Jesus spoke all these things in parables to the crowds, and without a parable He did not speak to them,
Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.
And He spoke to them many things in parables, saying: "Behold, a sower went out to sow.
This illustration Jesus spoke to them, but they did not understand the things which He spoke to them.
"These things I have spoken to you in figures of speech; but the time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech, but I will tell you plainly about the Father.
His disciples said to Him, "See, now You are speaking plainly, and using no figure of speech!