All these things Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables; he did not speak to them without using a parable.
That is why I speak to them in parables, because ‘they see but do not perceive, and they hear but do not listen or understand.’
Then he told them many things in parables, saying, “Behold, a sower went out to sow.
Jesus spoke to them with this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.
“I have told you these things in figures of speech, but an hour is coming when I will no longer use figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father.
His disciples said to him, “Behold, now yoʋ are speaking plainly and not using any figure of speech.