PARABLES
What Is A Parable And What Do They Mean?
Jesus' parables are brief tales that use analogy or resemblance to deliver a moral or spiritual message.
They are frequently tales of farm life, which His initial first-century audience was intimately acquainted with.
Any part of an unknown term, such as the kingdom of God, in comparison to anything recognizable from daily life.
It is the parable's message that is important to us. The plot is irrelevant in and of itself; it may or may not be factual.
Jesus was the master of parable instruction. His parables always have an abrupt twist or surprise ending that captivates the reader.
Additionally, they are cleverly crafted to entice listeners into new modes of thinking, perceptions, and behavior.
What Is The Purpose Of A Parable?
Jesus used parables to illustrate celestial ideas using earthly instances. He was the Great Speaker on these matters.
His disciples once questioned Him why He talked to them in parables (Matt 13:10), and Jesus replied that the kingdom's secret had been revealed to them and to those who believe, however it had been withheld from all who do not believe (Matt 13:11).
They see but do not perceive; they hear but do not really listen (Matt 13:13). Christ has now uncovered the kingdom's long-hidden mysteries. The self-righteous are deceived by their own ego and are unable to see.
However, all who are humbled have had their eyes opened; however, it is God Who opens the eyes, not us. Occasionally, the Pharisees or religious leaders knew what the parables represented, particularly when they were pointed at them, and when they did, they were enraged and tried to have Jesus imprisoned (Matt 21:45-46).
Bible Quote
Jesus’ disciples came and said to him, “Why do you use parables when you speak to the crowds?”
Jesus replied, “Because they haven’t received the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but you have.
Matthew 13:10-11
There are many parables in the Bible. Here are five popular parables together with an explanation.
The Parable of the Wandering Sheep.
Matthew 18:12-14
What do you think? If someone had one hundred sheep and one of them wandered off, wouldn’t he leave the ninety-nine on the hillsides and go in search for the one that wandered off?
If he finds it, I assure you that he is happier about having that one sheep than about the ninety-nine who didn’t wander off. In the same way, my Father who is in heaven doesn’t want to lose one of these little ones.
Explanation
Audience: The disciples
Context: Maybe the question ought to be asked, “who in the heavenly kingdom is the greatest?” the apostles inquired. Jesus replied by emphasizing the value of infants. He then proceeded to tell them this parable.
Key Verse: "Just like your heavenly Father does not want to see any of these children die," (Matthew 18:14)
While this parable is identical to Luke's Parable of the Lost Sheep, Jesus is speaking to the disciples in this instance, rather than the Pharisees. He still seems to be concerned about the weak. The disciples inquire as to who is the best in God's kingdom, and Jesus picks out children.
His argument seems to be that those who will be overlooked in the kingdom of heaven due to their lack of importance and contribution are perfect. This is perfectly compatible with Jesus' constant message of a wonderful reversal in which the second will become first and the first will become last.
Jesus reaffirms God's concern for the wayward and needy by contrasting Himself to a shepherd who will abandon 99 sheep to find one that has strayed.
The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant
Matthew 18:23-31
Then Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, how many times should I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Should I forgive as many as seven times?”
Jesus said, “Not just seven times, but rather as many as seventy-seven times. Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. When he began to settle accounts, they brought to him a servant who owed him ten thousand bags of gold.
Because the servant didn’t have enough to pay it back, the master ordered that he should be sold, along with his wife and children and everything he had, and that the proceeds should be used as payment. But the servant fell down, kneeled before him, and said, ‘Please, be patient with me, and I’ll pay you back.’
The master had compassion on that servant, released him, and forgave the loan. “When that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him one hundred coins. He grabbed him around the throat and said, ‘Pay me back what you owe me.’
“Then his fellow servant fell down and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I’ll pay you back.’ But he refused. Instead, he threw him into prison until he paid back his debt. “When his fellow servants saw what happened, they were deeply offended. They came and told their master all that happened.
His master called the first servant and said, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you appealed to me. Shouldn’t you also have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?’
His master was furious and handed him over to the guard responsible for punishing prisoners until he had paid the whole debt. “My heavenly Father will also do the same to you if you don’t forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”
Explanation
Audience: The disciples
Context: Peter inquired of Jesus how many times we would forgive anyone who has committed a sin against us.
Key Verse: On returning, he found, however, that one of his colleagues owed him 100 silver coins. He seized him and started strangling him. 'Repay what you owe me!' he screamed " (Matthew 18:28).
Jesus demonstrates the value of redemption by recounting the tale of a king who forgives a subordinate who is completely incapable of repaying a debt. Following this extraordinary act of kindness, the servant beats another servant who owes him a slight debt.
The king is enraged that the worker has failed to continue the grace he has earned so willingly. In this parable, Jesus instructs Peter (and us) to see the crimes perpetrated against us in light of the sins for which we have been forgiven. We should forgive when we have been forgiven.
The Parable Of The Good Samaritan
Luke 10 25-37
A legal expert stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he said, “what must I do to gain eternal life?”Jesus replied, “What is written in the Law? How do you interpret it?” He responded, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and love your neighbour as yourself.”
