The Purpose of Jesus’ Parables

The disciples ask why Jesus speaks to the people in parables.

T¹⁰hen the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Why do You speak to the people in parables?”

Jesus says the mysteries of the kingdom have been given to the disciples but not to others.

¹¹He replied, “The knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them.

Those who have will receive more, while loss falls on those who do not have.

¹²Whoever 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.

Jesus says that he speaks in parables for that reason.

¹³This is why I speak to them in parables:

He says Isaiah’s prophecy is fulfilled in them.

¹⁴In them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled:

He describes a people whose heart has grown dull.

¹⁵For this people’s heart has grown callous;

He calls the disciples blessed because they see and hear.

¹⁶But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear.

Jesus says many prophets and righteous men longed for what the disciples now see and hear.

¹⁷For 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.