Jesus said all this to the crowds in parables; he never spoke to them except in a parable —
I have told you this in figures, but the time is coming when I shall speak to you in figures no longer; I shall let you know plainly about the Father.
This is why I speak to them in parables, because for all their seeing they do not see and for all their hearing they do not hear or understand.
He spoke at some length to them in parables, saying: "A sower went out to sow,
Jesus told them this allegory, but they did not understand what he was saying to them;
His disciples said, "Now, you are talking plainly at last, not speaking in figures.