9. If you have ears, pay attention!
10. Jesus' disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you use nothing but stories when you speak to the people?”
11. Jesus answered:I have explained the secrets about the kingdom of heaven to you, but not to others.
12. Everyone who has something will be given more. But people who don't have anything will lose even what little they have.
13. I use stories when I speak to them because when they look, they cannot see, and when they listen, they cannot hear or understand.
14. So God's promise came true, just as the prophet Isaiah had said,“These people will listenand listen,but never understand.They will look and look,but never see.
15. All of them havestubborn minds!Their ears are stopped up,and their eyes are covered.They cannot see or hearor understand.If they could,they would turn to me,and I would heal them.”