:12 And we will do this so / so (RSV)
Mt. 13:12 has shall more (KJV) / has will more (RSV) • he shall have (KJV) / he will have (RSV) • has shall be (KJV) / has will be (RSV)
Mt. 13:14 says: / says: `You shall indeed hear but never understand and you shall indeed see but never perceive. (RSV)
Mt. 13:15 Isaiah 6:9–10 • has waxed gross, and (KJV) / has grown dull, and (RSV) • are dull of (KJV) / are heavy of (RSV) • heart.'” / heart, and turn for me to heal them.'” (RSV)
Mk. 4:29 And when / But when (RSV) (151:1,3/1689,93)
