Matthew 13:10-13
10The disciples came up and asked, "Why do you tell stories?"
11He replied, "You''ve been given insight into God''s kingdom. You know how it works. Not everybody has this gift, this insight; it hasn''t been given to them.c
12Whenever someone has a ready heart for this, the insights and understandings flow freely. But if there is no readiness, any trace of receptivity soon disappears.d
13That''s why I tell stories: to create readiness, to nudge the people toward receptive insight. In their present state they can stare till doomsday and not see it, listen till they''re blue in the face and not get it.e