And his disciples asked him what this parable might be.
επηρωτων δε αυτον οι μαθηται αυτου λεγοντες τις ειη η παραβολη αυτη
7 Church Fathers comment on this verse
The aim of this discussion and the deep lesson within the parable will be revealed by the One who explained it. The esteemed disciples who came before us also struggled to grasp its meaning, prompting them to approach the Revealer of secrets, pleading, "What does this parable mean?"
His followers inquired of Him, “What does this parable signify?” He responded, “You have been granted the insight to comprehend the secrets of the kingdom of God.” Furthermore, He spoke in parables to others. Mark elucidated this further, stating, “To those outside, everything is expressed in parables.” Therefore, one should seek understanding of this in his ninth chapter. This is so that, despite seeing, they do not perceive, and despite hearing, they do not grasp. This interpretation is also found in the same chapter of Mark.
Our Lord Jesus Christ selected His Disciples not from the learned, the noble, the wealthy, or the esteemed, but rather from fishermen, tent-makers, and those who were poor and uneducated. This choice serves to demonstrate that poverty, lack of education, or humble status do not hinder the pursuit of virtue or the understanding of divine truths and spiritual mysteries. It affirms that even someone of modest means or background, who exhibits a genuine inclination towards goodness, can not only grasp divine teachings but, by God's grace, also become a guide for others.
The true barriers to understanding spiritual wisdom arise from our negligence and the relentless pursuit of worldly matters, which lead to our reluctance to invest time in contemplating and remembering the teachings we hear within the church, or to focus on our eternal well-being. This truth is clearly illustrated in today's Gospel reading. After the Lord spoke to the crowd in parables, His disciples approached Him in private, seeking clarification on the meaning and purpose of the parables, and inquired why He communicated in ways that were difficult to understand.
The inquiry posed by the disciples is evident and understandable, yet the Master's response is enigmatic and confusing. It is confusing because it does not directly address their question. They seek to understand the purpose and significance of the parable: what is the meaning behind this parable? However, the Teacher responds not with an explanation, but with the statement, 'To you it is granted to know the mysteries.' The perplexity arises from this affirmation: traditionally, this term 'granted' implies that Jesus intended for some to see and hear without comprehending, leading to the conclusion that such individuals would believe in Him. This notion seems inappropriate and fundamentally contrary to His boundless goodness.
Yet, when we examine the text in the Gospel of Matthew, the obscurity becomes clear, and the confusion is resolved. When they approached Him, the holy Matthew records their inquiry: ‘Why do you speak to them in parables?’ (Matthew 13:10). From this, it is evident that the disciples posed two questions. The first question, ‘Why do you speak to them in parables?’ is recorded by Matthew, while the second question, omitted by him, is, ‘What does this parable mean?’ Jesus responds to the first inquiry by stating, ‘I speak in parables because to you who believe in Me, God has bestowed the gift of insight into the mysteries; however, to those who do not believe, this gift is withheld due to their lack of faith. But He replied, ‘It has been granted to you to comprehend the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted’ (Matthew 13:11). He articulates that He speaks in parables: for those who observe miracles with physical sight do not perceive them with spiritual understanding, and those who hear with corporeal ears fail to grasp the truths spoken clearly, thus requiring the use of parables. This is why He teaches in parables, so that those who claim to see do not actually perceive, and those who hear do not genuinely understand; lest they should become aware, as those who resist comprehension without parables are addressed in such a manner. The esteemed Matthew, having recorded the disciples' initial question and stated, ‘As it has been granted to you,’ clarified the obscurity, while his following remark, ‘so that those who see do not see,’ addressed the confusion. In this manner, the Lord answered the first question, ‘Why do you speak in parables?’ and subsequently addressed the second inquiry, ‘What does this parable mean?’ providing insight into its true significance.
Once Jesus completed his parables, his disciples approached him with a question: ‘Why do you speak to them in parables?’ Christ responded, ‘I speak to them in parables so that while they see, they do not perceive, and while they hear, they do not comprehend. Although they are not physically blind or deaf, the influence of their misguided leaders—the scribes and Pharisees—has dulled their understanding of the signs they have witnessed and the teachings they have received. Thus, the words of Isaiah are realized in them: ‘You will hear with your ears and not understand, and you will look with your eyes and not see, for the hearts of these people have grown dull.
They scarcely hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, so they might turn and I would heal them’ (Matthew 13:14-15; Isaiah 6:9-10). The extent of their corruption is such that they consciously choose to be deaf to the truth, shutting their eyes to undeniable signs, fearing that such awareness might lead them to repent and find salvation. However, Christ does not distance Himself from them; instead, He imparts teachings about the Kingdom of Heaven, albeit in metaphorical language, permitting them to search for understanding should they desire. Those who genuinely seek to grasp the meaning of His parables will be granted insight, and this understanding shall grow within them. Conversely, those lacking such desire will remain unresponsive to Christ's teachings, irrespective of how they are presented; their innate knowledge of God, regardless of their stage in religious development, will become ineffectual, as if it has been taken from them (Matthew 13:12). Yet, for the apostles—who forsook worldly attachments to follow Christ and thus cultivated faith and a true desire to learn from Him—the comprehension of divine mysteries became attainable. They can perceive what others, lacking faith or desire, fail to hear and see, and to them, the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven have been revealed.
After concluding this parable, the Savior proclaimed in various important ways: “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear!” This remark was seemingly superfluous, as many listeners, despite having the ability to hear, lacked the insight needed to grasp the parable's meaning. Surprisingly, even the apostles were puzzled by its significance, and upon returning to the home of Peter in Capernaum, they did not hesitate to seek clarification. Their inquiry revealed that the parable had made a profound impact on them and had awakened a thought that sought understanding.
The parable of the sower and the seed is presented in the Gospel of Luke. This account closely resembles the versions found in Matthew (Matt. 13:3-9) and Mark (Mark 4:3-9). The rationale for teaching through parables is articulated here more succinctly than in the first Gospel (Matthew 13:10-17) and aligns more closely with the account in Mark (Mark 4:10-12). The interpretation of the parable provided by the Savior is consistent across all three Gospel writers. While there are slight variations in wording throughout the narrative, the overall message and interpretation remain uniform, with all key elements preserved. Refer to the notes on Matthew 13:3-23 and Mark 4:3-20 for further details.
Passages read together with this verse.
Greek text, 11 words with lemma, transliteration and Strong’s number. Tap to expand.
THEOSIS