The Purpose of Parables^(A)

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

¹¹ He 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. ¹³ Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. ¹⁴ And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says:

¹⁶ But ^(I)blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear; ¹⁷ for 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.

The Parable of the Sower Explained^(K)

^18 (L)“Therefore hear the parable of the sower: ¹⁹ When anyone hears the word ^(M)of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. ²⁰ But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately ^(N)receives it with joy; ²¹ yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when ^(O)tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately ^(P)he stumbles. ²² Now ^(Q)he who received seed ^(R)among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. ²³ But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears ^(S)fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”

The Purpose of Parables^(A)

^10 (B)But when He was alone, those around Him with the twelve asked Him about the parable. ¹¹ And He said to them, “To you it has been given to ^(C)know the ^[a]mystery of the kingdom of God; but to ^(D)those who are outside, all things come in parables, ¹² so that

The Parable of the Sower Explained^(F)

¹³ And He said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables? ^14 (G)The sower sows the word. ¹⁵ And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts. ¹⁶ These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness; ¹⁷ and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word’s sake, immediately they stumble. ¹⁸ Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, ¹⁹ and the ^(H)cares of this world, ^(I)the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. ²⁰ But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, ^[b]accept it, and bear ^(J)fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.”