Matthew 13:13

Amplified Bible

"This is the reason I speak to the crowds in parables: because while [having the power of] seeing they do not see, and while [having the power of] hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand and grasp [spiritual things].

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
That is why I speak to them in parables, because looking they do not see,

King James Version (1611)
Therefore speake I to then in parables: because they seeing, see not: and hearing, they heare not, neither doe they vnderstand.

King James Version
Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.

English Standard Version
This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.

New American Standard Bible
"Therefore I speak to them in parables; because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.

New Century Version
This is why I use stories to teach the people: They see, but they don't really see. They hear, but they don't really hear or understand.

Geneva Bible (1587)
Therefore speake I to them in parables, because they seeing, doe not see: and hearing, they heare not, neither vnderstand.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
"Therefore I speak to them in parables; because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.

Legacy Standard Bible
Therefore I speak to them in parables; because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.

Berean Standard Bible
This is why I speak to them in parables: 'Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.'

Contemporary English Version
I use stories when I speak to them because when they look, they cannot see, and when they listen, they cannot hear or understand.

Complete Jewish Bible
Here is why I speak to them in parables: they look without seeing and listen without hearing or understanding.

Darby Translation
For this cause I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear nor understand;

Easy-to-Read Version
This is why I use these stories to teach the people: They see, but they don't really see. They hear, but they don't really hear or understand.

George Lamsa Translation
This is the reason I speak to them in figures, because they see and yet cannot perceive; and they hear and yet do not listen, nor do they understand.

Good News Translation
The reason I use parables in talking to them is that they look, but do not see, and they listen, but do not hear or understand.

Lexham English Bible
For this reason I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand,

Literal Translation
Because of this, I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.

American Standard Version
Therefore speak I to them in parables; because seeing they see not, and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.

Bible in Basic English
For this reason I put things into the form of stories; because they see without seeing, and give ear without hearing, and the sense is not clear to them.

Hebrew Names Version
Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they don't see, and hearing, they don't hear, neither do they understand.

International Standard Version
That's why I speak to them in parables, because 'they look but don't see, and they listen but don't hear or understand.'

Etheridge Translation
On this account I speak to them in parables. Hence they see, and (yet) see not; and they hear, and (yet) hear not, neither understand;

Murdock Translation
For this cause I discourse to them in similitudes, because they see and do not see, and they hear and do not hear, nor understand.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Therfore speake I to them in parables: because they seeyng, see not: and hearyng, they heare not: neither do they vnderstande.

English Revised Version
Therefore speak I to them in parables; because seeing they see not, and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.

World English Bible
Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they don't see, and hearing, they don't hear, neither do they understand.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they see not, and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.

Weymouth's New Testament
I speak to them in figurative language for this reason, that while looking they do not see, and while hearing they neither hear nor understand.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Therfor Y speke to hem in parablis, for thei seynge seen not, and thei herynge heren not, nether vndurstonden;

Update Bible Version
Therefore I speak to them in parables; because seeing they don't see, and hearing they don't hear, neither do they understand.

Webster's Bible Translation
Therefore I speak to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.

New English Translation
For this reason I speak to them in parables: Although they see they do not see, and although they hear they do not hear nor do they understand.

New King James Version
Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.

New Living Translation
That is why I use these parables, For they look, but they don't really see. They hear, but they don't really listen or understand.

New Life Bible
"This is why I speak to them in picture-stories. They have eyes but they do not see. They have ears but they do not hear and they do not understand.

New Revised Standard
The reason I speak to them in parables is that ‘seeing they do not perceive, and hearing they do not listen, nor do they understand.'

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
For this reason, in parables, unto them, do I speak, - because, seeing, they see not, and, hearing, they hear not, - neither do they understand.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Therefore do I speak to them in parables: because seeing they see not, and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.

Revised Standard Version
This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Therfore speake I to them in similitudes: for though they se they se not: and hearinge they heare not: nether vnderstonde.

Young's Literal Translation
`Because of this, in similes do I speak to them, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor understand,

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Therfore speake I vnto the by parables, for with seynge eyes they se not, & with hearinge eares they heare not, for they vnderstonde it not.

Mace New Testament (1729)
therefore speak I to them in parables: because they over-look what they see: and are inattentive to what they hear, neither will they comprehend.

Simplified Cowboy Version
I tell these cowboy stories because they see what I do, but they don't really see anything at all. They're lookin', but they don't see. They hear the stories, but they're not even listening. They understand, but they don't savvy.

Contextual Overview

¹That same day Jesus went out of the house and was sitting beside the sea [of Galilee]. ²But such large crowds gathered around Him that He got into a boat and sat there [positioning Himself as a teacher], while the whole crowd stood on the shore. ³He told them many things in parables, saying, "Listen carefully: a sower went out to sow [seed in his field]; ⁴and as he sowed, some seed fell beside the road [between the fields], and the birds came and ate it. ⁵"Other seed fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil; and at once they sprang up because they had no depth of soil. ⁶"But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. ⁷"Other seed fell among thorns, and thorns came up and choked them out. ⁸"Other seed fell on good soil and yielded grain, some a hundred times as much [as was sown], some sixty [times as much], and some thirty. ⁹"He who has ears [to hear], let him hear and heed My words." ¹⁰Then the disciples came to Him and asked, "Why do You speak to the crowds in parables?"

