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13 The reason I use stories to talk to other people is this:

These people look. But they do not really see clearly.
They hear the words. But they do not really understand.[a]

14 Long ago, the prophet Isaiah spoke a message from God about those people.[b] Now it has become true. God said:

“You will listen and listen. But you will not understand.
You will look and look. But you will not see anything.

15 These people do not really want to understand.

They are like people who have shut their ears.
They are like people who have shut their eyes.
If they did want to look, then they would really see.
If they did want to listen, then they would really hear.
They would understand my message.
They would turn back to obey me.
Then I would forgive them and I would make them well.” ’

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Footnotes

  1. 13:13 Jesus is telling his disciples about how to listen to him. They must listen well to what he says. Then they will understand him. They must believe in the message from God. Then they will understand more and more. Some people think that they know all about God. These people do not listen well to him. So they do not understand what he says. God will take away from them what they think that they know.
  2. 13:14 See Isaiah 6:9.

13 This is why I speak to them in parables:

“Though seeing, they do not see;
    though hearing, they do not hear or understand.(A)

14 In them is fulfilled(B) the prophecy of Isaiah:

“‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding;
    you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.
15 For this people’s heart has become calloused;
    they hardly hear with their ears,
    and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
    hear with their ears,
    understand with their hearts
and turn, and I would heal them.’[a](C)

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 13:15 Isaiah 6:9,10 (see Septuagint)