For this reason I speak to them in parables: Although they see they do not see, and although they hear they do not hear nor do they understand.

So Philip ran up ¹  to it ²  and heard the man ³  reading Isaiah the prophet. He ⁴  asked him, ⁵  “Do you understand what you’re reading?”

For I don’t understand what I am doing. For I do not do what I want – instead, I do what I hate. ¹ 

but as it is written: “Those who were not told about him will see, and those who have not heard will understand.” ¹ 

By faith we understand that the worlds ¹  were set in order at God’s command, ²  so that the visible has its origin in the invisible. ³ 

To discern ¹  the meaning of ²  a proverb and a parable, ³  the sayings of the wise ⁴  and their ⁵  riddles. ⁶ 

The human mind is more deceitful than anything else. It is incurably bad. ¹  Who can understand it?

because they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.

But he denied it: ¹  “I don’t even understand what you’re talking about!” ²  Then ³  he went out to the gateway, and a rooster crowed. ⁴ 

The Lord will raise up a distant nation against you, one from the other side of the earth ¹  as the eagle flies, ²  a nation whose language you will not understand,

I am your servant. Give me insight, so that I can understand ¹  your rules.

But understand this, that in the last days difficult ¹  times will come.

An ox recognizes its owner, a donkey recognizes where its owner puts its food; ¹  but Israel does not recognize me, ²  my people do not understand.”

You will no longer see a defiant ¹  people whose language you do not comprehend, ²  whose derisive speech you do not understand. ³ 

While I, Daniel, was watching the vision, I sought to understand it. Now one who appeared to be a man was standing before me.

Do you still not understand? Don’t you remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you took up?

How could you not understand that I was not speaking to you about bread? But beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees!”

“So when you see the abomination of desolation ¹  – spoken about by Daniel the prophet – standing in the holy place (let the reader understand),

Who is wise? Let him discern ¹  these things! Who is discerning? Let him understand them! For the ways of the Lord are right; the godly walk in them, but in them the rebellious stumble.

He ¹  said, “You have been given ²  the opportunity to know ³  the secrets ⁴  of the kingdom of God, ⁵  but for others they are in parables, so that although they see they may not see, and although they hear they may not understand. ⁶