Intro to Parables
This week we’re uncovering an Introduction to Parables. Join us in the conversation and check out this video as we chat about this week’s Bible study (also available as a podcast!).
Even if you don’t have a relationship with the Bible, it’s likely that you may be familiar with the idea of parables, and even some of the parables of the Bible. We often hear people refer to the “good samaritan” or “prodigal son,” which may be why they are the two most well-known parables of Jesus. But what are parables? What was their purpose? What can we learn from them? How do we study them?
This series, we are going to use each week to unpack some of the most well-known and not-so-well-known parables Jesus taught. While there are around 40 parables by Jesus captured in the Bible, we’ll do a deep dive on 11 of them. These are not just stories Jesus told to entertain a crowd. There was meaning. There was insight. There were twists and turns in the plot. Some were deep enough to make the disciples ask the meaning, yet all were truly simple enough for the audiences of the day to understand.
Join us, as we get to know our favorite parables much more clearly, and also discover new parables we may have never heard before. You will walk away inspired, joy-filled and changed.
But before we dive into our first parable, let’s begin with an INTRO TO PARABLES.
DAY 1 - WHAT ARE PARABLES?
As we follow the interaction Jesus had with people throughout the Gospels, there’s something similar across many of them: parables.
Jesus was a storyteller. But parables were more than just stories. There is something unique about them that makes them stand out:
Parables were short. Some as concise as one verse (Matthew 13:44).
Parables were simple stories with a dual meaning. Often using metaphors, Jesus would convey a story within a story for those who had an open heart to hear the true message.
Parables were relatable to the people of that day. These stories connected to Jewish culture. Jesus engaged His audience in a real way that would relate to them in that moment.
Parables were bold with an unexpected ending. The end was often shocking, something that people wouldn’t expect and would cause them to take notice.
Parables were invitations for a decision. Jesus captured the imagination of His audience with these stories, encouraging people to think and ask questions, take on a new perspective, and make a decision about how they viewed the Kingdom of God or if they were going to follow Jesus.
Over the next week, we’re going to learn a lot more about parables, but there’s one main thing you should know:
Parables can do the same for us today as they did for the original audience. They can give us a fresh perspective on Jesus’ ministry and understanding that God offers His kingdom to EVERYONE. They show us that by choosing Christ, we are putting Jesus first instead of status, money or success.
Using the list of parables on our website, what parable is your favorite? Which one(s) have you never heard of? Choose one parable to read today, and take note of some of the unique qualities you see in the story. What do you learn? What questions do you have?
DAY 2 - WHAT WAS THE PURPOSE OF PARABLES?
As we introduce ourselves to parables this week, we should ask the question: Why did Jesus tell parables?
Well thankfully, Jesus gave us the answer in Matthew 13 (and Mark 4:10-12) when He quoted Isaiah 6:9-10. Read Matthew 13:10-17. What is the purpose of a parable?
Jesus used parables to communicate striking truth to those who were ready to hear, yet He disguised the message in a nice story to those not ready to hear the true meaning.
We gain additional insight on the reason for parables again in Matthew 13, where Jesus quoted Psalm 78:2. Read Matthew 13:34-35. What was accomplished by Jesus using parables?
Jesus used parables to influence and challenge the thinking of the original audience and to help people consider a different perspective about Himself and the Kingdom of God. In fact, throughout all the parables, there are two key things Jesus used parables to teach:
To reveal the Kingdom of God
To understand or respond to Jesus’ ministry
With each story… with each word… Jesus made sure He conveyed the things that were most important to Him. He did it in a way that would capture the attention of His listeners.
Further Reflection: Knowing the two things Jesus taught in His parables - 1) the Kingdom of Heaven and 2) understanding or responding to Jesus’ ministry – look up these Bible passages and note which topic is being addressed in the following parables:
The Shrewd Manager (Luke 16:1-12) reveals __________________
The Master and His Servant (Luke 17:7-10) reveals __________________
The Mustard Seed and the Yeast (Matthew 13:31-33) reveals __________________
The Two Sons (Matthew 21:28-32) reveals __________________
The Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13) reveals __________________
DAY 3 - DIFFERENT KINDS OF PARABLES
Out of the more than 40 parables that Jesus taught throughout the Bible, they can be divided into two types: Stories and Illustrations.
