He did not say anything to them without using a parable. But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything — the summary of Jesus' parabolic teaching practice makes explicit what the discourse has implied throughout: parables for the crowd, explanation for the disciples. The public teaching in parables is not incomplete or misleading but appropriately calibrated to the public; the private explanation to the disciples is the deeper level available to those who pursue it. The disciples' privilege is not arbitrary favoritism but the consequence of their position: they are with Jesus, they ask questions, they receive the explanations. The insider explanation is available to anyone willing to be an insider.

COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS

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