In addition to His more direct teaching, Jesus also taught in parables. He told thirty-nine parables: most in Matthew and Luke, a small number in Mark, and none in John.
A common form of teaching in Judaism, a parable is a long analogy, often cast in the form of a story. At the beginning of His ministry, Jesus had used many graphic analogies, but their meaning was fairly clear in the context of His teaching. Parables require more explanation, and Jesus used them to obscure the truth from unbelievers while making it clearer to His disciples. For the remainder of His Galilean ministry, in fact, He did not speak to the multitudes except in parables (Matthew 13:34).