Daily Devotion for July 15, 2026

10 The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?”

11 He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. 12 Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 13 This is why I speak to them in parables:

“Though seeing, they do not see;

though hearing, they do not hear or understand.

14 In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah:

“‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding;

you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.

15 For this people’s heart has become calloused;

they hardly hear with their ears,

and they have closed their eyes.

Otherwise, they might see with their eyes,

hear with their ears,

understand with their hearts

and turn, and I would heal them.

16 But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. 17 For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.

Thus far in the Gospel of Matthew Jesus has been busy. He’s been teaching and preaching, he’s been healing, he’s been explaining, he’s been gathering disciples, and he’s been traveling. And, here in chapter 13 he does something new. He tells his audience a story – a parable – and his disciples wonder why. Why tell a story that only a few get?

In Matthew 13:10-17, Jesus explains to His disciples why He teaches the crowds using parables. He reveals that understanding the "secrets of the kingdom" is a gifted privilege. To those with open hearts – and the disciples wonder why. Why get your point across this way? Maybe they asked, “why not just say what you want to say?” And Jesus gives them his answer.

Basically, Jesus tells that that some are meant to get it and others aren’t. And the disciples should be thankful that they’re in the group that understands. In my mind, Jesus is saying that those who are open to the message of Christ, the parables will reveal God's word to them. To those who have closed their minds to Christ, no light will remove their darkness.

If we’re already in the place where we hear and listen and understand – then Jesus’ words remind us what a privilege this is. He tells his disciples at the top of this passage that they are blessed to hear and understand. He reminds them at the end of all of those who had gone before who would have given anything to hear and understand – to stand where the disciples were standing – right next to the Savior of the World!

Dear Lord, Let my heart and mind be open to hear Your message. Let us pray for our world, which has such a need for the light of Christ.

Donna DeMauro

donna@demaurostl.com