Parables

Stories told to convey a general truth or spiritual message, often requiring explanation or interpretation. They were used by the prophets and featured extensively in Jesus Christ's ministry.

Parables in the OT

Told by prophets

Hosea 12:10 See also 2 Samuel 12:1–10; 1 Kings 20:35–42; Ezekiel 17:1–18, Ezekiel 20:49, Ezekiel 24:3–13

I spoke through the prophets and multiplied their visions; I gave parables through the prophets.

Told by others

Psalm 78:1–2 See also Judges 9:7–20; 2 Samuel 14:4–14; 2 Kings 14:9–10 parallel 2 Chronicles 25:18–19; Proverbs 1:5–6

A Maskil of Asaph. Give ear, O my people, to my instruction; listen to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things hidden from the beginning,

Parables in the ministry of Jesus Christ

Reasons for Jesus Christ's use of parables

Matthew 13:10–15 parallels Mark 4:10–12, Luke 8:9–10 See also Isaiah 6:9–10

Then the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Why do You speak to the people in parables?” He replied, “The knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. This is why I speak to them in parables: ‘Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.’ In them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled: ‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For this people’s heart has grown callous; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them.’

Examples of parables told by Jesus Christ

Matthew 13:3–8 parallels Mark 4:3–8, Luke 8:5–8 See also Matthew 7:24–27 parallel Luke 6:47–49 the wise and foolish builders; Matthew 13:24–30, Matthew 13:31–32 parallels Mark 4:30–32, Luke 13:18–19 the mustard seed; Matthew 13:33, Matthew 13:44–50, Matthew 18:12–14 parallel Luke 15:4–7 the lost sheep; Matthew 18:23–35, Matthew 20:1–16, Matthew 21:33–41 parallels Mark 12:1–9, Luke 20:9–16 the tenants; Matthew 22:1–14, Matthew 25:1–13, Matthew 25:14–30; Mark 4:26–29, Mark 7:14–15; Luke 10:25–37, Luke 12:16–21, Luke 12:35–48, Luke 14:16–24, Luke 15:8–32, Luke 18:9–14, Luke 19:12–27

And He told them many things in parables, saying, “A farmer went out to sow his seed. And as he was sowing, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it. Some fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly because the soil was shallow. But when the sun rose, the seedlings were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the seedlings. Still other seed fell on good soil and produced a crop — a hundredfold, sixtyfold, or thirtyfold.

Interpretations of parables given by Jesus Christ

Mark 4:33–34 See also Matthew 13:18–23 parallels Mark 4:14–20, Luke 8:11–15; Matthew 13:36–43; Mark 7:17–23

With many such parables Jesus spoke the word to them, to the extent that they could understand. He did not tell them anything without using a parable. But privately He explained everything to His own disciples.