All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them: / That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.

This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.

To address the multitude is to speak parables

In those days the multitude being very great, and having nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples unto him, and saith unto them, / I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now been with me three days, and have nothing to eat: / And if I send them away fasting to their own houses, they will faint by the way: for divers of them came from far.

The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.

But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.