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Jesus used parables to get the disciples and the people of his time to see the world in a different way, to imagine what the world should be like - a world he called the Kingdom of God - where God was in charge and the number one rule was that of loving God and our neighbour.
Jesus used parables to get the disciples and the people of his time to see the world in a different way, to imagine what the world should be like - a world he called the Kingdom of God - where God was in charge and the number one rule was that of loving God and our neighbour.
Why did Jesus speak in parables?
Why did Jesus speak in parables?
Most of us prefer learning by listening to stories rather than having to learn countless facts.
Much of Jesus’ most remembered and loved teaching comes in the form of parables. The Hebrew word for parable is “mashal” and it can mean a story, a riddle, a simile, or a proverb. One of the most important things to remember about parables is that they make you think about familiar things in a new way.
The parables show us that Jesus was creative and challenging as he set out to get the disciples and the people of his time to see the world in a different way, to imagine what the world should be like - a world he called the Kingdom of God - where God was in charge and the number one rule was that of loving God and our neighbour.
The Gospels preserve many of Jesus’ parables. The Gospel of Mark has ten parables. Most of these parables are also found in Matthew and Luke who also share another thirteen parables between them. Matthew has ten special parables including the Pearl of Great Price (Matthew 13:45-46), and the Wedding Guest without a Wedding garment (Matthew 22:1-14). Luke has eighteen parables that are unique such as The Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) and the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32). p53
P56 The point of the parables
Many parables begin with Jesus saying “to what can I compare the Kingdom of God?” and the Kingdom might be described:as being like a small mustard seed, or seed sown by a sower, or someone looking for precious pearls, or someone casting a net and having to sort out what the net drags in. .
The point of some parables is pretty clear, like The Prodigal Son or The Good Samaritan. When Jesus told the Jewish authorities the parable about the Wicked Tenants who killed the son of the landowner they knew that the parable was told about them and they got the point.
Some parables Jesus didn’t need to explain, other parables were like riddles that got the disciples thinking, and they had to ask Jesus what he meant by these tantalising riddles. Of course, that’s exactly what Jesus wanted!
Parables were like riddles that got the disciples thinking.
While we think of parables as being short stories told by Jesus his parables also include proverbs and sayings. All of them are meant to make us stop, think, and see the world in a new way from Jesus’ point of view. Many of Jesus’ parables leave the interpretation up to the reader. In the parable of the Forgiving father the reader must provide the ending - will the elder son go in and join the feast or not? (Luke 11:11-32)
The Gospels - God with us Christopher Monaghan Garratt Publishing P. 54•Parables in Hebrew are called Mashal and they were used by Rabbis and teachers to aide in the interpretation of the Torah. Jesus drew on this well-known literary form and used parables throughout his ministry.
•Parables have three qualities – narrative, metaphor and brevity. A parable will often have a double meaning. The surface meaning is quite obvious but the hidden meaning can often be quite complex and have multiple levels.
•The parables in the New Testament can be grouped under one of three headings – parables of advent, parables of reversal of expectation and parables of action or new vision.
•Sometimes Jesus used parables that had similar imagery to that of the prophets in the Old Testament.
•Parables are designed to make a theological point and, therefore, are placed within a theological context.
•Parables use a narrative structure that can include exaggeration, the rule of three, contrast and the rule of end stress.
•Parables presume the active listening of the audience.
•Parables were told orally and people usually engaged in conversation about the parable.
Understanding Religion 9 Peta Goldburg 2015 Cambridge University PressParables Teacher background and commentary
Parables Teacher background and commentary
p. 167-167, 10 teaching strategies to teach Parables p.168 Presenting the New Testament - a Manual of Teaching Activities, commentary and black line masters Maurice Ryan
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