8:10 secrets. The kingdom of God involves truths that are beyond human insights and wisdom, but that God has now made known.

others. These are the people to whom Isaiah’s prophecy refers—they do not respond to Jesus’ teaching. They hear the story but do not understand the meaning.

that. Jesus’ teaching in parables has a twofold purpose—to reveal the mysteries of the kingdom to those who have “ears to hear” (v. 8) and to conceal the truth of the kingdom from those who do not. See notes Matt. 13:13; Mark 4:11.