But
whoever does not have understanding, what little he has shall be taken
away from him. Therefore, I speak to them in parables because, not
seeing and not hearing, they do not understand.
Also, in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: By hearing ye shall
hear and shall not understand. And by seeing ye shall see and shall not
perceive. For the people's hearts are hardened. Their ears are dull of
hearing. They have closed their eyes. They do not see or hear for fear
they will be converted and have to change their hearts.
But blessed are your eyes, for they see; and your ears, for they hear.
Many prophets and righteous men have desired to see the things you see
and they have not seen them. They have desired to hear the things you
hear, and have not heard them. So, again, listen to the parable of the
sower.
When any one hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it,
the wicked one snatches away all that was sown in his heart. This is
the one who received seed by the wayside. Now he who received the seed
in the stony places, received the word with joy. But he has no deep
root and endures only for a while. When tribulation or persecution
arises he is uprooted. Now the one who received seed among the thorns
hears the word but is too much ensnared by things of this world and the
deceitfulness of riches.
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