KT Sermon: Texts That Linger, Words That Explode: Explaining the Kingdom Parables in Matthew’s Gospel

Today's reading is taken from Matthew chapter 13, verses 10 to 17.

Then the disciples came and asked him, why do you speak to them in parables? He answered, to you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.

For to those who will have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance.

But from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away.

The reason I speak to them in parables is that seeing they do not perceive and hearing, they do not listen, nor do they understand.

With them indeed is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah that says, you will indeed listen, but never understand, and you will indeed look, but never perceive.

For this people's heart has grown dull, and their ears are hard of hearing, and they have shut their eyes, so that they might not look with their eyes, and listen with their ears, and understand with their heart, and turn, and I would heal them.

But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear.

Truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people long to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.

And God always blesses the public reading of his inspired and his infallible word.