Jesus said to him, “You have answered correctly. Do this and you will live.” But the legal expert wanted to prove that he was right, so he said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbour?” Jesus replied, “A man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho. He encountered thieves, who stripped him naked, beat him up, and left him near death.
Now it just so happened that a priest was also going down the same road. When he saw the injured man, he crossed over to the other side of the road and went on his way. Likewise, a Levite came by that spot, saw the injured man, and crossed over to the other side of the road and went on his way.
A Samaritan, who was on a journey, came to where the man was. But when he saw him, he was moved with compassion. The Samaritan went to him and bandaged his wounds, tending them with oil and wine. Then he placed the wounded man on his own donkey, took him to an inn, and took care of him.
The next day, he took two full days’ worth of wages and gave them to the innkeeper. He said, ‘Take care of him, and when I return, I will pay you back for any additional costs.’ What do you think? Which one of these three was a neighbour to the man who encountered thieves?”
Then the legal expert said, “The one who demonstrated mercy toward him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”
Explanation
Audience: A teacher of the law (and likely the disciples)
Context: A lawyer approaches Jesus and inquires about the requirements for inheriting eternal life. Once it is known that the entirety of the law boils down to loving God and loving your neighbour as yourself, the lawyer attempts to evade the obligation to love his neighbour by saying, "Who is my neighbour?"
Key Verses: "'Which one of these three individuals do you believe was a neighbour of the man who fell victim to robbers?' 'The one that had pity on him,' the legal specialist responded. 'Go and do likewise,' Jesus instructed him "(10:36–37) (Luke 10:36–37).
Jesus astounds the lawyer by telling a parable of a man who is kidnapped, tortured, and abandoned for dead. A priest and Levite (priest's servant) pass by but make no attempt to assist the man. However, a Samaritan appears and tends to the man's wounds and pays for his stay in an inn until he heals.
We skip the parable's surprising essence and we are unaware of how deeply Jews despised Samaritans. This animosity dates all the way to hundreds of years. Admitting that the Samaritan was this man's real neighbour and not a fellow Jew would've been difficult for the lawyer.
The application is that everybody has the potential to be our neighbour—and we are all accountable for being neighbours to one another.
The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector
Luke 18:10-14
“Two people went up to the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed about himself with these words, ‘God, I thank you that I’m not like everyone else—crooks, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.
I fast twice a week. I give a tenth of everything I receive.’ But the tax collector stood at a distance. He wouldn’t even lift his eyes to look toward heaven. Rather, he struck his chest and said, ‘God, show mercy to me, a sinner.’
I tell you, this person went down to his home justified rather than the Pharisee. All who lift themselves up will be brought low, and those who make themselves low will be lifted up.”
Explanation
Audience: A large crowd
Context: "For those who were self-righteous and looking down on others," Jesus said this parable (Luke 18:9):
Key Verse: "For whoever exalts oneself will inevitably be humbled, and whoever humbles oneself will inevitably be exalted." (Luke 18:14b).
Self-righteousness is one characteristic that Jesus did not seem to enjoy. He used the Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector to illustrate the pitfalls of exaggerating one's self-esteem.
A tax collector and a Pharisee approached Jesus to pray, and the Pharisee spent most of his time congratulating himself for his righteousness—even thanking God that he was not a sinner like the tax collector. However, the tax collector pounded his breast and pleaded with God for mercy.
According to Jesus, the tax collector was the one who returned justified.
The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard
Matthew 20:1-16
“The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. After he agreed with the workers to pay them a denarion, he sent them into his vineyard.
“Then he went out around nine in the morning and saw others standing around the marketplace doing nothing. He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and I’ll pay you whatever is right.’ And they went.
“Again around noon and then at three in the afternoon, he did the same thing. Around five in the afternoon, he went and found others standing around, and he said to them, ‘Why are you just standing around here doing nothing all day long?’
“‘Because nobody has hired us,’ they replied.
“He responded, ‘You also go into the vineyard.’
“When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, ‘Call the workers and give them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and moving on finally to the first.’ When those who were hired at five in the afternoon came, each one received a denarion.
Now when those hired first came, they thought they would receive more. But each of them also received a denarion. When they received it, they grumbled against the landowner, ‘These who were hired last worked one hour, and they received the same pay as we did even though we had to work the whole day in the hot sun.’
“But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I did you no wrong. Didn’t I agree to pay you a denarion? Take what belongs to you and go. I want to give to this one who was hired last the same as I give to you. Don’t I have the right to do what I want with what belongs to me? Or are you resentful because I’m generous?’ So those who are last will be first. And those who are first will be last.”
Explanation
Audience: Crowds in Judea
Context: Jesus' Teaching
Key Verse: "As a result, the last is first, and the first is last.." (Matthew 20:16).
The Parable of the Workers is about a landowner who employs four different sets of laborers during the day. After the workday was over, all employees got the same pay. Those hired at the start of the day became incensed that those hired late got a full day's pay.
The landowner points out that the earlier employees were paid equally, and they are envious of the landowner's hospitality toward the latecomers.
Israel was comparable to early-morning hires. They had always been a part of God's dream. Jesus was referring to the inherent resentment that would result from the expansion of God's empire to all nations.
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