Jesus spoke this parable to them, but they didn’t understand what he was telling them.
Verse 6. This parable. . They understood not, &c. They did not understand the meaning or design of the illustration.
6. This parable. This is the reason why, proudly vaunting of their wisdom, they rejected the light of Christ; for in a matter not very obscure they are exceedingly dull of apprehension. But they did not understand what things they were which he spoke to them. In this clause the Greek manuscripts differ.
This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them. (b) This word "parable", which the evangelist uses here, signifies a hidden type of speech, when words are not used with their natural meaning, but are used to signify another thing to us.