Matthew 13:10

KJV

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

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G2532} the disciples {G3101} came {G4334}, and said {G2036} unto him {G846}, Why {G1302} speakest thou {G2980} unto them {G846} in {G1722} parables {G3850}?

Complete Jewish Bible

Then the talmidim came and asked Yeshua, "Why are you speaking to them in parables?"

Berean Standard Bible

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

American Standard Version

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

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Matthew 13:10 records the disciples' pivotal question to Jesus following His teaching of the Parable of the Sower: "Why speakest thou unto them in parables?" This inquiry marks a crucial transition from Jesus' public teaching to the crowds to a more intimate, explanatory session with His inner circle, revealing their hunger for deeper understanding and setting the stage for Jesus' profound discourse on the purpose and nature of parables in revealing and concealing the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse immediately follows Jesus' public teaching of the [Parable of the Sower](/matthew/13-1-9 "Matthew 13:1-9 - The Parable of the Sower") to a large multitude gathered by the Sea of Galilee. Jesus had just concluded the parable with the call, "Who hath ears to hear, let him hear" ([Matthew 13:9](/matthew/13-9 "Matthew 13:9 - Call to Hear")). The disciples' question in [Matthew 13:10](/matthew/13-10 "Matthew 13:10 - Disciples' Question About Parables") serves as a narrative bridge, shifting the scene from the public discourse to a private conversation between Jesus and His closest followers. This pattern of public teaching followed by private explanation is characteristic of Jesus' ministry, particularly in the [Parable Discourse of Matthew 13](/matthew/13 "Matthew 13 - The Parables of the Kingdom"), where He later expounds on the meaning of the [Parable of the Tares](/matthew/13-36-43 "Matthew 13:36-43 - Explanation of the Parable of the Tares") and others to His disciples.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Jesus' use of parables was not unique in the Jewish world; rabbinic teachers often employed *mashal* (parables or proverbs) to convey moral or spiritual truths. However, Jesus' parables often carried a distinct authority and frequently challenged conventional understanding, sometimes deliberately obscuring meaning for those who were not spiritually receptive. The setting, by the Sea of Galilee, was a common place for large gatherings, as the natural amphitheater-like shore allowed many to hear. The disciples, being steeped in Jewish tradition, would have been familiar with the *mashal* form, but Jesus' specific application and the sheer volume of His parables prompted their inquiry, suggesting a departure from the norm or a deeper purpose they instinctively recognized.
* **Key Themes:** The disciples' question in [Matthew 13:10](/matthew/13-10 "Matthew 13:10 - Disciples Ask About Parables") introduces several pivotal themes within the [Gospel of Matthew](/matthew/1 "The Gospel According to Matthew"): **Divine Revelation and Concealment**, as Jesus explains that understanding the mysteries of the kingdom is granted to some and withheld from others based on their spiritual receptivity ([Matthew 13:11-17](/matthew/13-11-17 "Matthew 13:11-17 - Why Jesus Speaks in Parables")); **Spiritual Discernment**, highlighting the distinction between those who have "ears to hear" and those who do not, implying an active choice or disposition towards truth ([Matthew 13:9](/matthew/13-9 "Matthew 13:9 - The Call to Hear")); and the **Nature of Discipleship**, where true followers of Christ are characterized by their hunger for deeper understanding and their privileged access to spiritual truths not revealed to the general populace ([Matthew 13:16-17](/matthew/13-16-17 "Matthew 13:16-17 - Blessed are Your Eyes and Ears")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **disciples (Greek, _mathētḗs'_):** From *manthanō*, meaning "to learn," this term denotes a learner or pupil. In this context, it refers to Jesus' followers who committed themselves to His teaching and way of life, distinguishing them from the broader crowd. Their identity as "learners" is underscored by their active pursuit of understanding.
* **came (Greek, _prosérchomai'_):** From *pros* ("to") and *erchomai* ("come"), meaning "to approach" or "come near." This word emphasizes the intentionality of the disciples' action. They didn't merely overhear; they actively approached Jesus, indicating their earnest desire for clarification and their privileged access to Him.
* **parables (Greek, _parabolḗ'_):** From *paraballō* ("to cast alongside"), this refers to a similitude, a fictitious narrative of common life conveying a moral or spiritual truth. Jesus' use of parables was a deliberate teaching method, intended to illustrate heavenly realities using earthly analogies, yet also to test the spiritual receptivity of His hearers.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And the disciples came":** This phrase signifies a deliberate action by Jesus' closest followers. Having heard the Parable of the Sower, they did not disperse with the crowd but sought a more intimate audience with their teacher. Their approach highlights their unique position and their desire for deeper spiritual insight.
* **"and said unto him":** This indicates a direct address, a question posed personally to Jesus. It underscores the relational aspect of their discipleship; they felt comfortable and compelled to seek clarification from Him directly, rather than speculating among themselves or dismissing the teaching.
* **"Why speakest thou unto them in parables?":** This is the core of the verse, a direct question concerning Jesus' teaching methodology. The "them" refers to the general crowds, implying the disciples perceived a difference between how Jesus taught the masses and how He taught them privately. Their "why" seeks not just a reason, but an underlying purpose or divine strategy behind this approach.

