A parable is a short, simple story designed to communicate a spiritual truth, religious principle, or moral lesson; a figure of speech in which truth is illustrated by a comparison or example drawn from everyday experiences.
A parable is often no more than an extended metaphor or simile, using figurative language in the form of a story to illustrate a particular truth. The Greek word for "parable" literally means "a laying by the side of" or "a casting alongside," thus "a comparison or likeness." In a parable something is placed alongside something else, in order that one may throw light on the other. A familiar custom or incident is used to illustrate some truth less familiar.
Although Jesus was the master of the parabolic form, He was not the first to use parables. Examples of the effective use of parables are found in the Old Testament. Perhaps the best known of these is Nathan's parable of the rich man who took the little ewe lamb that belonged to a poor man (2 Samuel 12:1-4). By means of this parable, Nathan reproved King David and convicted him of his sin of committing adultery with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 12:5-15). A wise woman of Tekoa also used a parable (2 Samuel 14:5-7) to convince King David to let his son return to Jerusalem.
Jesus' characteristic method of teaching was through parables. His two most famous parables are the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32) and the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37). Both parables illustrate God's love for sinners and God's command that we show compassion to all people. Actually, the parable of the prodigal son (sometimes called the parable of the lost son or the parable of the loving father) is the story of two lost sons: the younger son (typical of tax collectors and prostitutes) who wasted possessions with indulgent living, and the older son (typical of the self-righteous scribes and Pharisees) who remained at home but was a stranger to his father's heart.
Some entire chapters in the Gospels are devoted to Jesus' parables; for instance, Matthew 13 -which contains the parables of the sower (vv. 1-23), the wheat and the tares (vv. 24-30), the mustard seed (vv. 31-32), the leaven (vv. 33), the hidden treasure (vv. 44), the pearl of great price (vv. 45-46), and the dragnet (vv. 47-52).
Although parables are often memorable stories, impressing the listener with a clear picture of the truth, even the disciples were sometimes confused as to the meaning of parables. For instance, after Jesus told the parable of the wheat and the tares (Matthew 13:24-30), the disciples needed interpretation in order to understand its meaning (Matthew 13:36-43). Jesus sometimes used the parabolic form of teaching to reveal the truth to those that followed Him and to conceal the truth from those who did not (Matthew 13:10-17; Mark 4:10-12; Luke 8:9-10). His parables thus fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah 6:9-10. Like a double-edged sword, they cut two ways -enlightening those who sought the truth and blinding those who were disobedient.
Most of Jesus' parables have one central point. Thus, Bible students should not resort to fanciful interpretations that find "spiritual truth" in every minute detail of the parable. The central point of the parable of the Good Samaritan is that the "hated" Samaritan proved to be a neighbor to the wounded man. He showed the traveler mercy and compassion denied to him by the priest and the Levite, representatives of the established religion. The one central point of this parable is that we should also extend compassion to others -even those who are not of our own nationality, race, or religion (Luke 10:25-37).
In finding the central meaning of a parable, the Bible student needs to discover the meaning the parable had in the time of Jesus. We need to relate the parable to Jesus' proclamation of the kingdom of God and to His miracles. This means that parables are more than simple folk stories; they are expressions of Jesus' view of God, people, salvation, and the new age that dawned in His ministry. A good example of this approach are the parables dealing with the four "lost" things in Luke 15:3-32: the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the two lost sons. The historical context is found in Luke 15:1-2: Jesus had fellowship with tax collectors and sinners. The Pharisees and scribes, the "religious experts" of Jesus' day, saw such action as disgusting because, in their view, it transgressed God's holiness. If Jesus truly were a righteous man, they reasoned, then He would not associate with such people; He would keep Himself pure and separate from sinners.
In response to their murmuring, Jesus told them parables. God rejoices more, He said, over the repentance of one sinner (those sitting with Him at the table) than over "ninety-nine just persons which need no repentance" (Luke 15:7) -that is, than over the religious professionals who congratulate themselves over their own self-achieved "righteousness" (see the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector; Luke 18:9-14). Likewise, the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-24) represents the tax collectors and sinners; the older son (Luke 15:25-32) represents the scribes and the Pharisees.
A major theme in Jesus' parables is the demand of following Him in authentic discipleship. In the parable of the great supper (Luke 14:15-24), Jesus showed clearly that the time for decision is now. In the parable of the unfinished tower and the king going to war (Luke 14:28-32), Jesus demanded that His followers be prepared to give up all. In the parables of the hidden treasure and the pearl of great price (Matthew 13:44-46), Jesus stated that the kingdom of heaven is of such value that all other treasures in life are of secondary worth. Jesus' parables are a call to a radical decision to follow Him.
The Parables |
of Jesus Christ
Parables that appear only in the Gospel of Matthew
Parables that appear only in the Gospel of Mark
Parables that appear only in the Gospel of Luke
Parables that appear in Matthew and Luke
Parables that appear in Matthew, Mark, and Luke
Parables that appear only in the Gospel of John
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The Parables of Jesus
Parables that appear only in the Gospel of Matthew
The Wheat and the Tares(13:24-30)
The Hidden Treasure(13:44)
The Pearl of Great Price(13:45-46)
The Dragnet(13:47-50)
The Unforgiving Servant(18:21-35)
The Workers in the Vineyard(20:1-16)
The Two Sons(21:28-32)
The Wedding Feast(22:1-14)
The Wise and Foolish Virgins(25:1-13)
The Talents(25:14-30)
Parables that appear only in the Gospel of Mark
The Growing Seed(4:26-29)
The Watchful Doorkeeper(13:32-37)
Parables that appear only in the Gospel of Luke
The Creditor Who Had Two Debtors(7:40-47)
The Good Samaritan(10:25-37)
The Friend Who Came at Midnight(11:5-8)
The Rich Fool(12:13-21)
The Faithful Servant and the Evil Servant(12:35-48)
The Barren Fig Tree(13:6-9)
The Unfinished Tower(14:25-34)
The Lost Coin(15:8-10)
The Lost Son(15:11-32)
The Unjust Steward(16:1-13)
The Condescending Master(17:7-10)
The Persistent Widow(18:9-14)
The Pharisee and the Tax Collector(18:9-14)
The Minas(19:11-27)
Parables that appear in Matthew and Luke
The Two Builders(Matt. 7:24-27; Luke 6:47-49)
The Leaven(Matt. 13:33; Luke 13:20-21)
The Lost Sheep(Matt. 18:10-14; Luke 15:1-7)
Parables that appear in Matthew, Mark, and Luke
The Lamp and the Lampstand(Matt. 5:15-16; Mark 4:21; Luke 8:16)
New Cloth on Old Garments(Matt. 9:16; Mark 2:21; Luke 5:36)
New Wine in Old Wineskins(Matt. 9:17; Mark 2:22; Luke 5:37-39)
A House divided Against Itself(Matt. 12:25-29; Mark 3:32-27; Luke 11:17-22)
The Sower and the Seed(Matt. 13:1-23; Mark 4:1-20; Luke 8:4-15)
The Mustard seed(Matt. 13:31-32; Mark 4:30-32; Luke 13:18-19)
The Wicked Vinedressers(Matt. 21:33-41; Mark 12:1-12; Luke 20:9-18)
The Fig Tree(Matt. 24:32-35; Mark 13:28-31; Luke 21:29-33)
Parables that appear only in the Gospel of John
The Bread of Life(6:32-58)
The Shepherd and the Sheep(10:1-18)
The Vine and the Branches (15:1-8)
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