Luke 8 10

Luke 8:10 kjv

And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.

Luke 8:10 nkjv

And He said, "To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is given in parables, that 'Seeing they may not see, And hearing they may not understand.'

Luke 8:10 niv

He said, "The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that, "?'though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand.'

Luke 8:10 esv

he said, "To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God, but for others they are in parables, so that 'seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.'

Luke 8:10 nlt

He replied, "You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of God. But I use parables to teach the others so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled: 'When they look, they won't really see.
When they hear, they won't understand.'

Luke 8 verses

h2 MeaningJesus reveals that understanding the "mysteries of the kingdom of God" is a divinely granted privilege specifically given to His disciples, who represent those actively responding to His call. In contrast, for the rest, Jesus speaks in parables, which, by divine design, serve both to illustrate and to veil the truth. This dual function leads to a paradoxical outcome for the unreceptive: while physically seeing and hearing Jesus, they do not genuinely perceive or comprehend the spiritual truths He teaches, thus solidifying their lack of understanding due to their hardened hearts or unresponsiveness.

h2 Cross References

h2 ContextLuke 8:10 immediately follows Jesus's telling of the Parable of the Sower and the Disciples' subsequent question: "What is the meaning of this parable?" (Luke 8:9). This verse provides Jesus's direct explanation for why He teaches in parables and illuminates the nature of understanding and reception of divine truth. It's not merely an answer to a question about a specific parable, but a fundamental principle of Kingdom revelation. Broadly, it fits within Jesus's public ministry where His teaching was met with diverse reactions, some embracing it while others resisted, ultimately leading to His rejection by many religious leaders. The "kingdom of God" is a pervasive theme throughout Luke's Gospel, representing God's active reign initiated by Jesus.

h2 Word analysis

• ul
  • He said: Establishes Jesus as the speaker and authoritative source of this principle.
  • To you: Greek hymin (ὑμῖν). Specifically addresses His disciples, differentiating them from the larger crowd. This highlights their privileged position due to their commitment and receptivity.
  • It has been granted: Greek dedotai (δέδοται), a perfect passive indicative of didōmi (to give). Signifies a past action with ongoing results, emphasizing a divine bestowal, not something earned or inherently possessed by the disciples. It points to God's sovereign initiative.
  • to know: Greek gnōnai (γνῶναι), an infinitive from ginōskō. Implies not just intellectual apprehension but a deep, experiential, and transforming understanding of truth.
  • the mysteries: Greek mystēria (μυστήρια). In biblical usage, these are not obscure riddles but previously hidden truths of God's redemptive plan, now revealed through Christ. They are divine secrets, now unveiled.
  • of the kingdom of God: Greek tēs basileias tou theou (τῆς βασιλείας τοῦ θεοῦ). This is the core theme of Jesus's ministry. It refers to God's dynamic reign and spiritual domain, breaking into the world through Jesus, which includes His saving power, His sovereignty, and the new life it brings.
  • but to the rest: Greek tois de loipois (τοῖς δὲ λοιποῖς). Contrasts the disciples with those who are not truly committed followers, signifying the general public, including those who are unreceptive, indifferent, or openly hostile to Jesus's message.
  • in parables: Greek en parabolais (ἐν παραβολαῖς). Parables are narrative illustrations or comparisons used by Jesus to convey spiritual truths. Here, their purpose is presented as twofold: to illuminate for the receptive and to obscure for the unreceptive.
  • so that: Greek hina (ἵνα). Introduces a purpose clause, indicating a deliberate divine intent behind speaking in parables. This isn't just an accidental consequence but a willed outcome.
  • seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand: This direct quotation from Isa 6:9-10 (Septuagint) indicates a divine judgment. For the unrepentant or hard-hearted, the parables do not clarify but rather confirm and intensify their existing blindness and deafness to spiritual truth, solidifying their unbelief. Their lack of inner receptivity prevents true perception.
• ul
  • "To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God": This phrase highlights divine grace and election. Understanding the Kingdom is a spiritual gift bestowed by God upon those He has chosen and who have responded with faith, namely the disciples. It establishes a clear distinction between the insider (disciple) and the outsider (the rest).
  • "but to the rest, in parables": This establishes the method and audience for those outside the inner circle of understanding. Parables function differently for them, acting as a filter or veil. It suggests that external teaching methods cannot overcome internal resistance or spiritual unpreparedness.
  • "so that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand": This crucial purpose clause (or result, depending on interpretation of hina) directly links Jesus's method of teaching to the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy of judicial hardening. It underscores that spiritual blindness is a consequence of persistent unbelief, and Jesus's parables function to concretize this divine judgment, confirming the self-imposed spiritual inability of the unresponsive. It's not that parables cause blindness from the outset, but they reveal and perpetuate the existing spiritual incapacity of those unwilling to receive.

h2 CommentaryLuke 8:10 provides a profound theological insight into the nature of divine revelation and human receptivity. Following the Parable of the Sower, Jesus's explanation reveals the dual purpose of His parables. For His committed disciples, the parables are avenues of profound understanding, unfolding the "mysteries of the kingdom of God"—truths about God's sovereign rule, redemptive plan, and new covenant realities that were previously concealed but are now being disclosed through Christ. This knowledge is not earned but "granted," a divine privilege bestowed upon those who have answered His call and actively follow Him.

Conversely, for "the rest"—those outside the circle of genuine commitment and active seeking—parables serve as a form of judicial judgment. By quoting Isaiah 6:9-10, Jesus underscores that this is a divine purpose, not an accidental outcome. Their inherent spiritual blindness or deliberate hardening of hearts is confirmed and perpetuated by the very words intended to illuminate. While physically present and hearing the message, their lack of receptivity prevents true comprehension, leaving them unable to "see" or "understand" spiritual truths. The parables, therefore, do not universally reveal but function as a test: for the spiritually discerning, they clarify; for the resistant, they conceal, bringing into stark relief the difference between a seeking heart and a closed one. This verse highlights that spiritual perception requires a willingness to hear and believe, and a divine enabling that accompanies true discipleship.

h2 Bonus sectionThe concept of "mystery" (Greek: mysterion) in the New Testament, as seen in this verse, consistently refers to a truth formerly hidden by God but now revealed, primarily through Christ. It's not something human reason can uncover but must be divinely disclosed. The revelation of these mysteries is central to God's plan for salvation history and empowers the Church's understanding of its role within the Kingdom. Furthermore, the quote from Isaiah 6 underscores a recurring biblical theme where God allows spiritual hardening as a consequence of persistent human rebellion, rather than arbitrarily causing it. This judicial hardening is not designed to prevent people from ever repenting, but it marks the sealing of those who have continually rejected God's light. It reflects a principle that light, when rejected, can lead to deeper darkness.