Mark 4:12

That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them. That seeing they may see, etc... in punishment of their wilfully shutting their eyes, (St. Matt. 13. 15,) God justly withdrew those lights and graces, which otherwise he would have given them, for their effectual conversion.

Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner, 1752)

In The King James Version

That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.

In Context

11And he said to them: To you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but to them that are without, all things are done in parables:

13And he saith to them: Are you ignorant of this, parable? and how shall you know all parables?

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Cross References

Deuteronomy 29:4And the Lord hath not given you a heart to understand, and eyes to see, and ears that may hear, unto this present day. Hath not given you, etc... Through your own fault and because you resisted his grace.

Isaiah 44:18They have not known, nor understood: for their eyes are covered that they may not see, and that they may not understand with their heart.

Jeremiah 31:18Hearing I heard Ephraim when he went into captivity: thou hast chastised me, and I was instructed, as a young bullock unaccustomed to the yoke. Convert me, and I shall be converted, for thou art the Lord my God.

Ezekiel 18:27And when the wicked turneth himself away from his wickedness, which he hath wrought, and doeth judgment, and justice: he shall save his soul alive.

Luke 8:10To whom he said: To you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to the rest in parables, that seeing they may not see and hearing may not understand. Seeing they may not see... See the annotation, Mark 4. 12.

Acts 3:19Be penitent, therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out.

Matthew Henry on Mark 4:2-21

The Parable of the Sower. 1 And he began again to teach by the sea side: and there was gathered unto him a great multitude, so that he entered into a ship, and sat in the sea; and the whole multitude was by the sea on the land. 2 And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine, 3 Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow: 4 And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up. 5 And some fell on stony ground, where it had… Read the whole commentary →

This Verse In Other Editions

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