Matthew 13:1-17 On that day (= That same day), after coming out of the house, Jesus had spent some time sitting on the shore, beside the lake (or: sea).

JMNT⁽ⁱ⁾ ¹ On that day (= That same day), after coming out of the house, Jesus had spent some time sitting on the shore, beside the lake (or: sea). ² And so great was the concourse of people that were gathered together toward Him, that He was stepping into a small boat to continue sitting down – and the entire crowd stood on the beach. ³ And so he spoke many things to them, continuing in gathering thoughts and laying them in order, in parables (things cast down at the side for comparison; illustrations; [note: used for Hebrew masal in the LXX, so = a variety of figures of speech: riddle; proverb; ethical maxim; by-word; allegory; fable; enigmatic saying that is meant to stimulate intense thinking): ⁴ "Look and consider! The sower comes out (or: went out) to be progressively sowing (scattering seed [in a field]). Now in the midst of his continued sowing, some [seeds] on the one hand fell alongside the path – and with the birds coming, they ate them down (devoured them). ⁵ On the other hand, other [seeds] fell upon the rocky places (or: shallow soil where layers of rock lie near the surface), where it continues having not much soil, and immediately it shoots forth again, back up – because of the [situation of] not having a depth of soil. ⁶ Yet upon a rising back up again of [the] sun, it was scorched – and thus, because of the [situation of] not having [sufficient] root, it was dried up and withered. ⁷ Now others fell upon the thornbushes (or: prickly weeds), and the thornbushes came up and choked them off (smothered them). ⁸ But others fell upon the ideal soil, and it began and kept on yielding fruit – this one, on the one hand, a hundred; that one, on the other hand, sixty; yet some, thirty. ⁹ Let the person possessing ears continue listening, hearing and paying attention." ¹⁰ Then, approaching, the disciples said to Him, "Why (Through what [purpose; motive]) are you continuing to speak to them in parables (here: = illustrative riddles; = Hebrew masal)?" ¹¹ So giving a decided response, He said to them, "To (or: For; With) you folks it has been given to intimately experience and insightfully know the secrets (mysteries) of the reign of the heavens (or: the kingdom which is the heavens; the royal rule which pertains to and has its origin in the heavens, and which emanates from the atmospheres), yet it has not been given to those people. ¹² "You see, whoever continues possessing (presently and habitually holds [understanding]; repeatedly has [something]), to him it (or: something; or: [understanding]) will continue being given and he will habitually be made to superabound (or: have more than enough); yet whoever does not continue possessing (habitually holding; repeatedly having), even what he does have will be progressively taken away from him. ¹³ "Therefore I continue speaking in parables (with illustrations) to them, because while seeing (or: observing) they continue not seeing, and during listening (or: hearing) they are not hearing (or: listening) – neither are they comprehending or understanding (having things flow together so as to get the picture or see the relationships). ¹⁴ "And so the prophecy of Isaiah is progressively being filled up in (or: for; by) them – the one continuing in saying, 'In listening you folks will keep on hearing, and yet you can by no means have things flow together so as to get the picture or see the relationships (or: comprehend or understand), and while constantly looking, you will continue observing, and yet you can by no means see so as to perceive. ¹⁵ 'For the heart of this people was made thick and fat, and thus has become impervious, dull and insensitive, and with the ears they hear heavily, and are thus hard of hearing, and they shut (or: closed) their eyes (or: they squint their eyes), lest at some time they might see with [their] eyes and should then be listening and hearing with [their] ears, and with the heart they could make things flow together so as to comprehend – and they might turn about! And so, I will progressively cure and heal them!' [Isa. 6:9-10] (or: ... and they squint their eyes! At some point should they not see with [their] eyes, and continue listening so as to hear with [their] ears, and thus understand in the heart? And then they can turn around, and I will continue healing them!') ¹⁶ "However, your eyes [are] happy (blessed and prosperous, and thus, privileged), because they continue seeing – as well as your ears, for they are presently and habitually hearing. ¹⁷ "You see I am now telling you frankly and truly that many prophets and rightwised folks (fair and just people) passionately desired to see [the] things which you folks are now habitually seeing (or: looking at) – and yet they did not see; and to hear things which you are continuously hearing – and yet they did not hear.