He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.”
Jesus explains that His disciples have been given the opportunity to understand the mysteries of the kingdom of God, while others have not. This does not mean that God arbitrarily hides the truth from certain people, but shows that only those who have a willing heart and faith can perceive and understand these truths. The disciples followed Jesus, listened, and accepted His word, and for that reason they had spiritual understanding. But those who remained in doubt or with a closed heart could not understand the depth of God’s word. The parables gave willing people the opportunity to understand the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven more concretely.