Matthew 13:10

Then the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Why do You speak to the people in parables?”

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — The disciples approach Jesus after He concludes a parable and commands the crowd to listen, asking Him directly why He teaches the masses using parables.

The words — προσελθόντες (proselthontes) records the disciples' physical approach, while διὰ (dia) and τὶ (ti) structure their precise inquiry into the reason behind His teaching method.

The thread — Mark 4:10 places this same question in a private setting with the Twelve, and Mark 4:33 shows it aligns with Jesus' consistent practice of delivering many parables calibrated to what listeners could grasp.

Why it lands — The text presents a factual inquiry that precedes Jesus' disclosure of divine mystery, requiring the reader to decide whether they are seeking understanding or merely observing.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

ΚαὶKaiAnd προσελθόντεςproselthonteshaving come οἱhoithe μαθηταὶmathētaidisciples εἶπανeipansaid αὐτῷ·autōto Him;διὰdiaBecause of τίtiwhy ἐνenin παραβολαῖςparabolaisparables λαλεῖςlaleisspeak You αὐτοῖς;autoisto them?

King James Version

And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?

Cross-references

Mark 4:33 With many such parables Jesus spoke the word to them, to the extent that they could understand.
Mark 4:10 As soon as Jesus was alone with the Twelve and those around Him, they asked Him about the parable.