Jesus' Words  / The Reason for Speaking in Parables

The Reason for Speaking in Parables

Luke 8:9–10 · §123


9Then his disciples asked him, “What does this parable mean?”

10He said, “To you it is given to know the mysteries of God’s Kingdom, but to the rest it is given in parables, that ‘seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.’

Same passage in the King James Version

9And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be?

10And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.

Parallel passages

Gospel of Thomas

Thomas 62: Jesus said, "I tell my mysteries to those who are worthy of my mysteries. Don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing." (a parallel saying preserved outside the four Gospels)

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