Matthew 13:10-11
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The disciples' question isn't just about why Jesus uses parables, but about why he uses them for them (the crowds) when it seems to make things less clear. They perceive parables as a less direct teaching method, and they're wondering why Jesus would choose that for public instruction.
Then the disciples came and said to him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” And he answered them, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.
English Standard Version (ESV)
After Jesus tells a parable about a sower to a large crowd from a boat, his disciples approach him when he's alone. They ask him why he chooses to speak in parables, which can be obscure, instead of more direct language. This question sets the stage for Jesus to explain the purpose of parables, particularly how they reveal spiritual understanding to those who are open and conceal it from those who aren't.
Why did Jesus, who often spoke so plainly, suddenly switch to parables? His closest followers were puzzled and asked him directly.
When the disciples asked Jesus, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” (Matthew 13:10), they weren't questioning his ability to speak clearly, but the wisdom of using this method for the crowds. They saw that parables, while sometimes insightful, could also obscure the message, especially for those not deeply invested in learning. This reveals a crucial aspect of Jesus' teaching strategy: it wasn't just about conveying information, but about engaging hearts and minds in a way that discerned true seekers from casual listeners.
Jesus’ answer to his disciples wasn't just an explanation; it was a revelation about how God’s kingdom works and who truly belongs.
Jesus’ response, as recorded in verses 11-15, explains that speaking in parables was a way for God to distinguish between those ready to receive spiritual truth and those who were resistant. He states, 'To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.' This wasn't arbitrary exclusion, but a response to people’s existing spiritual condition. Those who came with open hearts and a genuine desire to understand would grasp the deeper meaning, while those with hardened hearts or preoccupied minds would only hear a story, their spiritual blindness and deafness confirmed by the very words meant to illuminate.
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Jesus didn't just explain why he used parables; he highlighted the incredible blessing and weight that came with understanding them.
Jesus contrasts the state of the crowds with that of his disciples. While the crowds heard stories that confirmed their spiritual dullness, the disciples were privileged to 'know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven.' This privilege wasn't earned but given, a gift from God. However, with this gift came responsibility. Jesus emphasizes, 'Blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear.' This isn't just about intellectual understanding, but about a spiritual receptivity that allows God’s truth to transform them. Their willingness to listen and learn meant they would receive even more insight, while those who neglected what they heard risked losing even the little understanding they possessed.
Understand the original words
mathētēs · Greek Noun
Those who follow Jesus, characterized by a willingness to learn, ask questions, and submit to His teaching. They are distinguished by their desire to know the hidden truths of the kingdom that are veiled to the casual observer.
parabolē · Greek Noun
An earthly story with a heavenly meaning; a teaching device used by Jesus to reveal truth to those seeking God while simultaneously veiling it from those with hardened or rebellious hearts.
mystērion · Greek Noun
A divine truth previously hidden but now revealed by God to His people. It refers to the sovereign plan of God, particularly regarding the gospel and the redemptive work of Christ.
basileia · Greek Noun
The sovereign reign and rule of God over all creation, now inaugurated through Jesus Christ. It represents the sphere of God's authority and the community of those who submit to His lordship.
Early 1st century AD
Jesus' Public Ministry Begins
Jesus begins teaching and healing throughout Galilee, attracting large crowds and a following of disciples.
Early 1st century AD— this verse
Jesus Teaches in a Boat
Due to the large crowds, Jesus teaches from a boat on the Sea of Galilee, with the multitude gathered on the shore.
Early 1st century AD
Disciples Ask About Parables
After Jesus finishes teaching a parable, his disciples privately ask him why he uses parables to teach the crowds.
Early 1st century AD
Jesus Explains His Teaching Method
Jesus responds to his disciples, explaining that parables are given to some to understand the mysteries of the kingdom, while others are given less understanding, fulfilling prophecy.
This passage provides a parallel account from Mark, noting that the disciples asked Jesus about the parables when they were alone with him, emphasizing their desire for deeper understanding outside the crowd.
Luke 8:9Luke's Gospel also records the disciples' question, specifically highlighting their confusion about the meaning of the parable itself, showing their earnestness to grasp Jesus' teachings.
Isaiah 6:9-10Jesus quotes this prophecy from Isaiah to explain why He speaks in parables, indicating that the crowds' spiritual blindness is a fulfillment of this ancient word, making the parables both a judgment and a means of obscuring truth from those unwilling to see.
Matthew 13:11-12Immediately following the disciples' question, Jesus explains that understanding the 'mysteries of the kingdom of heaven' is a gift given to them, contrasting their privileged insight with the hardness of heart in the crowds, revealing a divine principle of how spiritual truth is revealed.
Matthew 13:16-17Jesus directly contrasts the disciples' blessedness in seeing and hearing with the condition of those outside the inner circle, underscoring that their ability to understand is a divine privilege that many prophets and righteous people longed for but did not fully experience.
barnesMatthew 13:10: "And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?"
Christ, in these verses, gives a "reason" why he used this manner of instruction. See also Mark 4:10-12 ; Luke 8:9-10 .
bensonMatthew 13:10: "And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?"
Matthew 13:10-12 . The disciples — Mark says, οι περι αυτον συν τοις δωδεκα , those that were about him, with the twelve, that is, not only the apostles, but such other well-disposed persons as generally attended on Christ’s ministry, and were desirous of learning of him; came to him, namely, when the assembly was broke up, and Christ had delivered many other parables afterward mentioned; for th…
The disciples' question isn't just about why Jesus uses parables, but about why he uses them for them (the crowds) when it seems to make things less clear. They perceive parables as a less direct teaching method, and they're wondering why Jesus would choose that for public instruction.
After Jesus tells a parable about a sower to a large crowd from a boat, his disciples approach him when he's alone. They ask him why he chooses to speak in parables, which can be obscure, instead of more direct language. This question sets the stage for Jesus to explain the purpose of parables, particularly how they reveal spiritual understanding to those who are open and conceal it from those who aren't.
After Jesus tells a parable about a sower to a large crowd from a boat, his disciples approach him when he's alone. They ask him why he chooses to speak in parables, which can be obscure, instead of more direct language. This question sets the stage for Jesus to explain the purpose of parables, particularly how they reveal spiritual understanding to those who are open and conceal it from those who aren't.
"Then the disciples came and said to him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” And he answered them, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given." — The disciples' question isn't just about why Jesus uses parables, but about why he uses them for them (the crowds) when it seems to make things less clear. They perceive parables as a less di…
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Last reviewed October 2026
