Paragraph 13:10–17

Jesus began a new topic here. He explained why he used parables. Some English versions begin a new section here. If you want to do that, here are some possible section headings:

Jesus explained the reason he taught using parables
-or-
The Purpose of the Parables (New Revised Standard Version)

13:10a

Then the disciples came to Jesus and asked: Mark 4:10a tells us that Jesus was alone when the disciples came to him in private and asked him why he taught in parables. This indicates that 13:10–23 did not happen immediately after Jesus told the parable. It happened later, away from the crowds.

If people in your area will think that the disciples interrupted Jesus or asked this question in front of the crowd, you may want to:

• Make some of this implied information explicit in the text. For example:

⌊Later⌋ the disciples came to him
-or-
The disciples came to him ⌊privately⌋

• Include a footnote to explain the implied information. For example:

The disciples came to him privately after the crowds were gone (Mark 4:10).

came to Jesus and asked: This phrase shows that the disciples approached Jesus and started the discussion. They started the discussion by asking him a question.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

approached him and asked (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
-or-
came to him ⌊with a question⌋ and asked

13:10b

Why do You speak to the people in parables?: This is a real question. It is not a rhetorical question or a rebuke. Translate this clause as a real question.

Here are some other ways to translate this question:

Why do you use parables when you talk to the people? (Good News Translation)

-or-

⌊Teacher/Lord,⌋ when you speak to the people, why do you use parables?

to the people: The phrase the people refers to the large crowds of people introduced in 13:2.

in parables: See how you translated this phrase in 13:3.

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