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”
• As defined by Vine’s Expository Dictionary of N.T. Words , it “signifies a placing of one thing beside another with a view to comparison”
Wiersbe’s description of a parable...
• As “a story that places one thing beside another for the purpose of teaching”
• “It puts the known next to the unknown so that we may learn”
A parable can usually be identified by the use of the word “like” - cf. Mt 13:31,33
2. AS USED IN THE NEW TESTAMENT, A PARABLE...
• Is usually a story or narrative drawn from nature or human circumstances
• From which spiritual lessons can be made by comparison
• A common definition of a parable is “an earthly story with a heavenly meaning”
[The next question often raised is “Why did Jesus teach in parables?” In other words, why did he not simply speak straightforward when He was teaching? To understand why, we will now consider...]
D. THE PURPOSE OF THE PARABLES
1. THE PRIMARY PURPOSE WAS TO “CONCEAL”...
Parables are among the oldest and most common forms of teaching. Even the Old Testament contains many parables. One classic example is Nathan’s parable to David about the poor man with one little ewe lamb (2 Samuel 12:1-10).
During His earthly ministry, Jesus used this medium of teaching almost constantly, and for a very good purpose. It seems Jesus wanted to teach one part of the crowd that constantly followed Him, while intentionally preventing the other part from understanding what was being said.
In other words, the main purpose for Jesus teaching in parables was to conceal the truth from those whose hearts were already prejudiced and hardened.
“And the disciples came and said to Him, ‘Why do You speak to them in parables?’ He answered and said to them, ‘Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says: “Hearing you will hear and shall not understand, and seeing you will see and not perceive; for the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, so that I should heal them.” But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear; for assuredly, I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.’” (Matthew 13:10-17)
The disciples of the Lord were blessed to learn “the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven” because they had the right attitude toward Jesus and His teaching. But those whose hearts had been hardened by their own wickedness and rebellion were kept from understanding the parables. Essentially, Jesus was attempting to separate truth-seekers from curiosity-seekers. Those of His disciples who were genuinely seeking to know the truth so that they might obey it would ask Jesus, “explain to us the meaning of the parable.” He would then explain the meaning of the parable to them privately (cf. Mark 4:33-34).
The hearts of these disciples were open and receptive to the truths taught by Jesus. Therefore, Jesus said, “For whoever has [an honest and receptive heart], to him more will be given, and he will have abundance [by virtue of the fact that they will learn and apply the teachings of Jesus in their lives]” (Matthew 13:12a).
But those who, for most part, were not interested in obeying the teachings of Jesus would hear the parables, fail to grasp their meaning, and simply brush them off. This is why Jesus added, “but whoever does not have [an honest and receptive heart], even what he has will be taken away from him [by virtue of the fact that he will fail to make application of Jesus’ teaching to his life] (Matthew 13:12b).
The reason these hearers failed to grasp the meaning of the parables of Jesus is because “the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, so that I should heal them.” (Matthew 13:15). They had closed their own eyes and ears from receiving the truth.
IN SUMMARY
Jesus began speaking in parables because of the hardness of many people’s hearts - cf. Mt 13:10-17
• The disciples’ attitude was such that they were blessed to learn “the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven” - Mt 13:10-12, 16-17
• But because of the hard hearts of many in the multitude, Jesus began speaking to them in parables - Mt 13:13-15; cf. Mk 4:10-12
• He would then explain the parables in private to His disciples - Mk 4:33-34
By resorting to parables, Jesus effectively separated the truth seekers from the curiosity seekers!
• Those seeking the truth would say “Explain to us the parable...” - Mt 13:36
• Whereas the simply curious could easily be sent away
Indeed, Jesus used parables to carry out Divine judgment... - cf. Mt 13:12
• “For whoever has (a good heart, listening ears), to him more will be given, and he will have abundance (by virtue of the parable being explained)”
• “But whoever does not have (a good heart, listening ears), even what he has will be taken away from him (by virtue of being sent away with the multitude)”
2. THE SECOND PURPOSE WAS TO “REVEAL”...
There is another reason why Jesus taught in parables, and that was to reveal heavenly truths to just a select group of people – whose hearts were open and receptive to these truths. Jesus was taking the known (earthly truths contained in the parables) and using them to explain the unknown (the greater heavenly truths). Only then would they be able to make a spiritual application or gain spiritual insight from the parables of Jesus. Repeatedly, the Savior said, “the kingdom of heaven is like.” He would then proceed to draw a comparison between the known and the unknown “mysteries of the kingdom of heaven.”
