6
But when the sun came up, they were scorched. They withered because their roots weren't deep enough.
7
Other seeds were planted among thornbushes, and the thornbushes grew up and choked them.
8
But other seeds were planted on good ground and produced grain. They produced one hundred, sixty, or thirty times as much as was planted.
9
Let the person who has ears listen!"
10
The disciples asked him, "Why do you use stories as illustrations when you speak to people?"
11
Jesus answered, "Knowledge about the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you. But it has not been given to the crowd.
12
Those who understand [these mysteries] will be given [more knowledge], and they will excel [in understanding them]. However, some people don't understand [these mysteries]. Even what they understand will be taken away from them.
13
This is why I speak to them this way. They see, but they're blind. They hear, but they don't listen. They don't even try to understand.
14
So they make Isaiah's prophecy come true: 'You will hear clearly but never understand. You will see clearly but never comprehend.
15
These people have become close-minded and hard of hearing. They have shut their eyes so that their eyes never see. Their ears never hear. Their minds never understand. And they never return to me for healing!'
16
"Blessed are your eyes because they see and your ears because they hear.