The disciples approached him and said, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” 11 He said to them in reply, “Because knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven has been granted to you, but to them it has not been granted. 12 To anyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; from anyone who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 13 This is why I speak to them in parables, because ‘they look but do not see and hear but do not listen or understand.’ 14 Isaiah’s prophecy is fulfilled in them, which says: ‘You shall indeed hear but not understand, you shall indeed look but never see. 15 Gross is the heart of this people, they will hardly hear with their ears, they have closed their eyes, lest they see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and be converted, and I heal them.’ 16 “But blessed are your eyes, because they see, and your ears, because they hear. 17 Amen, I say to you, 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.
Jesus’ address to the crowd was interrupted by the disciples’ question, “Why do you speak to them in parables (v. 10)?” Why would Jesus not speak to the crowd so they could understand him instead of speaking in riddles? The evangelist Matthew does not indicate that the disciples were alone with Jesus when the question was asked (cf. Mk. 4:10). Jesus replied that the hidden plans of how God’s rule was becoming effective in the world and was being revealed to them but not to others. He spoke to the crowd in parables because they did not believe, but his true disciples were privileged and would understand. Verse 12 is not addressing worldly riches but one’s spiritual growth. Those who accept Jesus and his word in faith, will grow spiritually and God’s plan of salvation will be revealed to them. Those who are not committed to Jesus will not understand what they hear and can even lose the offer of salvation. Jesus saw the negative response to his teaching as a fulfillment of an OT prophesy (Is. 6:9-10). The disciples were privileged because they had been given knowledge of God’s plan of salvation which past kings, prophets and righteous people “longed to see” and hear (v. 17).
Almighty God, your offer of salvation is rejected by those who do not believe in your Son and follow your commandments. Even though our efforts to be holy sometimes fall short, look at the desire in our hearts and in your great mercy strengthen us on our journey of salvation. This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen!
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References
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Faculty of the University of Navarre. The Navarre Bible: New Testament Expanded Edition. Expanded Edition, Four Courts / Scepter, 2008.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
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