8. But other seeds were planted on good ground, sprouted, and produced thirty, sixty, or one hundred times as much as was planted.”
9. He added, “Let the person who has ears listen!”
10. When he was alone with his followers and the twelve apostles, they asked him about the stories.
11. Jesus replied to them, “The mystery about the kingdom of God has been given ⌊directly⌋ to you. To those on the outside, it is given in stories:
12. ‘They see clearly but don’t perceive.They hear clearly but don’t understand.They never return to meand are never forgiven.’ ”
13. Jesus asked them, “Don’t you understand this story? How, then, will you understand any of the stories I use as illustrations?