Jesus spoke all these things in parables to the multitudes; and without a parable, he didn’t speak to them,
Parallel translations
- KJV All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them:
- BSB Jesus spoke all these things to the crowds in parables. He did not tell them anything without using a parable.
- NKJV All these things Jesus spoke to the multitude in parables; and without a parable He did not speak to them,
- NASB All these things Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables, and He did not speak anything to them without a parable.
- NLT Jesus always used stories and illustrations like these when speaking to the crowds. In fact, he never spoke to them without using such parables.
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 the crowds entirely in parables, speaking to them in no other way at this point. His parabolic teaching both revealed and concealed truth.
Overview
Matthew notes that Jesus addressed the multitudes only in parables during this phase of His ministry. Parables drew in the receptive while veiling the truth from the hardened, as Jesus had earlier explained to His disciples. This method fulfilled prophecy and underscored that understanding the Kingdom is a gift granted to those who seek and believe.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 3
- 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.
- Mark 4:33–34With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it.
- Matt 13:13Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they don’t see, and hearing, they don’t hear, neither do they understand.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 13:34 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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