Even though the primary purpose in telling parables was to conceal the “mysteries of the kingdom of heaven” from the multitude!
• For once the disciples understood the basic meaning of the parables...
• ...the comparison of the “known” (earthly) truths with the “unknown” (heavenly) truths would shed further light on the unknown
Therefore, with the help of the Lord’s explanation of His parables we can learn more about “the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven” - cf. Mt 13:34-35
3. THE THIRD PURPOSE WAS TO “APEAL”...
But there is also another reason why Jesus taught in parables, and that was to appeal to the hearer’s sense of justice before they realized the parable applied to them.
Nathan did this with David (2 Samuel 12:1-10). But Jesus used this approach often when confronting His enemies. The Parable of the Wicked Vinedressers (Matthew 21:33-46) is a classic example. Jesus spoke of wicked vinedressers who refused to pay the owner of the vineyard what he was owed. After sending several emissaries to these corrupt vinedressers, the owner sent his son, whom the vinedressers eventually killed out of bitter envy and hatred. As the chief priests and Pharisees began hearing this parable, they would have begun to side against the unjust and wicked vinedressers. But when the parable was concluded, the Scriptures say, “Now when the chief priests and Pharisees heard His parables, they perceived that He was speaking of them.” (Matthew 21:45). Jesus did for these chief priests and Pharisees what Nathan did for David – causing them to agree with the injustice of the situation and the need for righteous judgment against the guilty parties, before they suddenly realized they were the real subject of the parable.
So, it can be said that Jesus taught in the form of parables to CONCEAL, to REVEAL, and to APPEAL.
OTHER PUROPSES
Jesus used parables in so many different ways. For instance:
1. Jesus very often used parables to instruct, teach, and edify his disciples and followers
2. Jesus used parables as part of a conversation in casual environments. He often used parables as “teachable moments” in such situations. For instance, Jesus told the Parable of The Two Debtors when he was a guest in a Pharisee’s home. He also offered a teachable moment in The Parable of The Fig Tree, a parable from nature.
3. Jesus used parables to answer questions. For instance, Jesus used a parable to answer a lawyer’s question in The Parable Of the Good Samaritan. Jesus also used The Parable Of The Rich Fool to answer questions about a family situation.
4. Jesus used parables to respond to situations observed around Him. He used parables as an opportunity to teach practical lessons for life, living, and pleasing God. For instance, Jesus used The Parable of The Ambitious Guest to illustrate important lessons on humility and how to be a guest.
5. Jesus used parables to respond to those who confronted him on different issues. For instance, Jesus used The Parable of The Two Sons and The Parable of The Wedding Feast to respond to those who challenged him.
[This leads us to the next question, “What are the parables about?” Mt 13:11 certainly gives us a clue...]
E. THE THEME OF THE PARABLES
1. THE GENERALTHEME IS“THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN”...
As suggested by Mt 13:10,11
10. And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
11. He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
As illustrated with several parables, which all start with “The kingdom of heaven is like...” - Mt 13:24,31,33,44,45,47
Indeed, the “kingdom of heaven” was the theme of...
• Jesus’ itinerant ministry - Mt 4:17,23
• His sermon on the mount - Mt 5:3,10,19-20; 6:10,33; 7:21
2. THREE “SUB-THEMES” ARE STRESSED IN THE PARABLES...
The character of the KINGDOM - for example...
• The Parable of the Mustard Seed
• The Parable of the Leaven
• The Parable of the Hidden Treasure
• The Parable of the Pearl of Great Price
The character of the KING - for example...
• The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard
• The Parable of the Lost Son
The character of the KING’S SUBJECTS - for example...
• The Parable of the Good Samaritan
• The Parable of the Persistent Widow
[Of course, the sub-themes often overlap in some parables, but they clearly demonstrate that the overall theme of the parables was “the kingdom of heaven.” Finally, a few thoughts in answer to the question, “How do we interpret the parables?”]
F. THE INTERPRETATION OF THE PARABLES OF JESUS
On occasions, Jesus provides the interpretation of the parable. But on other occasions, we are left to interpret the parable for ourselves.
When attempting to interpret parables, there are a few extremes to avoid.
