"You have been given the secret of the Kingdom of God," Jesus answered. "But the others, who are on the outside, hear all things by means of parables,

He would not speak to them without using parables, but when he was alone with his disciples, he would explain everything to them.

So Jesus called them to him and spoke to them in parables: "How can Satan drive out Satan?

I will turn my attention to proverbs and explain their meaning as I play the harp.

I am going to use wise sayings and explain mysteries from the past,

He used parables to tell them many things. "Once there was a man who went out to sow grain.

Then the disciples came to Jesus and asked him, "Why do you use parables when you talk to the people?"

Jesus used parables to tell all these things to the crowds; he would not say a thing to them without using a parable.

He did this to make come true what the prophet had said, "I will use parables when I speak to them; I will tell them things unknown since the creation of the world."

As he taught them, he said, "Watch out for the teachers of the Law, who like to walk around in their long robes and be greeted with respect in the marketplace,

When Jesus finished saying these things, the crowd was amazed at the way he taught.

Jesus answered, "What I teach is not my own teaching, but it comes from God, who sent me.

Whoever is willing to do what God wants will know whether what I teach comes from God or whether I speak on my own authority.

The High Priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and about his teaching.