And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be?
What.
Hosea 6:3 Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.
Matthew 13:10,18,36 And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? …
Matthew 15:15 Then answered Peter and said unto him, Declare unto us this parable.
what this parable meant.
Parables were a common teaching method used by Jesus, employing everyday situations to convey deeper spiritual truths. The use of parables fulfilled the prophecy in Psalm 78:2, which speaks of teaching in parables to reveal hidden things. The disciples' question indicates that the meaning of parables was not always immediately clear, even to those closest to Jesus. This particular inquiry follows the Parable of the Sower, which is foundational for understanding the nature of the Kingdom of God and the varied responses to the Gospel message. The disciples' need for explanation highlights the mystery of the Kingdom and the necessity of divine revelation for true comprehension, as seen in 1 Corinthians 2:14, where spiritual truths are discerned through the Spirit.
“Then His disciples asked Him…” (Luke 8:9)
• “Then” links directly to Jesus finishing the Parable of the Sower (Luke 8:4-8). The crowd heard the story; immediately afterward the disciples want more.
• The timing underscores how truth often demands an immediate response (Acts 17:11).
• It shows the pattern Jesus follows: He teaches publicly, then clarifies privately for those who stay close (Mark 4:10; Matthew 13:10).
“…His disciples…”
• The inquiring group is not the curious crowd but those who have already left everything to follow Him (Luke 5:11).
• Their relationship grants special access to deeper insight (John 15:15; Proverbs 3:32).
• True disciples continually pursue understanding rather than settling for surface familiarity (John 6:68-69).
“…asked Him…”
• They turn directly to Jesus, modeling dependence on the Teacher rather than human speculation (James 1:5; Matthew 7:7).
• The moment pictures prayer itself—coming to Christ with questions and expecting answers (Jeremiah 33:3; John 16:24).
• Their asking also fulfills His invitation: “Come to Me” (Matthew 11:28), portraying intimate conversation rather than formal distance.
“…what this parable meant.”
• Parables veil truth from the hard-hearted but reveal it to seekers (Luke 8:10; 1 Corinthians 2:14-16).
• By pressing for meaning, the disciples display the hunger that God promises to satisfy (Psalm 119:18; Proverbs 2:3-5).
• Jesus soon explains that the seed is God’s word, the soils are hearts, and fruitfulness hinges on hearing with faith (Luke 8:11-15; 2 Timothy 2:7).
• Their question teaches that understanding Scripture is not automatic; it comes through humble inquiry and the Lord’s illumination (Psalm 25:14).
Luke 8:9 captures the heart posture God blesses: disciples who immediately move from hearing to seeking, who turn straight to Jesus for clarity, and who believe He will unveil the meaning hidden from casual listeners. The verse invites every believer to pursue that same closeness—listening, asking, and receiving insight that leads to a fruitful life.
Verse 9. - And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be! This is the only parable St. Luke gives as spoken by our Lord in this place. St. Matthew - who gives the additional detail that on account of the pressure of the crowd on the lake-shore it was spoken from a boat moored close to the bank - relates seven parables here in sequence. It is probable that the Master spoke some of these at least on this occasion, but St. Luke, possibly on account of its extreme solemnity, possibly because he wished to mark this parable as the first of this new kind of teaching, relates it and its interpretation only, saying nothing further respecting that day's parable-teaching. It is most probable that all these reported discourses, parables, expositions, or sermons, are simply a resume of the original words. The disciples evidently by their question - which St. Mark tells us was put to Jesus when they were alone with him - were surprised and puzzled, first at the strange change which that eventful day inaugurated in the method of their Master's teaching, and secondly, at the peculiar character of this his first great parable-lesson. It was, indeed, a sombre and depressing announcement whatever way it was looked at - sombre as a picture of the results of his own past ministry, depressing if regarded as a prophecy of their future success as teachers.