First, avoid the extreme of reading too much into the parable. Some make the mistake of reading deep spiritual truths into every minute detail (eisegesis), rather than drawing simple truths from the parable (exegesis). Parables are meant to reveal simple, basic truths to those who are seeking to understand the Lord’s teaching, not to confuse His teaching with a wide range of endless theological speculation. The plain, simple truths contained in parables were meant to be carried away in the mind of the hearer, not examined under a microscope or dissected to reveal every minute detail. Therefore, look for the most simple explanation first – the general theme of the parable, then delve deeper into sub-meanings or sub-themes.
Second, avoid the extreme of saying there is just one spiritual truth contained in each parable. However, make certain that the spiritual truths gleaned from the parable are not formulating some new or contradictory doctrine. Truth must agree with truth.
When interpreting a parable of Jesus, there are certain questions that should be asked.
First, ask who was the intended audience, or to whom was Jesus speaking? In most instances, the intended audience will be His disciples. But on other occasions, the audience will range from publicans and sinners, to the scribes and Pharisees. A good way to determine the intended audience is to ask who was learning the most from the teaching of Jesus at the time?
Second, ask what did Jesus intend to accomplish by the parable?
This may not always be obvious. For example, the Parables of the Mustard Seed and the Leaven are very brief and offer no clear insight into why Jesus taught these parables. But when we understand that the Savior had just spoken two parables to His disciples that were somewhat discouraging (the Parable of the Sower, and the Parable of the Wheat and the Tares), it seems probable that the Parable of the Mustard Seed and the Leaven were spoken to give the disciples encouragement. On other occasions, the purpose of the parable will become obvious. Some were spoken to those who were more concerned about an outward display of religion than they were in the practical application of such (as in the Parable of the Good Samaritan). Others had problems with forgiveness, or with seeing themselves in need of forgiveness, or with the acquisition of wealth. And still others were intent on killing Jesus, even though they knew He was the Son of God, and needed to know that Jesus was well aware of their evil plans.
Third, ask what is the lesson to be learned? Every parable has a simple lesson to teach. Some will be more apparent than others. But there is a simple lesson to learn from every parable of Jesus. Don’t make the lesson so complex or highly theological. And don’t forget that parables were intended to be simple, direct lessons that could easily be remembered, and whose truths would be unforgettable. Look for the “central” truth in every lesson.
Parables contained the “mysteries of the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 13:11), as well as “things which had been kept secret from the foundation of the world” (Matthew 13:35). However, these mysteries and secret things are now revealed in the wonderful gospel of Christ. In his closing remarks to the church at Rome, the apostle Paul gives us this promise:
“Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began but now has been made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures has been made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith; to God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen.” (Romans 16:25-27).
IN SUMMARY
1. THERE ARE TWO EXTREMES TO AVOID...
• Seeking to find some spiritual truth in every little detail
• Saying that there is only ONE spiritual truth in each parable
2. SOME GUIDELINES FOR PROPER INTERPRETATION...
Learn from the explanations Jesus gave in those parables He explained
• Understanding the parable of the sower helps us to understand other parables - Mk 4:13
• Jesus therefore went on to explain that parable...
Look for the CENTRAL truth of the parable, making sure that any other truths gleaned from the parable are in harmony with it
Consider carefully the CONTEXT of Jesus words...
• Looking for an introduction or an application which may give insight
• As supplied by either the Lord Himself, or His inspired writers
Don’t use the parables to formulate new doctrine
• Remember, parables were originally told to conceal, so they are not always that clear in their meaning
• Therefore don’t try to build a case for a doctrine based solely on a parable
CONCLUSION
1. Following these sensible guidelines to interpreting the Parables of Jesus, we can look forward to the joy of understanding more fully “the mysteries” or revealed truths of the kingdom of heaven
2. As we get into the parables themselves, I hope that we will appreciate how blessed we are to live in an age when people who have a desire to learn about the kingdom can do so:
“But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for the hear;
“for assuredly, I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.” (Mt 13:16- 17)
3. What we are about to study in these parables concern things which Abraham, Moses, David, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, and many others looked forward to, but did not fully understand in their lifetime!
4. Yet these “mysteries of the kingdom of heaven” (Mt 13:11), containing “things kept secret from the foundation of the world” (Mt 13:35), are now being made known through the preaching of the gospel of Christ:
Enjoy your study of the wonderful teachings of Jesus contained in His many parables. I strongly believe that Your knowledge will surely be increased, and your life will truly be enriched.
Dr. Tg Badia
