Introduction To The Parables Of Jesus Series

Introduction To The Parables

Series: The Parables Of Jesus

(Mt 13:1-3,10-17)

INTRODUCTION

There are so many great parables told by Jesus Christ in the Bible.

These parables are still very relevant to us as modern Christians.

All the parables of Jesus Christ teach us, encourage us, motivate us, open our eyes and help us to explore a wide variety of practical applications of Christianity – for instance what it actually means to serve God wholeheartedly, humility and what it means to be humble, what it means to show love, mercy and compassion, how to treat others with kindness and respect, how to avoid embarrassments, the importance of prayer, how to approach God, practical wisdom for daily living, growing in God, the importance of putting what we learn into practice, The Kingdom of God, moral lessons, and so many more.

Parables of Jesus from the Bible are useful & practical for all ages, including little children, youth, and adults. There are Parables from Nature, Parables about Animals, Parables for Children, and Parables about all kinds of people – believers and non-believers, rich and poor, old and young.

A. THE PARABLES OF JESUS

1. During His earthly ministry, as Jesus went about preaching and teaching, He frequently used parables - cf. Mt 13:1-3, 13:34-35

• It has been estimated that at least one-third of Jesus’ recorded teaching is found in the parables

• Certainly many of the most often remembered sayings of Jesus are His parables

2. It is therefore proper for Christians today to ask such questions as:

• What is a “parable”?

• Why did Jesus teach in parables?

• What are they about?

• How should we interpret them?

3. With this lesson, we begin a study on “The Parables Of Jesus”...

• This first lesson will serve as an introduction to the parables in general

• Succeeding lessons will examine further aspects of parables thereafter we will study the parables and their meaning or application.

• [Let’s begin this “Introduction To The Parables” by noticing...]

B. THE DEFINITION OF “PARABLE”

The word parable is a transliteration of the Greek word “parabole” (para-bow-LAY), and comes from two Greek words, “para” (translated “beside”) and “ballein” (translated “to throw”).

Literally, the word parable means “to throw beside,” or “to place beside, or to place together for the purpose of comparing, or making a comparison.”

They can usually be identified by the use of the word “like,” as in Jesus’ statement, “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed,” or “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven” (Matthew 13:31, 33).

In these examples, Jesus was comparing the kingdom of heaven to the attributes or characteristics of a mustard seed and to leaven (yeast).

Some have defined the word parable as “a story by which something real in life is used as a means of presenting a moral thought.”

Others have said a parable “puts the known next to the unknown so that we may learn.”

parables are usually a story or a narrative taken from nature or from everyday human experiences.

Perhaps the most simple definition of all is that a parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning.

The characters in parables do only those things we would expect anyone to do in the normal course of events – such as a sower going out into a field to sow seed, or a merchant going to the marketplace to find costly pearls. The characters in parables are not superhuman, nor do they perform superhuman feats.

The natural events described in parables are also those we would expect to witness in nature – such as seed sown by a sower falling on various kinds of soil, or a mustard seed growing into a large tree, or a drag net bringing all kinds of fish.

C. PARABLES ARE NOT ALLEGORIES, FABLES, MYTHS, OR PROVERBS.

1. an allegory is simply defined as a figurative application or illustration taken from real historical facts or events – as in the allegory of Abraham’s two sons (Galatians 4:22-5:4). On the other hand, Parables speak of supposed events that never really occurred.

2. Fables and myths are stories that are fantasy or larger-than-life. A good example from the Old Testament is the fable of trees that choose a king (Judges 9:8-15).

3. Proverbs are defined as short statements that contain a complete and valuable thought, or short, wise sayings that contain practical truths that are learned by experiences or through observation.

4. Sometimes proverbs and parables are confused, as in the so-called “Parable of the Fig Tree” (Matthew 24:32), which is actually a proverb – a comparative truth learned by experience and observation.

IN SUMMARY

1. THE WORD “PARABLE”...

• Is a transliteration of the Greek word “parabole” (para-bow-LAY)

• Means “to place beside, to cast alongside”