it is not given
Matthew 13:11
13:11 it is not given. This answer to the disciples’ question about Christ’s use of parables may seem surprising. Many modern teachers say that He spoke in parables to help His listeners understand spiritual truth, but He said it was to keep them from understanding! These “mysteries of the kingdom” are couched in parables so that only those who have spiritual “ears” (Matthew 13:9) will comprehend. This exhortation (“he that hath ears to hear, let him hear”) occurs no less than sixteen times in the New Testament.