The passage
      v10. The disciples don't understand why Jesus speaks in mysteries to the crowd and so ask for an explanation. It is also obvious they don't understand the parables themselves and for this reason Jesus goes on to explain their meaning. The secrets of the kingdom are for those who seek.
      v11. The mysteries of the kingdom (Divine truth/s hidden, but now revealed) are for disciples (seekers) and not for those who reject, or ignore God's revelation. So, Jesus speaks in parables to veil the truth, to keep it from those who do not seek. Dodd argues that "the secrets" (Mark, "secret"), or better "the mystery", focuses on realized eschatology. "The kingdom which is to come in apocalyptic power, as foreseen by Daniel, has in fact entered the world in advance, in a hidden form to work within and among men", Ladd. Most commentators tend to opt for "inaugurated" rather than "realized" and so would alter Ladd's quote to "is entering the world."
      v12. Jesus warns his disciples that those who search out the mystery find even deeper revelation, but those who ignore it will lose all "he has". There are numerous explanations of what is lost, but it is most likely salvation. A failure to hear and respond to the gospel results in the loss of everything.
      v13. Jesus explains that he now speaks in parables (in riddles) because the crowds have failed to respond to his clear presentation of the gosepl. The people are dull of hearing and therefore receive a revelation which is now in the form of riddles. Jesus' kingdom parables serve to condemn those who reject the gospel.
      v14-15. The quotation from Isaiah 6:9-10 serves to illustrate v13 by demonstrating a similar pattern of dull hearing by God's people in the past. A spiritually dull people is no new thing. Isaiah's insensitive hearers chose dullness over devotion. They actually resisted God's word in case it drove them into the arms of their merciful God. They shut their ears "so that" they may not hear. Of course, the consequence of such behavior was that they were then given a word from God which they couldn't understand; "through men of strange tongues and through the lips of foreigners I will speak to this people."
      v16-17. The disciples are blessed (by God) because they have seen and heard what God's faithful children in the past longed to see and hear. The prophets of old waited expectantly for the coming of the messiah and the dawning of the kingdom, but happy are the disciples who have found both in Jesus. For these seekers, these "little ones", the secrets of the kingdom are revealed; the secret of the parable is theirs to know. So, Jesus takes them aside and tells them the meaning of the mysteries he proclaims in public.

Words of judgment
      The scriptures reveal a pattern of judgment upon those who grow dull in their listening to the Word of God. Those whose ears are dull receive a dull word to make them even duller. It's as if the Lord says, "if you won't hear a clear word, then see what you can do with a confused one."
      We are told that after his baptism, Jesus came preaching the gospel - "the time is fulfilled, the kingdom of God is at hand, repent and believe the gospel." Later in his ministry we see him preaching the gospel in the form of mysterious parables about weeds and wheat, mustard seeds, yeast..... Even the disciples were unable to understand the meaning of these strange riddles. The crowds had failed to act on a clear word from God and so now all they got was a clouded word. The kingdom parable is God's judgment upon a people who have failed to receive his word of grace.
      The seriousness with which God treats his word impacts upon the way we handle that word in both nurture and evangelism.
      Good Biblical preaching is rarely appreciated and for this reason a congregation can grow dull of hearing. Just as we get the politicians we deserve, so we often get the preachers we deserve. When a congregation fails to hear and respond to faithful expository preaching then they are liable to get waffle. Sure, it may be really interesting waffle; topical sermons, "life-changing sermons that relate to people's work and family life", sermon's that scratch where it itches..... the brainstormed ideas of a fruitful imagination. Beware!
      In evangelism, the clear communication of the message of God's grace in Christ to the community at large, is what we are about. Having done this, there is no need to rework our strategies or refine our methods. We must proclaim and allow the Lord to bless.
      Jesus reminds his disciples how lucky they are to share in God's last-days revelation. We too experience the full counsel of God; we share his mind. Yet, Jesus warned his disciples that those who grow dull in their hearing will end up receiving an unclear word to dull them even further. The same danger faces us, so let us actively listen to his word, praying always for its clear proclamation.

v10
      proselqonteV (prosercomai) aor. part. "came to" - approaching. An attendant circumstance participle expressing action accompanying "asked". "The disciples approached him", Phillips.

v11
      de "-" - but. Here contrastive
      oJti "-" - Possibly introducing direct speech, or "because"
      ta musthria (on) "the secrets" - the mysteries. Kingdom mysteries are secrets once hidden now revealed. It is very likely that Paul further develops this idea. The mystery is the gospel, not "all one in Christ" (a consequence of), but "the unsearchable riches of Christ" (grace), Eph.3:8. "I have explained the secrets of the kingdom of Heaven to you", CEV.
      uJmin "to you" - Emphatic.

v12
      perisseuqhsetai (perisseuw) "abundance" - much more than enough, extremely abundant. The more a person learns of the mystery, the more knowledge they receive. "Everyone who has something will be given more", CEV.

v13
      dia touto "this is why" - for this reason. Normally "therefore", but sometimes used "in real and supposed answers and inferences", BAGD. "The reason I use parables", TEV.
      oJti "because" - In Mark 4:12 we have a hina clause which may be read: Jesus speaks in parable "in order that" they may not see. That is, parables serve God's sovereign will, a will which may involve divine election. In Matthew, God's sovereign will can be observed in v11-12, although divine revelation is always related to an ongoing reception of that revelation. Only those who willingly hear, will get to hear more. In v13, human responsibility is highlighted. Jesus speaks in parables "because" the people are dull of hearing - are spiritually insensitive.
      bleponteV ou blepousin "seeing, they do not see" - The participle with a finite verb, a periphrastic consruction, serves to emphasize the statement. Jesus preaches in parables because the crowds, "see but understand nothing." They have seen Jesus, heard the gospel, witnessed the signs, but have not responded in faith. As a response, Jesus proclaims riddles as a sign of judgment. "They look, but do not see", Williams.

v14
      anaplhroutai (anaplhrow) pas. "is fulfilled" - is fulfilled, supplied. The prefix gives the sense "fulfilled completely." "In their case the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled", Moffatt.
      hJ profhteia "prophecy" - The prophetic words of Isaiah rather than the act of prophesying.

v15
      epacunqh (pacunw) aor. pas. "calloused" - dull, insensitive. Their heart is no longer able to discern the truth. For us, the heart is the center of feeling, but for the ancients it was the center of reasoning. The stomach was the center of feeling for them. So "the people's thinking has become dulled - their brain is callused." Just as we callus the conscience with constant sinning, so we callus our spiritual perception by constantly ignoring the still small voice.
      mhpote "otherwise" - lest, perhaps. In v14 the people are addressed in 2nd person "you". In v15, 3rd person is used since God describes their condition. Again there is some debate over whether God is the agent of the action, or whether the individual is the agent. Has God closed their eyes and stopped their ears "lest" they should turn and be saved? Have the hearers failed to respond to the gospel, such that God now judges them with "strange tongues" (mysteries, riddles) so that they will not hear and be saved? It is probably better to say that the hearers' insensitivity to divine truth is a consequence of their own unwillingness to submit to that truth and act on it. They don't act on it "lest" they find themselves confronted by the divine and thus, slaves to God rather than sin; "so that", NRSV. "They have stopped their ears and shut their eyes. Otherwise their eyes might see, their ears hear", REB.

v16
      makarioi adj. "blessed" - happy, blessed. Probably not "happy", nor "fortunate", TEV, but "blessed" in the sense of the recipient of divine favour, "God has blessed you", CEV.
      uJmwn "your" - This pronoun begins the sentence serving to underline "you". The disciples are the recipients of divine favour.