What is a Parable?
Why did Jesus choose to teach through parables? How do we interpret a parable? In this blog, we delve into why Jesus chose parables, their role in revealing profound messages, and how to navigate their meanings.
What is a parable?
Think of parables as stories with a purpose. They are extended analogies set by something else to reveal a greater truth.
The word parable comes from the Greek word that means to be thrown alongside, so double meanings are precisely what they deal with. They’re usually brief and simple stories. Most of the time, they’re symmetrical, meaning they create an imaginary world that reflects reality with the intention of awakening insight.
They aim to find that purpose through a story that teaches us truths about God and self. That revelation usually occurs at the end of the story.
How does a parable differ from a figure of speech?
Since parables are entire stories, they are longer than a simile or a metaphor.
They’re also more than fables because a fable ends with a moral truth. They have very plain and clear life lessons as takeaways at the end of the story. A parable’s truth isn’t always plainly available or revealed.
While not all of them, some parables are also allegorical. So, while some may contain figures of speech, you have to think of them in the context of how Jesus uses them as storytelling devices to make a spiritual point about the world.
Are all parables allegorical?
With allegories, you have a fictional story that presents itself as an allegory to represent this or that.
However, we have to approach parables more cautiously because not all parables are allegories. In the Parable of the Soils found in Matthew 13 or Mark 4, you have a case where Jesus teaches the parable, then follows up afterward by clarifying what each seed corresponds to.
So, regarding the parables, it’s okay to see some things as allegories. However, many of them are more direct stories.
If some parables are allegories, how do we approach the rest of Scripture to ensure we read it correctly?
Anytime we review a different genre of Scripture, we must understand the author’s purpose and what they’re trying to accomplish. Genre is everything, so it’s important to understand where Scripture is allegorical and where it’s not.
Jesus taught with stories, such as John 12, as a method to provide greater insight. However, that doesn’t mean we need to approach every story by or about Jesus as such.
For example, Jesus’ resurrection from death on the cross, the story of and by the witnesses that He revealed Himself to, are not allegories of a new start but testimonies. The author is portraying a historically accurate presentation.
When Jesus teaches through parables, we must approach them through a storytelling lens. Comparatively, when the Gospel authors teach things as truth, we have to approach them with a historical lens.
The problem with approaching every parable as allegorical is we can become too immersed in the details and what they could represent. You want to avoid overanalyzing parables because, in doing so, you will overlook the greater message Christ was sharing.
The greater goal of parables is seeking the intended purpose rather than getting lost in the weeds.
If there’s so much room for misunderstanding, why did Jesus teach in parables?
Even the disciples asked Jesus that one!
Often in Scripture, following a parable, the disciples would pull Jesus aside and ask Him to explain the greater truth. Jesus often explained for a few reasons, one of which was that they were intended to cause separation.
When Jesus taught through parables, He enacted and lived out a prophetic tradition. He was lifting truth in a way that those who sought after Him would get it, and those who weren’t seeking Him were going to have their hearts hardened further. This revealed a greater truth for those in the light, and a greater truth about the Kingdom was shared through subtleties.
But He also shared through parables because we are narrative people. We love stories, and Jesus knew this because God created us. He uses storytelling and plot to pull us in before confronting us with truths and purpose.
The goal was that we would see ourselves in the stories, and bullet points can’t accomplish that. The parables speak to our conscience and imagination in a way that other aspects of Scripture don’t
If Jesus is for everyone, why did He allow the separation?
This is important in how we think of and understand Scripture. Christ presented Himself to all, and as He taught, greater truths of Him were revealed. There is nowhere in Scripture where Jesus is inaccessible to us.
The parables are not blocking people from Him. Instead, their hearts are being hardened to His truth by their responses. As He taught those truths, it intensified the truth for those who sought Him and made things cloudier for those who didn’t.
Instead of seeing the parables as a tool of division, view them through a prophetic lens that shows the listeners' darkness and how Jesus was making Himself known. Even in the Gospels, many witnessed Jesus perform miracles firsthand, and they still didn’t believe it!
How do I read the parables?
As you examine the narrative through fundamental literary analysis, ensure you’re gathering what is actually being taught and shared. We can do this by reviewing the larger context and story of what Jesus is teaching. These stories illustrate a truth, so think through the basic literary chart of a story (plot, climax, characters, etc.).
Following story comprehension, begin searching for your application.
What does the parable teach you about God or Christ?
What does it teach you about yourself or others?
What are you called to do differently?
Remember, the parables had a purpose, and sometimes Jesus plainly reveals that purpose so we’re not confused about the intended interpretation. Other times, we have to look for the purpose through the characters and how they contrast against one another, such as the sinful woman and Simon the Pharisee.
What resources are there to better our comprehension of reading parables?
A good starting point is always a good study of the Bible. They will have enough information to explain confusing things but not so much that you get lost in the weeds. There are also many online trusted resources, such as Enduring Word, Seedbed, Christianity Today, and more.
However, our encouragement is that you would also do your own work.
Take the time with the Scriptures.
Evaluate the story, and ask yourself if you can retell it on your own.
What about the characters?
What is their character arc?
How do you see yourself in their story?
What does this story tell me more about God?
When we jump straight into resources, we’ll often discover that we’re not slowing down enough to allow God to do the work within us. We turn to someone else for the answers when, in reality, God wants that time to develop you through His word. To be good readers of Scripture, we must slow down enough to feel the tension and wrestle with the text ourselves.
Resources are excellent after we’ve been alone with God and sought His Word for our lives. They can confirm or deny our interpretations and purposes. It can also shed light on something we didn’t catch, providing further development.
TL;DR
Parables are purposeful stories with double meanings, aiming to reveal deeper truths.
They differ from figures of speech and fables by being longer stories that may not always have plain morals.
Some parables are allegorical, but not all, and understanding the genre is key.
Jesus used parables to engage and challenge listeners, separating those seeking truth from those not.
Reading parables involves grasping the story's basics, exploring its message about God and oneself, and considering resources like study Bibles and trusted online sources for deeper comprehension.
Related Reading
Is Scripture Really That Important by William Merriman
How to Understand the Old Testament by Grant Caldwell
How to Read Difficult Scripture by Brad Bogue
How Do I Read the Bible by Grant Caldwell