In fact, in his public ministry he never taught without using parables; but afterward, when he was alone with his disciples, he explained everything to them.
Parallel translations
- WEB Without a parable he didn’t speak to them; but privately to his own disciples he explained everything.
- KJV But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.
- BSB He did not tell them anything without using a parable. But privately He explained everything to His own disciples.
- NKJV But without a parable He did not speak to them. And when they were alone, He explained all things to His disciples.
- NASB and He did not speak to them without a parable; but He was explaining everything privately to His own disciples.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Jesus taught crowds only in parables but privately explained their meaning to his disciples.
Overview
Here Mark distinguishes the public teaching of the multitude from the private instruction of those who followed Jesus. The disciples received the explanation because they had drawn near to him, illustrating that intimacy with Christ brings understanding of the kingdom. This pattern points to the privilege of those given ears to hear and a heart to follow.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- John 16:25I have spoken these things to you in figures of speech. But the time is coming when I will no more speak to you in figures of speech, but will tell you plainly about the Father.
- Luke 24:27Beginning from Moses and from all the prophets, he explained to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.
- Mark 4:10When he was alone, those who were around him with the twelve asked him about the parables.
- Matt 15:15–20Peter answered him, “Explain the parable to us.”
- Matt 13:36–43Then Jesus sent the multitudes away, and went into the house. His disciples came to him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the darnel weeds of the field.”
- Luke 24:44–46He said to them, “This is what I told you, while I was still with you, that all things which are written in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms, concerning me must be fulfilled.”
- Luke 8:9–10Then his disciples asked him, “What does this parable mean?”
- Mark 7:17–23When he had entered into a house away from the multitude, his disciples asked him about the parable.
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Christ at the center
Mark drives urgently to the cross, showing Jesus the Son of God as the suffering Servant who 'came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.'
How Mark 4:34 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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