There can be no argument about the relative importance of the role of parable in the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. “All these things spake Jesus unto the multitudes in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them” (Matt. 13:34). The prominent place that parables play in the first three gospels is even more striking when we note the virtual absence of this form of teaching in the Old Testament, or even in the rest of the New Testament, for that matter. The teachings of the Old Testament tend to be direct and unambiguous. This is the way the laws of God are recorded by Moses, with the ten commandments being the most obvious example. These laws were given in the manner of “thus saith the Lord.” There should not have been any question concerning the requirements of the Lord.
In the few cases where parabolic forms are evident, such as the parable of the vineyard in Isaiah, or perhaps the entire account in the book of Hosea, there was no ambiguity in the meaning of the message. The citation above from Matthew 13 compels us to realize that the parables of Jesus were a deliberately distinct form of instruction and hence must have had, and still may have, a special significance. With these thoughts in mind, the question naturally arises: Why parables?
The use of parables in literature
Before attempting to answer this question let us first examine the concept of a parable. The word “parable” comes from the Greek word parabol(e), literally meaning “to project or set side by side for comparison.”
In Greek culture parables were a popular form of story-telling. We are all familiar with the well-known Aesop’s fables where human qualities are given to animals in order to emphasize a deeper philosophical lesson. A parable such as the tortoise and the hare, which teaches the lesson of persistence, is known by virtually every school child. Though parables were known in other cultures besides Greek and Jewish, nevertheless, it is in the teachings of Jesus Christ that this form of exposition reached its peak.
Why parables?
That this special form of instruction would be used by the Messiah was predicted by scripture nearly 1,000 years earlier (Psa. 78:2). Thus, when the disciples asked of Jesus: “Why speakest to them in parables?” (Matt. 13:10), surely part of the answer is that it was foretold by the prophets. Parabolic teaching was to be a God-given sign of the Jewish Messiah. But there is more to it than this, as Jesus himself says:
“Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given” (Matt 13:11).
Therefore, the disciples of Christ should have been able to understand the parables, but those who were not inclined to follow him would find them difficult, if not impossible, to comprehend. Those who rejected him would be in the position of “hearing, but hearing not and seeing, but seeing not!” Since “all scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for.. .instruction in righteousness” (II Tim. 3:16), we readily perceive that correctly interpreting the parables of Christ must be as useful to us as it was to those who first heard them from his own lips. Nevertheless, extensive writings on the parables have not played a prominent place in the literature of our community. Bro. Robert Roberts wrote a pamphlet on some of the parables late in his life; 50 years transpired before another major work on this theme came out in the book compiled from the Birmingham Bible class notes of Bro. John Carter. Noteworthy is the fact that in the same period of time dozens of books were issued on Bible prophecy and Bible doctrine.
Some common questions
Do the parables still apply today or were they simply aimed only at the Jews in the first century AD? The answer to this question should not be difficult. We have already alluded to it in the reference toll Timothy 3:16. Furthermore, the scriptures do not waste space! Many of the parables are given in more than one gospel and their message is often completely spelled out for his disciples.
Are not the parables too hard to understand, especially some of them, such as the “Richman and Lazarus,” which appears to be presenting wrong Bible doctrine? The parables are not hard to grasp, though on occasion the lessons might be difficult for us to swallow. Their message is unquestionably not as difficult as understanding the prophecies in the book of Revelation (and we have certainly not shied away from writing volumes about that book). As with other instances in scripture: “It is the glory of God to conceal a matter.. .to search out a matter is the honor of kings” (Prov. 25:2). Since many other Christians are familiar with at least the stories in the parables, correct understanding often provides a vehicle for deeper study opportunities when we seek to preach the gospel to others.
Are there any special reasons why it is important to study the parables today? There was a peculiar need for parables to serve as the chief mode of the teachings of Jesus Christ to the Jewish nation in the last days of that commonwealth. The elders of that nation honored the letter of the law, but their heart was far from Him (Mark 7:6). We now live in the latter days of Gentile times (Luke 21:24) with many signs and wonders in the world paralleling the first advent of Christ. Thus considering the conditions, and perhaps the need, the parables might be just as important.
Cultural background of the parables
During the times of Jesus Christ, Greek thinking and culture had permeated most of the Roman Empire and the land of Palestine was no exception. Jewish rabbis had adopted the method of using parables as a major teaching tool in the yeshivas (i.e. synagogue schools). We will find in the course of this study on parables that many of the circumstances that Jesus uses in his stories were employed by the rabbinical writers, but in almost all cases the emphasis was completely different! Hence, in many instances the elders of the Jewish nation, that is the Pharisees, Sadducees and scribes would have been thoroughly familiar with the setting of a particular parable.
But this invites the question – why then did they have so little understanding of the meaning intended in the various parables? Perhaps the answer lies in their poor understanding of doctrine? Were they so bereft of the requirements of the laws of God that they could not perceive the meanings of the parables? The scriptures make it evident that this was not the case: “Whatsoever they bid you observe” (see Matt. 23:1-3). This passage is remarkable. The Pharisees had a full, one might even say a complete, knowledge of doctrine and yet could not appreciate the teachings of their Messiah as given in his parables. Was it possible to fully comprehend the letter of the law and still he ignorant of its spirit? The answer is obviously yes, otherwise Jesus would not have spoken in parables to the Jews of his day.
Again we can pose the question: Why parables? Because they were the manner in which God chose to reveal the spirit of His doctrines and commandments. They were the fashion in which one could appreciate the application of the doctrines of scripture to the everyday situations of life. The parables are the living, breathing, spiritual fullness of the Word of God in developing our character that it might strive to conform to the image and brightness of His beloved son.
Do the parables still apply today to us? The answer to this question will hopefully be revealed in future articles, God willing, as we contemplate the message of the parables of Jesus Christ to our own age, and to our own community.
References:
R. Roberts, The Parables of Christ – In the New and Beautiful Light in Which They Appear When Interpreted by The Truth, The Christadelphian Office, Birmingham, United Kingdom, (1897)
Carter, Parables of the Messiah, The Christadelphian Office, Birmingham, United Kingdom, (1947).
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