STORIES have a beginning and end. They identify characters and a plot the listener can relate to. They also likely have a twist ending, something that turns the story on its head and makes the listener think differently.
An example of a story is the parable of the pearl in Matthew 13:45-46. Look up these verses. Who is the character(s) in the parable? What is the plot? What is the twist ending? What was the message Jesus was conveying to His disciples here?
ILLUSTRATIONS are the other type of parables, using metaphors and similes to help communicate a message. They are different, since they don’t carry a specific plot or storyline.
An example of an illustration is the light of the world in Matthew 5:14-16. Look up these verses. What is the metaphor or simile Jesus is communicating? What was the message Jesus was conveying to His disciples here?
Regardless of the type of parable we read in the Bible, they all connect with the Jewish culture of the day, which made them more easily understandable and impactful to the original audience hearing them. These stories and illustrations tugged emotionally on a person, rather than Jesus Himself directly telling people what to do, or how to think.
Can you imagine if Jesus would have just said, “Hey everyone, you should love your neighbors”? How would that have been perceived? Instead, by telling a story about the Good Samaritan, Jesus not only captivated the listeners; He enabled a more powerful impact of the idea He was trying to convey. In what ways has storytelling to your friends and family helped you convey a message you were trying to teach?
DAY 4 - THE ORIGINAL AUDIENCE OF PARABLES
While parables are timeless stories and illustrations that teach us impactful lessons today, they become more meaningful and are easier to understand when we know the audience Jesus was talking to.
Not identifying the audience is like listening to someone talk on the phone and not knowing who’s on the other end. Can you imagine the reaction of a wife, as she hears her husband say “I love you” to someone on the phone while she is sitting next to him? Surely the wife would give him a few stern looks until she found out who was on the other end of the phone! Knowing the audience changes the meaning of the message completely!
There were three main audiences Jesus told parables to. We can identify them as we read CONTEXT (the verses or passages) around each parable. Read the following passages to identify the three common audiences Jesus taught to:
Luke 16:1-12 - Jesus told parables to His __________________ (vs. 1).
Luke 14:1-7 - Jesus told parables to _______________ (vs. 1, 3).
Matthew 13:1-3 - Jesus told parables to large ___________ (vs. 2).
Note: Often included in this last audience were the disciples of Jesus and Pharisees.
So imagine if you heard Jesus say to someone, “when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed” (Luke 14:13-14, NIV). Would it make a difference if Jesus was talking to someone rich versus someone poor in that statement? Absolutely! In this specific case Jesus was talking to Pharisees, who were very wealthy religious men. This command would have been hard for them to stomach, since it would mean giving away their wealth, their status and their identity.
DAY 5 - HOW TO STUDY PARABLES?
Now that we’ve spent the majority of this lesson learning about parables, now it’s time to understand HOW to study them! Here are five easy tips to follow:
Read it, then read it again. Uncover new insights and catch specific details when you familiarize yourself with a passage by reading it more than once, preferably in more than one Bible translation.
Identify the original audience. Read the verses (sometimes the passage) before the parable to understand who Jesus is talking to. As we discover the original audience, we gain a better perspective on how they would have heard the message.
Identify the characters in the parable. There are typically 1-3 people highlighted in a parable. Take note of how they are described, who gets the most description. If someone is described at length, it’s likely an important piece of the story worth noting.
Identify the cultural references. Recognize the specific cultural reference points the original audience would have understood. Use notes and references from a study Bible to uncover details of the culture that aren’t as easily captured by reading the story alone.
Notice the ending. What makes a parable unique is how the story ends - with an unexpected twist that the listener wasn’t anticipating. Focus on the ending since it’s likely a part Jesus desired the audience to notice most.
Ok. It’s your turn to try. Using the tips above, study the Parable of the Ten Virgins in Matthew 25:1-13 (Note: you may need to go back to the beginning of Matthew 24 to know the original audience). What do you learn from this passage?
Written by: Heather Erickson
List of Parables
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