Matthew 13:10-17

10Then the disciples came to him and said, “Why do you speak to them in parables?”

11He replied, “You have been given the opportunity to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but they have not.

12For whoever has will be given more, and will have an abundance. But whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.

13For 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.

14And concerning them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says: ‘You will listen carefully yet will never understand, you will look closely yet will never comprehend.

15For the heart of this people has become dull; they are hard of hearing, and they have shut their eyes, so that they would not see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’

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

17For I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.