Matthew 13:9-17 KJV

9 Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. (NLT: 9 Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”)

10 His disciples came and asked him, “Why do you use parables when you talk to the people?”

11 He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others are not.

• Kingdom of God = Kingdom of Heaven = Jesus taught that the kingdom of Heaven (God) is invisible and spiritual. The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed.
  

Luke 17:20-21 (KJV) 20And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: 21Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

Colossians 1:26-27 (KJV) 26Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: 27To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

12To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them. (Jesus quotes Isaiah 6:9-10)

13 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.

14 This fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah that says,

‘When you hear what I say,

you will not understand.

When you see what I do,

you will not comprehend.

15 For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes— so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them.’

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

17 I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, but they didn’t see it. And they longed to hear what you hear, but they didn’t hear it.

• The Rosetta stone of ALL parables!!
  

Mark 4:13 (NLT) 13 Then Jesus said to them, “If you can’t understand the meaning of this parable, how will you understand all the other parables?

• The parable of the Sower is the key that unlocks ALL of the other parables.
  

Walking Points:

Q. “Why do you use parables when you talk to the people?” Matt. 13:10

1. “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.” Matt. 13:13
   

In other words…….Jesus said He used parables for two reasons:

1. to reveal the truth to those who are receptive to His teaching and
   
2. to conceal the truth from those who are hardened in unbelief (Matthew 13:10).
   

Prayerfully, all of us are in the first group! If you’re not, please get in it today. “Hear ye Him…”

Monday Morning Moment:

Matt. 13:9 9 Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. (NLT: 9 Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”)