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Matthew 13:16, Deuteronomy 29:3, Deuteronomy 29:4, Isaiah 42:18-20, Isaiah 44:18, Jeremiah 5:21, Ezekiel 12:2, Mark 8:17, Mark 8:18, John 3:19, John 3:20, John 9:39-41, 2 Corinthians 4:3, 2 Corinthians 4:4

Reciprocal: Judges 14:12 - a riddle 1 Kings 22:23 - the Lord Psalms 78:2 - I will Psalms 119:18 - Open Proverbs 20:12 - General Isaiah 1:3 - but Israel Isaiah 48:8 - thou heardest Ezekiel 17:2 - General Ezekiel 20:49 - Doth Daniel 2:22 - revealeth Matthew 13:34 - General Matthew 24:39 - General Mark 4:11 - all these John 10:6 - they understood not John 12:40 - hath Romans 3:11 - none that understandeth 2 Corinthians 3:14 - their

Cross-References

Genesis 6:11
The [population of the] earth was corrupt [absolutely depraved—spiritually and morally putrid] in God's sight, and the land was filled with violence [desecration, infringement, outrage, assault, and lust for power].

Genesis 10:9
He was a mighty hunter before the LORD; therefore it is said, "Like Nimrod a mighty hunter before the LORD."

Genesis 13:4
where he had first built an altar; and there Abram called on the name of the LORD [in prayer].

Genesis 13:6
Now the land was not able to support them [that is, sustain all their grazing and water needs] while they lived near one another, for their possessions were too great for them to stay together.

Genesis 13:8
So Abram said to Lot, "Please let there be no strife and disagreement between you and me, nor between your herdsmen and my herdsmen, because we are relatives.

Genesis 13:9
"Is not the entire land before you? Please separate [yourself] from me. If you take the left, then I will go to the right; or if you choose the right, then I will go to the left."

Genesis 13:11
Then Lot chose for himself all the valley of the Jordan, and he traveled east. So they separated from each other.

Genesis 15:16
"Then in the fourth generation your descendants shall return here [to Canaan, the land of promise], for the wickedness and guilt of the Amorites is not yet complete (finished)."

Genesis 18:20
And the LORD said, "The outcry [of the sin] of Sodom and Gomorrah is indeed great, and their sin is exceedingly grave.

Genesis 38:7
But Er, Judah's firstborn, was evil in the sight of the LORD, and the LORD killed him [in judgment].

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Therefore speak I to them in parables,.... Because it was the will and pleasure of his Father to give the knowledge of divine mysteries to some, and not to others; and because even the outward good things they had, being wrongly used or abused by them, would be taken away from them:

and because they seeing, see not: they saw Christ with their bodily eyes, but not with an eye of faith; they saw the miracles he did, but did not discern, at least did not acknowledge the evidence of them, proving him to be the true Messiah.

And hearing, they hear not, neither do they understand: they heard externally, but not internally; they heard the sound of Christ's voice, but did not understand his words, even when he spake in the plainest and most intelligible manner; nor were they concerned to know the meaning of them: wherefore he spoke to them in this abstruse and parabolical way, that they might be what they really were, seers and not seers, hearers and not hearers, at least not understanding ones; and that what he said might remain sealed and hidden to them, as the things contained in the sealed book were to the Jews of old; the reason of which was, as a writer of their's k says, and which agrees with our Lord's reason and conduct here,

שהיו במשל וחידה, "because they were in parable and riddle".

k Abarbinel in Isa. 29. 11.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Christ, in these verses, gives a “reason” why he used this manner of instruction. See also Mark 4:10-12; Luke 8:9-10.

Matthew 13:11

The mysteries of the kingdom - The word “mystery,” in the Bible, properly means a thing that is “concealed,” or that “has been concealed.” It does not mean that the thing was “incomprehensible,” or even difficult to be understood.

The thing might be “plain” enough if revealed, but it means simply that it “had” not been before made known. Thus the “mysteries of the kingdom” do not mean any doctrines incomprehensible in themselves considered, but simply doctrines about the preaching of the gospel and the establishment of the new kingdom of the Messiah, which “had not” been understood, and which were as yet concealed from the great body of the Jews. See Romans 16:25; Romans 11:25; Ephesians 3:3-4, Ephesians 3:9. Of this nature was the truth that the gospel was to be preached to the Gentiles; that the Jewish polity was to cease; that the Messiah was to die, etc. To the disciples it was given to know these truths. This was important for them, as they were to carry the gospel around the globe. To the others it was not “then” given. They were too gross, too earthly; they had too, grovelling conceptions of the Messiah’s kingdom to understand these truths, even if communicated to them. They were not to preach the gospel, and hence our Saviour was at particular pains to instruct his apostles in the system which they were to preach. The Pharisees, and Jews generally, were not prepared to receive the system, and would not have believed it, and therefore he purposely employed a kind of teaching which was intended for his apostles only.

