The disciples' question, "What might this parable be?", reveals their surprise not just at the parable's meaning, but at Jesus' shift to this new, symbolic way of teaching. It suggests they were accustomed to his directness and were puzzled by this layered communication, hinting at a deeper spiritual insight they were beginning to grasp.
And when his disciples asked him what this parable meant, he said, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God, but for others they are in parables, so that ‘seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.’
English Standard Version (ESV)
After Jesus tells the parable of the sower to a vast crowd, his closest followers, separated from the masses, inquire about its meaning. They were likely puzzled by this new way Jesus was teaching and the somber implications of the parable itself, which speaks to the varied reception of God's word. Jesus then proceeds to explain the parable's significance to them privately.
When Jesus finished teaching the crowds, a moment of quiet intimacy followed. But it wasn't just a break – it was a transition.
Imagine the scene: the vast crowd disperses, leaving Jesus and his closest followers. Mark's Gospel tells us they found him alone (Mark 4:10), highlighting a crucial shift. The disciples weren't just part of the crowd anymore; they were being drawn into a deeper understanding. Their question, "What does this parable mean?" wasn't idle curiosity. It came after witnessing a new, puzzling method of teaching. This wasn't the plain speaking they were used to; it was layered, symbolic. Their question marked their desire to move beyond the surface, to grasp the heart of Jesus' message in a way the general public wasn't invited to.
This wasn't just any story Jesus told. The Parable of the Sower marked a significant shift, and the disciples sensed its weight.
Commentators note that Luke presents this as the first great parable of this new teaching style. It wasn't meant to simply entertain or even just inform the masses. Matthew's account (Matthew 13:10-11) reveals Jesus explained he spoke in parables so that the crowds would hear but not understand, and see but not perceive. This was a form of divine judgment, hardening those who resisted him while revealing deeper truths to his committed followers. The disciples' confusion stemmed from this very solemnity – this wasn't just a lesson; it was a revelation that separated those willing to truly seek from those content to remain on the surface.
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parabolē · Greek Noun
A simple story used by Jesus to veil or reveal spiritual truth. They act as a judgment on those with hard hearts who refuse to understand, while being an invitation to those who seek the truth.
mystērion · Greek Noun
Divine mysteries or revealed truths that were hidden in the Old Testament but are now made known by God to His people. They are truths that can only be understood through spiritual illumination granted by the Holy Spirit.
basileia tou Theou · Greek Noun
The sovereign rule and reign of God over His creation and His people. It signifies the presence and authority of God manifested in the ministry of Jesus and established in the hearts of believers.
This verse captures a pivotal moment where Jesus shifts to teaching through parables. The disciples' confusion highlights the novelty and depth of this teaching method, prompting Jesus' private explanation, which is crucial for understanding His message.
Early 1st century AD— this verse
Jesus' Galilean Ministry
Jesus travels throughout Galilee, teaching, healing, and gathering disciples. His popularity grows, attracting large crowds and encountering both eager followers and skeptical religious leaders.
Early 1st century AD
Jesus Teaches by the Sea of Galilee
During a large gathering, Jesus boards a boat to speak to the crowds on the shore. This setting allows Him to effectively teach a large audience, including the parable of the Sower.
Early 1st century AD
Disciples Inquire Privately
After Jesus finishes teaching the crowds, His closest disciples join Him privately. They express confusion about His new method of teaching using parables.
Early 1st century AD
Jesus Explains the Parable of the Sower
Jesus reveals the meaning of the parable to His disciples, explaining how different responses to His message lead to varied spiritual fruitfulness.
This passage directly follows Luke's account and explains *why* Jesus spoke in parables, providing the disciples' broader question about his teaching method.
Mark 4:10Mark’s Gospel adds the detail that the disciples asked Jesus about the parable's meaning when they were alone with him, highlighting a moment of intimate teaching.
1 Corinthians 2:14This verse explains the spiritual blindness that prevents people from understanding God's ways, paralleling the reason many miss the meaning of Jesus' parables.
Isaiah 6:9This Old Testament prophecy, which Jesus himself quotes in Matthew 13:14-15, describes people hearing but not understanding, directly relating to the purpose and effect of parables.
Hebrews 5:11This passage speaks of people being slow to understand spiritual truths, mirroring the disciples' initial confusion and need for further explanation of the parable.
gillLuke 8:9: "And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be?"
And his disciples asked him,.... That is, as Mark says, "when he was alone"; after the multitude were departed, and they were by themselves, it may be in some house with other disciples: saying, what might this parable be? what is the sense and meaning of it? According to Matthew, they asked why he spake in parables to the people; and to such a question the following words are a proper answer.
pulpitLuke 8:9: "And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be?"
Verse 9. - And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be! This is the only parable St. Luke gives as spoken by our Lord in this place. St. Matthew - who gives the additional detail that on account of the pressure of the crowd on the lake-shore it was spoken from a boat moored close to the bank - relates seven parables here in sequence. It is probable that the Master spoke some of these at least on thi…
The disciples' question, "What might this parable be?", reveals their surprise not just at the parable's meaning, but at Jesus' shift to this new, symbolic way of teaching. It suggests they were accustomed to his directness and were puzzled by this layered communication, hinting at a deeper spiritual insight they were beginning to grasp.
After Jesus tells the parable of the sower to a vast crowd, his closest followers, separated from the masses, inquire about its meaning. They were likely puzzled by this new way Jesus was teaching and the somber implications of the parable itself, which speaks to the varied reception of God's word. Jesus then proceeds to explain the parable's significance to them privately.
After Jesus tells the parable of the sower to a vast crowd, his closest followers, separated from the masses, inquire about its meaning. They were likely puzzled by this new way Jesus was teaching and the somber implications of the parable itself, which speaks to the varied reception of God's word. Jesus then proceeds to explain the parable's significance to them privately.
"And when his disciples asked him what this parable meant, he said, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God, but for others they are in parables, so that ‘seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not underst…" — The disciples' question, "What might this parable be?", reveals their surprise not just at the parable's meaning, but at Jesus' shift to this new, symbolic way of teaching. It suggests they were accu…
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Last reviewed October 2026
