Many Old Testament prophets

they desired to see (Matt. 13:17) what they prophesied; many righteous people wanted to see the fulfillment of their expectations of the coming of the Messiah and to hear Him; but they did not see Him or hear Him.

Blessed are your eyes that see, and your ears that they hear (Matt. 13:16).

Unfortunately, at that time even Jesus' closest disciples, His Apostles, were not yet fully aware of what they had seen and heard. According to the Evangelist Mark, they apparently found it difficult to understand the meaning of the parable of the sower, since Christ asked them:

Don't you understand this parable? How then can you understand all the parables? (Mark 4:13).

This is what this parable means (explained.

Having finished the sermon with parables and dismissed the people, Jesus

entered the house (Matt. 13:36) and there, left alone with the Apostles, he explained to them, at their own request, the meaning of the parable of the tares. The apostles asked to explain to them only two parables; consequently, the others were understood by them without explanation. It was said above that the teaching of parables was intended exclusively for the people. Meanwhile, left alone with His disciples, He continues to speak in parables – why? Is it not in order to test their receptivity to the word of God, their thoughtfulness and understanding? "Behold," says He, "ye have not understood the parables of the sower and the tares;

how then can you understand all the parables?" (Mark 4:13). And then, apparently to test whether they understand the thoughts hidden in the parables at all, He tells them new parables.

The Parable of the Man Who Threw Seed into the Ground

The Kingdom of God is like if a man throws seed into the ground, and sleeps, and rises night and day; and how the seed sprouts and grows, he does not know, for the earth of its own accord produces first greenery, then an ear, then a full grain in the ear. When the fruit is ripe, he immediately sends a sickle, because the harvest has come.