Matthew 13:34-35
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It's easy to read this and think Jesus only spoke in parables from this point forward, but the verse emphasizes this was his method "unto the multitude" during this specific teaching session. He was deliberately choosing this narrative, figurative style for the crowds, while reserving fuller explanations for his disciples later.
All these things Jesus said to the crowds in parables; indeed, he said nothing to them without a parable. This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet: “I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter what has been hidden since the foundation of the world.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus has just shared several parables about the Kingdom of Heaven, like the mustard seed and the leaven, revealing its nature and growth. This verse emphasizes that for the crowds listening, Jesus exclusively used these symbolic stories, saving direct explanations for his disciples when they were alone. This method fulfilled ancient prophecy and served a purpose in how God's message was received.
Why did Jesus rely so heavily on parables when speaking to the crowds? It wasn't just storytelling; it was a deliberate, wise approach to teaching.
Jesus' consistent use of parables with the crowds in Matthew 13 wasn't accidental. It was a strategic choice rooted in wisdom and purpose.
A Method for Understanding (and Not Understanding)
The parables Jesus told weren't just stories; they were powerful pictures of the Kingdom of Heaven itself. How does this change how we see its growth?
The parables Jesus shared in Matthew 13, like the mustard seed and the leaven, reveal the dynamic nature of God's Kingdom.
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From Small Beginnings to World Impact
These parables counter any expectation of an immediate, grand, earthly display of power. Instead, they point to a kingdom that grows, spreads, and transforms from within, often in ways that defy worldly expectations.
Understand the original words
plēroō · Greek Verb
To make something true or bring it to completion, especially regarding the prophetic Scriptures. It signifies that the events of Jesus' life and ministry were in accordance with the divine plan ordained by God in the Old Testament.
prophētēs · Greek Noun
A spokesperson for God, inspired by the Holy Spirit to reveal God’s will or future purposes. In this context, it refers to those who spoke the message of God in the Old Testament, whose words find their ultimate realization in Christ.
katabolē · Greek Noun
In this context, referring to the origin of the created order, the beginning of time, or the inception of the world as established by God. It denotes that which has been determined by God's decree from the very beginning.
Jesus' use of parables to the crowds wasn't just a teaching method; it was a deliberate act fulfilling ancient prophecy and reflecting a pattern of divine communication that simultaneously revealed truth to the seeking and veiled it from the indifferent.
c. 780 BC
Asaph's Psalm of Instruction
The prophet Asaph, a musician in King David's court, composes Psalm 78, which uses parables to recount Israel's history and God's faithfulness, setting a precedent for teaching through allegorical stories.
c. 28 BC - AD 6
Roman Census and Quirinius' Governorship
A Roman census, later associated with Quirinius, the governor of Syria, leads to unrest and heightened Roman control in Judea, creating a tense political climate.
c. AD 27-30
Jesus' Galilean Ministry Begins
Jesus begins his public ministry in Galilee, teaching in synagogues and towns, gathering a large following, and performing miracles.
c. AD 30— this verse
Jesus Teaches the Multitudes in Parables
Jesus delivers a series of parables, including those of the Sower, the Wheat and Tares, the Mustard Seed, and the Leaven, to large crowds. He deliberately uses parables, speaking nothing directly, in a manner designed to both reveal and conceal truth.
c. AD 30
Jesus Explains Parables Privately
After teaching the crowds, Jesus privately explains the meaning of his parables to his inner circle of disciples, revealing the deeper mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven to them alone.
c. AD 60-65
Gospel of Matthew Written
The Gospel of Matthew is written, likely in Greek, to a predominantly Jewish Christian audience. It preserves Jesus' teachings, including the parables from Matthew 13, and emphasizes Jesus as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy.
This verse explicitly states that the psalmist will open his mouth in parables and utter hidden things, directly fulfilling the prophecy quoted in Matthew 13:35 about Jesus' teaching method.
Isaiah 6:9-10This passage describes a prophecy where God intentionally uses seeing without perceiving and hearing without understanding, mirroring the effect of Jesus' parables on the crowds who heard but did not grasp the deeper meaning.
Mark 4:33-34This parallel passage in Mark emphasizes that Jesus spoke the word to the crowds 'as they were able to hear it' and privately explained everything to his disciples, highlighting the intentionality of his parabolic teaching for different audiences.
1 Corinthians 1:23Paul speaks of 'Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,' which aligns with how the crowds, like the Jews of that day, might have rejected the message delivered in the humble, unexpected form of parables.
John 10:6This verse mentions that the crowds did not understand the meaning of Jesus' parables, showing that this was a consistent pattern and outcome of his teaching method in the Gospels.
barnesMatthew 13:34: "All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them:"
That it might be fulfilled - This is taken from Psalm 78:2-3 . The sense, and not the very words of the Psalm, are given. Christ taught, as did that prophet - Asaph - in parables. The words of Asaph described the manner in which Christ taught, and in this sense it could be said that they were fulfilled. See the notes at Matthew 1:22-23 .
calvinMatthew 13:31-35: "Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field:"
- He delivered another parable to them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard, which a man took and sowed in his field: 32. Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown up, it is the largest among herbs, [220] and becometh a tree, so that the fowls of heaven come and make their nests among its…
It's easy to read this and think Jesus only spoke in parables from this point forward, but the verse emphasizes this was his method "unto the multitude" during this specific teaching session. He was deliberately choosing this narrative, figurative style for the crowds, while reserving fuller explanations for his disciples later.
Jesus has just shared several parables about the Kingdom of Heaven, like the mustard seed and the leaven, revealing its nature and growth. This verse emphasizes that for the crowds listening, Jesus exclusively used these symbolic stories, saving direct explanations for his disciples when they were alone. This method fulfilled ancient prophecy and served a purpose in how God's message was received.
Jesus has just shared several parables about the Kingdom of Heaven, like the mustard seed and the leaven, revealing its nature and growth. This verse emphasizes that for the crowds listening, Jesus exclusively used these symbolic stories, saving direct explanations for his disciples when they were alone. This method fulfilled ancient prophecy and served a purpose in how God's message was received.
"All these things Jesus said to the crowds in parables; indeed, he said nothing to them without a parable. This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet:
“I will open my mouth in parables;
I will utter what has been hidden…" — It's easy to read this and think Jesus *only* spoke in parables from this point forward, but the verse emphasizes this was his method "unto the multitude" during this specific teaching session. He wa…
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Last reviewed October 2026