² He began to teach them many things in parables, and in his teaching he said to them:^(A)

¹¹ And he said to them, “To you has been given the secret^[a] of the kingdom of God, but for those outside everything comes in parables,^(A)

²³ And he called them to him and spoke to them in parables, “How can Satan cast out Satan?^(A)

The Use of Parables

³⁴ Jesus told the crowds all these things in parables; without a parable he told them nothing.^{(A) 35} This was to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet:^[a]

The Purpose of the Parables

¹⁰ Then the disciples came and asked him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?”

³ And he told them many things in parables, saying: “Listen! A sower went out to sow.

¹⁶ Then Jesus answered them, “My teaching is not mine but his who sent me.^{(A) 17} Anyone who resolves to do the will of God will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own.^(B)

Jesus Denounces the Scribes

³⁸ As he taught, he said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces^(A)

The Use of Parables

³³ With many such parables he spoke the word to them as they were able to hear it;^{(A) 34} he did not speak to them except in parables, but he explained everything in private to his disciples.^(B)

²⁸ Now when Jesus had finished saying these words, the crowds were astounded at his teaching,^(A)