Mark 4:2

4:2 He taught them many things in parables, ¹  and in his teaching said to them:

Mark 4:13

4:13 He said to them, “Don’t you understand this parable? Then ²  how will you understand any parable?

Mark 4:33

The Use of Parables

4:33 So ³  with many parables like these, he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear.

[4:2]  ¹ sn Though parables can contain a variety of figures of speech (cf. 2:19-22; 3:23-25; 4:3-9, 26-32; 7:15-17; 13:28), many times they are simply stories that attempt to teach spiritual truth (which is unknown to the hearers) by using a comparison with something known to the hearers. In general, parables usually advance a single idea, though there may be many parts and characters in a single parable and subordinate ideas may expand the main idea further. The beauty of using the parable as a teaching device is that it draws the listener into the story, elicits an evaluation, and demands a response.

[4:13]  ² tn Grk “And.” Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.

[4:33]  ³ tn Grk “And.” Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of previous action(s) in the narrative.