Who are those "outside" and why are they not able to understand the parable so that they might believe?

If it is God's will for all to come to repentance, why would He make it difficult for some to understand? It even seems in verse 12 that He doesn't want the ones outside to understand, or they might repent. This is very hard to understand this. I must be misunderstanding the context.

Mark 4:10 - 12

NKJV - ¹⁰ But when He was alone, those around Him with the twelve asked Him about the parable. ¹¹ And He said to them, "To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things come in parables.

Clarify • Share • Report • Asked February 23 2015 • Anonymous