Matthew 13:1-17

The Parable of the Sower

1That same day Jesus went out of the house aand sat beside the sea. 2And great crowds gathered about him, bso that he got into a boat and sat down. And the whole crowd stood on the beach. 3And che told them many things in parables, saying: d“A sower went out to sow. 4And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. 5Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, 6but ewhen the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, fthey withered away. 7Other seeds fell among gthorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. 8Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some ha hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9 iHe who has ears,
Some manuscripts add here and in verse 43 to hear
let him hear.”


The Purpose of the Parables

10Then the disciples came and said to him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” 11And he answered them, kTo you it has been given to know lthe secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 12 mFor to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, neven what he has will be taken away. 13This is why I speak to them in parables, because oseeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, pnor do they understand. 14Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says:

q“‘“You will indeed hear but never understand,
and you will indeed see but never perceive.”
15For this people’s heart has grown dull,
and with their ears rthey can barely hear,
and stheir eyes they have closed,
lest they should see with their eyes
and hear with their ears
and tunderstand with their heart
and uturn, and I would heal them.’
16But vblessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. 17 wFor truly, I say to you, xmany prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.

Matthew 13:34-35

Prophecy and Parables

34 yAll these things Jesus said to the crowds in parables; indeed, he said nothing to them without a parable. 35This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet:
Some manuscripts Isaiah the prophet


aa“I will open my mouth in parables;
abI will utter what has been hidden acsince the foundation of the world.”

Luke 8:10

10he said, ad“To you it has been given to know aethe secrets of the kingdom of God, but for others they are in parables, so afthatseeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.’

John 16:1

1“I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away.

John 16:13

13When agthe Spirit of truth comes, ahhe will aiguide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but ajwhatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.

John 16:25

I Have Overcome the World

25“I have said these things to you in figures of speech. akThe hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father.

John 16:29

29His disciples said, “Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not alusing figurative speech!

2 Corinthians 3:12

12Since we have such a hope, amwe are very bold,
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