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The Gospel of Mark Chapter 4:1-25 4.1 - 2. Again he began to teach by the lake. Such a large crowd gathered around him that he got into a boat on the lake and sat there while the whole crowd was on the shore by the lake. He taught them many things in parables, and in his teaching said to them: In the end of the previous chapter we saw how the family of Jesus came to take Him home with them. But He does not go, instead He continues about His Father's business (Luke 3: 49) and withdraws from His family. The Lord never asks of us what He as the Son of Man did not do. In Matthew 10: 37, He said, ’"He who loves or takes more pleasure in father, mother, son or daughter than in Me is not worthy of Me". We do not hear about His family again until we read that His mother was present at His crucifixion (John 19:26). We find Jesus again at the seaside this time sat in the boat teaching the people, not preaching, by means of parables. (Preaching is declaring the good news of salvation and teaching is to instruct in the things of God.)
1. What a Parable is and their purpose 2 & 10 - 12. 4. 10 -12. When he was alone, those around him with the twelve asked him about the parables. He said to them, "The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those outside, everything is in parables, so that although they look they may look but not see, and although they hear they may hear but not understand, so they may not repent and be forgiven." The simple explanation of a parable is, that it is an earthly story with an heavenly meaning. It would be more correct however to say that it is taking an everyday activity or common item and using it to explain a spiritual truth. 4.10. When he was alone, those around him with the twelve asked him about the parables. After He had told the parable to the masses of people Jesus was alone with His twelve disciples and they asked Him what was the purpose of speaking in parables.