#### Literary Devices
Matthew 13:10 employs several literary devices. The primary device is **Dialogue**, as it presents a direct exchange between the disciples and Jesus, moving the narrative forward and revealing character and motivation. The disciples' question itself functions as a **Rhetorical Question** on one level, not merely seeking information but expressing their perplexity and prompting Jesus to elaborate on a profound theological truth. The verse also serves as a narrative **Transition**, shifting the scene from public teaching to private instruction, a common structural element in the Gospels. Furthermore, it subtly employs **Contrast** by implicitly distinguishing between the understanding of the disciples and that of the broader crowd, setting the stage for Jesus' explicit explanation of this distinction in the verses that follow.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Matthew 13:10 is a pivotal verse that underscores the nature of divine revelation and the varying receptivity of human hearts to spiritual truth. It reveals that God's truth is not always universally accessible in the same way; rather, it is often veiled to the unresponsive and unveiled to those who genuinely seek it. The disciples' question highlights their spiritual hunger, distinguishing them from the general crowd who merely heard the parables without seeking deeper meaning. This divine principle of selective revelation is rooted in God's sovereign wisdom, designed to test and reveal the true spiritual condition of humanity, fulfilling Old Testament prophecies regarding spiritual blindness and insight.

* [Isaiah 6:9-10](/isaiah/6-9-10 "Isaiah 6:9-10 - Hearts Hardened, Eyes Blinded")
* [Mark 4:10-12](/mark/4-10-12 "Mark 4:10-12 - The Purpose of Parables in Mark")
* [1 Corinthians 2:14](/1_corinthians/2-14 "1 Corinthians 2:14 - The Natural Man Does Not Understand")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The disciples' question in Matthew 13:10 serves as a powerful model for our own spiritual journey. It reminds us that true discipleship involves more than just passively hearing God's Word; it demands an active pursuit of understanding. Like the disciples, we are called to move beyond superficial comprehension, to press into the deeper meanings, and to ask "why?" when faced with truths that challenge or perplex us. This verse encourages a posture of humility and earnest inquiry, recognizing that spiritual insight is a gift often granted to those who diligently seek it. It challenges us to examine our own hearts: are we content with surface-level knowledge, or do we, like the disciples, hunger for the profound mysteries of God's kingdom? Our willingness to ask, to ponder, and to seek further revelation is often a prerequisite for receiving it.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **Am I content with merely hearing God's Word, or do I actively seek deeper understanding and application?**
* **What "parables" or difficult truths in Scripture am I currently struggling to understand, and how am I pursuing clarity?**
* **In what ways does my spiritual hunger compare to that of the disciples in this passage?**
* **How does my receptivity to God's Word impact my ability to grasp spiritual truths?**

### FAQ
**Why did Jesus speak in parables to the crowds but explain them privately to His disciples?**

Answer: Jesus' explanation, found in [Matthew 13:11-17](/matthew/13-11-17 "Matthew 13:11-17 - Jesus Explains Why He Speaks in Parables"), reveals a dual purpose for parables. First, they served to **reveal** the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven to those who were spiritually receptive and had "ears to hear." For His disciples, who had committed to following Him, parables became a means of progressive revelation, with private explanations unlocking deeper truths. Second, parables also served to **conceal** these truths from those whose hearts were hardened, whose eyes were blind, and whose ears were dull of hearing. This was not arbitrary but a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy, particularly from [Isaiah 6:9-10](/isaiah/6-9-10 "Isaiah 6:9-10 - Prophecy of Spiritual Blindness"), demonstrating that those who rejected the light would experience further spiritual darkness. Thus, parables acted as a divine sifting mechanism, distinguishing between those who truly sought God and those who did not.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Matthew 13:10, with the disciples' question, points directly to Christ as the ultimate revealer of truth and the fulfiller of Old Testament prophecies concerning spiritual understanding and blindness. Jesus, as the Word made flesh ([John 1:14](/john/1-14 "John 1:14 - The Word Became Flesh")), is the source of all divine revelation. His use of parables, and His subsequent explanation to His disciples, demonstrates His unique authority to unveil the "mysteries of the kingdom of heaven" ([Matthew 13:11](/matthew/13-11 "Matthew 13:11 - Mysteries of the Kingdom")). He is the one who grants spiritual sight to the blind ([John 9:39](/john/9-39 "John 9:39 - Jesus Came to Give Sight")) and opens the ears of those who are deaf to spiritual truth ([Mark 7:37](/mark/7-37 "Mark 7:37 - He Makes the Deaf Hear")). The distinction Jesus makes between those who are given to understand and those who are not ultimately hinges on their relationship with Him. Through His atoning work, Christ not only reveals truth but also empowers believers by His Spirit to comprehend it, fulfilling the promise of a new covenant where God's law is written on hearts and all shall know Him ([Jeremiah 31:33-34](/jeremiah/31-33-34 "Jeremiah 31:33-34 - The New Covenant")). He is the one who has the words of eternal life ([John 6:68](/john/6-68 "John 6:68 - Peter's Confession")), and it is through Him that true spiritual understanding is found.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Mark 4:33

And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear [it].

Mark 4:34

But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.

Mark 4:10

And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable.