10And the disciples, having come, said to him, "Why do you speak to them in parables?" [13:11] And answering he said to them: "Because to you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of the heavens, but to them it has not been granted. [13:12] For whoever has, it will be given to him and he will abound; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. [13:13] Because of this I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. [13:14] And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled, which says: 'In hearing you will hear and by no means understand, and looking you will look and by no means perceive. [13:15] For the heart of this people has grown thick, and with their ears they have heard heavily, and their eyes they have closed — lest they see with their eyes and with their ears hear and with their heart understand and turn, and I will heal them.' [13:16] But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. [13:17] For amen I say to you that many prophets and righteous ones longed to see what you see and did not see, and to hear what you hear and did not hear."
MAT 13:10-17
The Purpose of Jesusʼ Parables
In the world it was spoken into
In the 1st-century Jewish context, parables were a common teaching method used by rabbis to convey deeper truths in a way that engaged listeners while also concealing meaning from those unprepared to understand. Jesus’ use of parables aligns with this tradition but carries a distinct theological edge. The 'mysteries of the kingdom of the heavens' refer to truths about God’s reign that were hidden but now revealed to Jesus’ disciples. This revelation was not universally granted, reflecting a Jewish understanding of divine election and the hardening of hearts, as seen in Isaiah’s prophecy. The phrase 'their hearts have grown dull' evokes Isaiah 6:10, suggesting a deliberate resistance to God’s message. The 'blessed' status of the disciples contrasts with those who, though physically present, remain spiritually unresponsive. This framing underscores the tension between revelation and resistance in Jesus’ ministry.
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How other translations render this
MAT 13:10
- KJV
- And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
- BSB
- Then the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Why do You speak to the people in parables?”
- Koinōnos
- And the disciples, having come, said to him, "Why do you speak to them in parables?
MAT 13:11
- KJV
- He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
- BSB
- He replied, “The knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them.
- Koinōnos
- And answering he said to them: "Because to you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of the heavens, but to them it has not been granted.
MAT 13:12
- KJV
- For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.
- BSB
- Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.
- Koinōnos
- For whoever has, it will be given to him and he will abound; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.
MAT 13:13
- KJV
- Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
- BSB
- This is why I speak to them in parables: ‘Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.’
- Koinōnos
- Because of this I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.
MAT 13:14
- KJV
- And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:
- BSB
- In them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled: ‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.
- Koinōnos
- And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled, which says: 'In hearing you will hear and by no means understand, and looking you will look and by no means perceive.
MAT 13:15
- KJV
- For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
- BSB
- For this peopleʼs heart has grown callous; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them.’
- Koinōnos
- For the heart of this people has grown thick, and with their ears they have heard heavily, and their eyes they have closed — lest they see with their eyes and with their ears hear and with their heart understand and turn, and I will heal them.
MAT 13:16
- KJV
- But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.
- BSB
- But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear.
- Koinōnos
- But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear.
MAT 13:17
- KJV
- For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.
- BSB
- For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.
- Koinōnos
- For amen I say to you that many prophets and righteous ones longed to see what you see and did not see, and to hear what you hear and did not hear.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
MAT 13:10
- parables:The word translated 'parables' refers to a comparison or illustration, often a story, used to convey a deeper truth. It literally means to 'throw alongside' or 'juxtapose' two things for understanding.
MAT 13:11
- mysteries:The term 'mysteries' here does not imply something unknowable, but rather a secret that is revealed to those initiated or given understanding, much like ancient mystery cults had secret rites revealed to their members.
MAT 13:15
- Has grown dull:The phrase 'has grown dull' literally means to become thick or fat, implying a spiritual insensitivity or sluggishness that prevents understanding, much like a physical organ becoming unresponsive.
MAT 13:16
- blessed [are]:The word translated 'blessed' describes a state of deep, inner happiness and well-being that is independent of circumstances, often implying divine favor or approval.