6
but
1when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root,
2they withered away.
7
Other seeds fell among
3thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them.
8
Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some
4a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
9
5He who has ears, let him hear. ”
The Purpose of the Parables
10 Then the disciples came and said to him, “Why do you speak to them in parables? ”
11
And he answered them,
6“To you it has been given to know
7the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.
12
8For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not,
9even what he has will be taken away.
13
This is why I speak to them in parables, because
10seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear,
11nor do they understand.
14
Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says:
12“‘“You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive. ”
15
For this people’s heart has grown dull, and with their ears
13they can barely hear, and
14their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and
15understand with their heart and
16turn, and I would heal them. ’
16
But
17blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear.