Approximately one third of Jesus’ teachings in the New Testament consist of some forty parables and twenty
parabolic statements.
A parable is a form of speech used to illustrate and make a point with the help of a picture. Recognizable
and perhaps a story that the audience can identify with, the picture is intended to provide an understanding of
abstract religious concepts. Since this form of speech translates one set of thought forms from one conceptual scheme
into another, it is paramount to understand the original content / context of the picture least the intended meaning
of the parable is lost.
Example: He spoke another parable to them, "The kingdom of heaven is like leaven,
which a woman took and hid in three pecks of flour until it was all leavened."
(Matt 13:33)
The parable develops out of a simile or a figurative saying (the kingdom of heaven is like
leaven). The image is something understood (leaven), and it is used to clarify the unknown reality (kingdom of
heaven). In the context of the immediately preceding parables
(Matt 13:1-32), the meaning of the parable is rooted in the process
of making bread where yeast leavens flour and makes the dough grow. In like fashion the kingdom of heaven will
inexorably grow (i.e. number of Believers).
Parables are wonderfully instructive, because there is only one principle point of comparison,
and they attempt to overwhelm any objection by using images that cannot be doubted.
To understand what a true parable is and its characteristics, it is worthwhile to understand other figurative
speech associated with it and how they are distinguished from the pure parable. There are six other categories of
figurative language that Jesus uses that have been confused with parables: 1) figurative sayings, 2) metaphors, 3)
similes, 4) parabolic stories, 5) illustrative stories and 6) allegories.
A figurative saying is a statement that places reality and an image alongside together without a comparative
adverb such as "as," so that the image (what is known) may provide clarity to the reality (what is unknown).
Example: You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless,
how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot
by men. (Matt 5:13)
In the Sermon on the Mount of Beatitudes, Jesus is speaking about disciples and their role in
world, and His illustration makes a point about disciples. The reality (disciples) and image (salt of the earth).
As salt does not lose its character, the figurative meaning of this passage is disciples don’t lose your faith in
Jesus Christ.
A metaphor is a figurative expression in which a name or descriptive term is applied to some object to
which it is not literally or properly applicable. In contrast to figurative saying, metaphor places the image in
substitution of reality.
Example: Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do
not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your
eye,’ and behold, the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will
see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.
(Matt 7:3-5;
Luke 6:41-42)
In this warning against hypocritical judging, Jesus illustrates His point with a strong hyperbole.
The image (speck and its hyperbole log) and reality (personal faults). The figurative meaning: a person should not
be critical of a small fault of a friend when that person has a bigger personal fault. Judgments should be made but
discernment must be exercised to know what would be appreciated and beneficial
(Matt 3:6).
A simile is a sentence in which the image and reality are placed beside each other with a comparative
adverb (i.e. "as").
Example: "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd
as serpents and innocent as doves." (Matt 10:16)
With similes, there is one principle point of comparison. In this example, the disciples are
compared as sheep, defenseless and vulnerable (if not for the shepherd). They are to be shrewd as a snake is
circumspect in avoiding danger. And as innocent as doves are to be pure in thought and character.
A parabolic story differs from the parable in that its picture, a fictional story, is recounted as though
it really happened. It is a story of what a fictional person did or would do without asking whether others would act
in the same way.
Example: Then He said to them, "Suppose one of you has a friend, and goes to
him at midnight and says to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine has come to me from a journey,
and I have nothing to set before him'; and from inside he answers and says, 'Do not bother me; the door has already
been shut and my children and I are in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.' I tell you, even though he will
not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will get up and give
him as much as he needs. So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it
will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it will be
opened. Now suppose one of you fathers is asked by his son for a fish; he will not give him a snake instead of a
fish, will he? Or if he is asked for an egg, he will not give him a scorpion, will he? If you then, being evil, know
how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who
ask Him?" (Luke 11:5-13)
In this discussion on prayer, Jesus uses the first parabolic story
(Luke 11:5-10) to encourage persistence in prayer and be steadfast
in that effort. In His second parabolic story (Luke 11:11-13),
Jesus reveals that God gives His children what is good for them, not what harms them. For the disciples this good
gift was the Holy Spirit.
Despite being fictional, the parabolic story provides some clarity to the reality of abstract
concepts (in this case, prayer and the nature of God), because its story is rooted in human behaviors that are
generally known and acknowledged.
Found only in the book of Luke, the illustrative story is a freely invented story that provides an example
for moral human behavior.
Example: Two men went into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a
tax collector. The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself, "God, I thank You that I am not like other people:
swindlers, unjust, adulterers or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get."
But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating
his breast, saying, "God, be merciful to me, the sinner!" I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather
than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.
(Luke 18:10-14)
In this discussion on prayer, Jesus draws attention to the standard by which one judges
righteousness: the Pharisee used others as his standard whereas the tax collector used God. The illustrated story
warns those who hold a high view of themselves and that righteousness is based on the humble appeal to God’s mercy.
An allegory is a freely invented story that has metaphor on top of metaphor, pictures upon pictures, such
that the true meaning of the images is hidden. To understand the allegory, one must understand and translate the
metaphors in sequence before the truth is known, and often this literary form is intended, not to make facts known,
but to appraise known facts. Sometimes this risks the invitation for an allegorical approach of Bible interpretation
that seeks to find hidden spiritual meaning instead of intended or historical ones.
The following is aptly described as an allegory but is considered a parable
(Matt 22:1).
Example: Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying, "The kingdom of heaven
may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son. And he sent out his slaves to call those who had
been invited to the wedding feast, and they were unwilling to come. Again he sent out other slaves saying, "Tell
those who have been invited, ‘Behold, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and my fattened livestock are all butchered
and everything is ready; come to the wedding feast.’" But they paid no attention and went their way, one to his own
farm, another to his business, and the rest seized his slaves and mistreated them and killed them. But the king was
enraged, and he sent his armies and destroyed those murderers and set their city on fire. Then he said to his slaves,
'The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. Go therefore to the main highways, and as many as
you find there, invite to the wedding feast.' Those slaves went out into the streets and gathered together all they
found, both evil and good; and the wedding hall was filled with dinner guests. But when the king came in to look over
the dinner guests, he saw a man there who was not dressed in wedding clothes, and he said to him, 'Friend, how did
you come in here without wedding clothes?' And the man was speechless. Then the king said to the servants, 'Bind
him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'
For many are called, but few are chosen." (Matt 22:1-14)
In this third parable to chief priests and elders during His last week in Jerusalem, Jesus reveals
information about the kingdom of heaven. He compares it to a wedding banquet whose invited guests (in reality the
nation of Israel) refuse to come and reject the invitation by mistreating and killing the king’s servants (in reality
Jesus and John the Baptist). Subsequently the king invites anyone (in reality the Gentiles); however, only those
properly clothed can enjoy the banquet (in reality genuine Believers).