The Parables of Jesus

How many parables did Jesus teach? What are they about? Where can I find them? Jesus taught many times using parables, which are simple, earthly stories that explain a more complex, spiritual truth.

What is a Parable?

The English word parable comes from the Greek word parabole. Its primary meaning is ‘to place one thing alongside another.’ That’s a visual expression that suggests comparison: when you put two things side by side, it’s easy to see the similarities and differences. We find parables in all kinds of literature, including the Old Testament and New Testament. Jesus regularly taught using parables because they’re powerful, useful tools for teaching.

This side-by-side comparison can be readily seen, for example, in Jesus’ teaching on the wise and foolish builders. One built his house on sand, the other on rock. When a storm came, the first house was destroyed… but the second stood firm. The two builders are put side by side, and contrasted. Then Jesus used this simple example to say that people who do what He taught are like the wise builder, able to withstand difficult situations in life.

Titles of Parables

While the text of the Bible has been inspired by God, the chapters, chapter headings, and verse numbers have not. They were added later, to make it easier to find specific passages. The titles of Jesus’ parables are suggestions made by commentators and translators, and do not necessarily represent the full message conveyed in each parable. At the same time, each title may be instructive. If we consider them commentary, forged over many centuries, we may consider them useful in understanding the main point of the parable.

How to understand a Parable

A parable is usually a fairly simple story, told using analogies. That is, one thing is said to be like another thing. Too often, we tend to stretch an analogy too far, looking for more than the analogy can support. It’s important to keep in mind that most parables have a single main point. We should avoid making Jesus’ words mean more than He did. That’s not to say that examining His words closely is a bad idea, of course. It’s a good idea… but we should be careful to make the point that Jesus Himself made, rather than using His words to make a point of our own. The Scriptures are enough.

How many Parables did Jesus use?

Nobody knows exactly how many parables Jesus used in His teaching. There are several reasons:

• Jesus taught far more than what we find in the gospels. It’s possible that He used many other parables that have not been included in Scripture.
• The New Testament undoubtedly records Jesus saying things that we would not recognize as parables. Most are easy to spot, and are even described as parables. While we have the text of some of Jesus’ teaching, we lack all non-verbal information and spoken emphasis. If Jesus, for example, pointed to the temple when saying something about generosity, only those who saw His gesture would get the full impact of His teaching.
• There are questions as to whether certain of Jesus’ teachings were real or parabolic. The most common example is Jesus’ teaching on Lazarus and the Rich Man. Was Jesus making up a story to make a point, or was He recounting actual events? We don’t know. A parable uses one thing as an example for another… but if the example itself is real, it wouldn’t be a parable at all.

A list of Jesus’ Parables

If you think I’ve missed a parable, feel free to contact me.

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