And he said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables?
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus isn't just asking if they get the parable; he's highlighting that this "parable of the sower" is the foundational key to understanding all his teachings, and their failure to grasp it reveals a deeper need for spiritual insight. It's a gentle rebuke that points to the essential nature of this particular story as the gateway to everything else Jesus would share.
And he said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables?
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus is rebuking his closest followers for not grasping the meaning of the parable of the sower, a foundational teaching about how people receive God's word. He implies that if they can't understand this basic parable, they won't be equipped to understand any of his future teachings. This sets the stage for his detailed explanation, emphasizing the importance of truly hearing and understanding the message.
Jesus has just told the Parable of the Sower, and the disciples are confused. Jesus' response isn't just frustration; it's a profound lesson about the nature of discipleship.
A Test of Understanding
When Jesus asks, "Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables?" (Mark 4:13), he's not just pointing out their confusion. This is a gentle but firm reproof. The parable of the sower is foundational – it's the key to unlocking all the others.
Discipleship Requires Grasping the Core
Jesus expects those who follow him closely to grasp the core message. He's essentially saying: If you can't understand this fundamental teaching about how people receive God's word, how can you possibly hope to understand the deeper spiritual truths I'm revealing?
This isn't about intellectual perfection, but about a willingness to engage with and comprehend the core principles of the Kingdom of God.
Jesus calls the Parable of the Sower the 'foundation' for all his other parables. What makes this story so crucial?
The Seed and the Soil
At its heart, the Parable of the Sower (Mark 4:3-9, 14-20) explains how God's word (the seed) is received by different kinds of people (the soil). Some hearts are hard and unreceptive, some are shallow, some are choked by life's worries, and others are fertile and bear fruit.
A Universal Principle
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This parable isn't just about one story; it's a blueprint for understanding all of Jesus' teachings. It reveals the principle that the effectiveness of God's message depends heavily on the condition of the hearer's heart. If you grasp this, you can begin to understand why some people respond to the Gospel while others don't, and why spiritual growth looks different for everyone.
This passage directly explains the meaning of the parable of the sower, highlighting the different types of hearers and how they respond to God's word, which is the core subject Jesus is testing the disciples' understanding of in Mark 4:13.
Isaiah 6:9-10This Old Testament passage foretells a similar spiritual dullness, where people hear but do not understand, and see but do not perceive, setting a precedent for Jesus' teaching method and the disciples' struggle with comprehension.
John 14:9Jesus expresses frustration to Philip, 'Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me?' This parallels Mark 4:13, showing Jesus' desire for deeper understanding from those close to Him and His gentle chiding when it's lacking.
1 Corinthians 2:14This verse speaks to the natural person not accepting the things of the Spirit of God, describing them as foolishness, which explains why the parables, and spiritual truths in general, are so difficult to grasp without divine revelation.
barnesMark 4:13: "And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?"
Know ye not this parable? - This which is so plain and obvious. How then will ye know all parables? - Those which are more difficult and obscure. As they were themselves to be "teachers," it was important that they should be acquainted with the whole system of religion - of much more importance for them at that time than for the mass of the people.
calvinMark 4:13-20: "And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?"
- Hear therefore the parable of the sower. 19. When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth not, that wicked one cometh, and taketh away what was sown in the heart. This is he who received seed near the road. 20. But he that received the seed thrown into stony places, is he that heareth the word, and immediately receiveth it with joy: 21. But hath not root in himself, bu…
Jesus isn't just asking if they get the parable; he's highlighting that this "parable of the sower" is the foundational key to understanding all his teachings, and their failure to grasp it reveals a deeper need for spiritual insight. It's a gentle rebuke that points to the essential nature of this particular story as the gateway to everything else Jesus would share.
Jesus is rebuking his closest followers for not grasping the meaning of the parable of the sower, a foundational teaching about how people receive God's word. He implies that if they can't understand this basic parable, they won't be equipped to understand any of his future teachings. This sets the stage for his detailed explanation, emphasizing the importance of truly hearing and understanding the message.
Jesus is rebuking his closest followers for not grasping the meaning of the parable of the sower, a foundational teaching about how people receive God's word. He implies that if they can't understand this basic parable, they won't be equipped to understand any of his future teachings. This sets the stage for his detailed explanation, emphasizing the importance of truly hearing and understanding the message.
"And he said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables?" — Jesus isn't just asking if they get the parable; he's highlighting that this "parable of the sower" is the foundational key to understanding all his teachings, and their failure to grasp it revea…
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Last reviewed October 2026