Matthew 13:34-35
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)
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Jesus wasn't just telling stories; his entire teaching method to the crowds at this point was built around parables, implying a deliberate choice to veil deeper truths from those not yet ready to fully grasp them. This exclusivity highlights a divine strategy to reveal truths progressively, protecting the sacred from those who would misuse or misunderstand it.
Jesus has just finished sharing several parables about the Kingdom of Heaven, like the mustard seed and the leaven, to the crowds. This verse explains that during this teaching session, parables were his exclusive method for speaking to the masses, reserving fuller explanations for his disciples later. This approach was fulfilling ancient prophecy about a teacher who would reveal hidden truths through symbolic stories.
Did Jesus really only speak in parables? This verse makes a bold claim! Let's uncover what 'parable' truly meant to Jesus and His audience.
This verse emphasizes that Jesus' teaching to the crowds in chapter 13 was exclusively through parables.
Why Parables?
Jesus described His kingdom using tiny seeds and hidden yeast. Why start with such small, seemingly insignificant things?
The parables in Matthew 13, like the mustard seed and the leaven, highlight the often-unseen and humble beginnings of God's kingdom.
Growth from Smallness
These images counter the expectation of a powerful, earthly kingdom that would immediately impress the world. Instead, Jesus pointed to a spiritual reality that starts small but possesses an unstoppable, divine power to grow and transform.
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 with the crowds, while explaining them privately to disciples, fulfilled ancient prophetic patterns and served to both reveal and conceal the mysteries of God's kingdom.
c. 780 BC
Asaph's Psalm of Instruction
The prophet Asaph, a Levite musician in David's court, composed Psalm 78, which uses parables and proverbs to teach about God's faithfulness and Israel's unfaithfulness.
c. 20 BC - AD 30
Jesus' Public Ministry
Jesus travels throughout Galilee, teaching, healing, and gathering disciples, proclaiming the arrival of the Kingdom of Heaven.
c. AD 28-30— this verse
Jesus Teaches the Crowds
During His ministry, Jesus addresses large crowds, often using parables to illustrate the nature and truths of the Kingdom of Heaven.
c. AD 30
Jesus Explains to Disciples
After teaching the crowds, Jesus withdraws with His closest disciples to privately explain the meanings of the parables.
This passage directly fulfills the prophecy quoted by Matthew, highlighting that Jesus' use of parables to teach was a deliberate, divinely ordained method, echoing the ancient instruction of God's people.
Isaiah 6:9-10This prophetic declaration speaks of a divine strategy to obscure understanding from those resistant to God's truth, paralleling Jesus' use of parables to both reveal and conceal the mysteries of the kingdom to the crowds.
Mark 4:11-12This parallel account from Mark emphasizes that the parables were given to the crowds as a means of revealing kingdom mysteries to the disciples, while for others, they served to obscure understanding, showing the dual purpose of Jesus' teaching method.
1 Corinthians 1:23This verse highlights the 'offense' of the cross and the 'foolishness' of preaching Christ, reflecting how Jesus' parables, though simple in form, contained profound truths that were often rejected or misunderstood by those who relied on worldly wisdom.
John 10:6This passage notes that the crowd did not understand Jesus' parables, illustrating the specific truth of Matthew 13:34 that the masses often missed the deeper meaning, even though Jesus used parables extensively.
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…
Jesus wasn't just telling stories; his entire teaching method to the crowds at this point was built around parables, implying a deliberate choice to veil deeper truths from those not yet ready to fully grasp them. This exclusivity highlights a divine strategy to reveal truths progressively, protecting the sacred from those who would misuse or misunderstand it.
Jesus has just finished sharing several parables about the Kingdom of Heaven, like the mustard seed and the leaven, to the crowds. This verse explains that during this teaching session, parables were his exclusive method for speaking to the masses, reserving fuller explanations for his disciples later. This approach was fulfilling ancient prophecy about a teacher who would reveal hidden truths through symbolic stories.
Jesus has just finished sharing several parables about the Kingdom of Heaven, like the mustard seed and the leaven, to the crowds. This verse explains that during this teaching session, parables were his exclusive method for speaking to the masses, reserving fuller explanations for his disciples later. This approach was fulfilling ancient prophecy about a teacher who would reveal hidden truths through symbolic stories.
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"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…" — Jesus wasn't just telling stories; his entire teaching method to the crowds at this point was built around parables, implying a deliberate choice to veil deeper truths from those not yet ready to ful…