<p>4:12 <i>That seeing, they may see and not perceive, and hearing they may hear and not understand; lest they should turn again and it should be forgiven them</i>- Understanding and perceiving the meaning of the parables would result in conversion, repentance and forgiveness. Moses persevered because he <i>understood</i>. &ldquo;Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law&rdquo; (Ps. 119:35) is one of many links in David&rsquo;s thought between understanding and obedience. See on Mk. 7:29. It was their initial seeing and hearing of John the Baptist which became the basis of their subsequent total blindness and deafness to Jesus. If the word sown isn't responded to further, or only partially so, then there remains only a hardening. We must respond, and immediately- and be led wherever the word leads us.&nbsp;</p><p>The Lord Jesus spoke the parable of the sower so that the Jews &quot;by hearing... shall hear, and... not understand&quot; (Mt. 13:14), which is quoting from Is. 6:9,10 concerning Israel hearing the preaching of Jesus during his ministry. This would explain the present tenses in Mk. 4:14-20: &quot;These&nbsp;<i>are</i>&nbsp;they by the way side... these&nbsp;<i>are</i>&nbsp;they... which&nbsp;<i>are</i>&nbsp;sown...&quot;. That prophecy evidently had fulfilment at Isaiah's time; the point is thereby established that prophecy can have multiple fulfilments.&nbsp;</p>