<p>4:34 <i>Without a parable he did not speak to them, but in private he explained all things to his own disciples</i>- As noted earlier, this marked a changeover in His ministry. He <i>only</i> spoke to Israel in parables; there was no more of the plain teaching of the Kingdom as found in the sermon on the mount. They were expected to have grasped that. If they did not, then it was too late. He also designed things so that He explained the truth of things to those who came to Him wishing to understand, rather than those who simply wanted to experience healings.</p>