Matthew 13:12

Whosoever hath ... - This is a proverbial method of speaking.

It means that a man who improves what light, grace, and opportunities he has, shall have them increased. From him that improves them not, it is proper that they should be taken away. The Jews had many opportunities of learning the truth, and some light still lingered among them; but they were gross and sensual, and misimproved them, and it was a just judgment that they should be deprived of them. Superior knowledge was given to the disciples of Christ: they improved it, however slowly, and the promise was that it should be greatly increased.

Matthew 13:13

Because they seeing, see not - Mark Mark 4:12 and Luke Luke 8:10 say, “That seeing, they may not see etc.;” but there is no difference.

Matthew simply states the “fact,” that though they saw the “natural” meaning of the story - though they literally understood the parable - yet they did not understand its “spiritual” signification. Mark and Luke do not state the “fact,” but affirm that he spoke with this “intention” - implying that such “was” the result. Nor was there any dishonesty in this, or any unfair disguise. He had truths to state which he wished his “disciples particularly” to understand. They were of great importance to their ministry. Had he clearly and fully stated them to the Jews, they would have taken his life long before they did. He therefore chose to state the doctrines so that if their hearts had been right, and if they had not been malignant and blind, “they might have understood them.” His doctrines he stated in the best possible way, and it was not his fault if they did not understand him. By little and little, in this way, he prepared many even of the Jews to receive the truth; by the only possible way of ever gaining access to their minds. It was, moreover, entirely proper and right to impart instruction to his disciples which he did not “intend” for others.

Matthew 13:14

And in them is fulfilled ... - This place is quoted substantially from Isaiah 6:9-10. It was literally fulfilled in the time of Isaiah. In the time of Christ the people had the same character. Like them, they closed their eyes upon the truth, and rejected the divine teaching. The words of Isaiah were therefore “as well fitted” to express the character of the people in the time of Christ as in that of the prophet. In this sense they were “fulfilled,” or “filled up;” that is, “a case occurred that corresponded to their meaning.” See the notes at Matthew 1:22. It is not by any means intended that Isaiah, when he spoke these words, had any reference to the time of Christ. The meaning in both places is, that the people were so gross, sensual, and prejudiced, that they “would” not see the truth, or understand anything that was contrary to their grovelling opinions and sensual desires; a case by no means uncommon in the world. See the passage more fully explained in my notes at Isaiah 6:0.

Waxed gross - Literally, “has become fat.” This language is commonly applied to “the body,” but is also used to denote one who is stupid and foolish in mind. Here it means that the people were so sensual and corrupt that they did not see or understand the pure spiritual principles of the gospel.

Lest they should see ... - Lest they should see their lost condition as sinners, and turn and live. The reason given here why they did not hear and understand the gospel is, that their “heart” was “wrong.” They “would” not attend to the things that belonged to their peace.

I should heal them - Should pardon, sanctify, and save them. Sin is often represented as a disease, and the pardon and recovery of the soul from sin as “healing.”

Matthew 13:16

Blessed are your eyes ... - That is, you are happy that you are permitted to see truth which they will not see.

You are permitted to understand the spiritual meaning of the parables, and in some degree the plan of salvation.

Matthew 13:17

Many prophets and righteous men ... - They wished to see the times of the Messiah.

They looked to it as a time when the hopes of the world would be fulfilled, and when the righteous would be happy, John 8:56. “Abraham rejoiced to see my day, and he saw it and was glad.” Compare also 1 Peter 1:10-12; Hebrews 11:13. So Isaiah and the prophets looked forward to the coming of the Messiah as the consummation of their wishes and the end of the prophecies, Revelation 19:10. The object always dearest to the hearts of all righteous people is to witness the coming and advancement of the kingdom of Christ. Compare Revelation 22:20.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Matthew 13:13. Therefore speak I to them in parables — On this account, viz. to lead them into a proper knowledge of God. I speak to them in parables, natural representations of spiritual truths, that they may be allured to inquire, and to find out the spirit, which is hidden under the letter; because, seeing the miracles which I have wrought, they see not, i.e. the end for which I have wrought them; and hearing my doctrines, they hear not, so as to profit by what is spoken; neither do they understand, ουδεσυνιουσι, they do not lay their hearts to it. Is not this obviously our Lord's meaning? Who can suppose that he would employ his time in speaking enigmatically to them, on purpose that they might not understand what was spoken? Could the God of truth and sincerity act thus? If he had designed to act otherwise, he might have saved his time and labour, and not spoken at all, which would have answered the same end, viz. to leave them in gross ignorance.