PARABLES
Jesus’ wisdom teachings
JESUS taught through PARABLES
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One of Jesus’ favorite teaching methods was
through the use of parables. Parables are not
unique to Jesus, but Jesus had a real talent for
utilizing this method of storytelling to get people to
think about themselves and their relationship to
each other and God. His ability to do this clearly
left a strong impression on the first Christians that
they preserved them through the oral tradition and
included so many of them in the written Gospels.
What is a PARABLE?
A PARABLE IS
A STORY USED
TO TEACH
ABOUT TRUTH

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Different from
fables, PARABLES
have these distinct
characteristics:
-
PARABLES…
Involve everyday images
address something of human nature
teach us something of God’s love
tell us something about the Kingdom of God
ALWAYS include an “unexpected” twist
(Just like a parabola in math—It starts out in
one direction and turns!)
PARABLES USE “EVERYDAY” IMAGES
MATTHEW
THE PARABLE OF THE…
-Sower
- Weeds among the Wheat
- Mustard Seed
- Lost sheep
- Rich Young Man
-Workers in the Vineyard
-Two Sons
-Tenants
-Wedding Feast
-Ten Virgins
-Talents
LUKE
THE PARABLE OF THE…
-Sower
-Lamp
-Good Samaritan
-Rich Fool
-Barren Fig Tree
-Great Feast
-Lost Sheep
-Salt
-Lost Coin/Ten Gold Coins
-Lost Son
-Dishonest Steward
-Pharisee and Tax Collector
PARABLES contain a ‘twist’…



The “twist” in parables is mainly discovered by personal
reflection in which Jesus challenges us to look at ourselves.
With the exception of the first parable (Parable of the
Sower), Jesus does not explain the wisdom…but wants us to
figure it out for ourselves.
It may ask us to broaden our thinking, and also to deepen our
thinking.
The “twist” is there to challenge the status-quo thinking we
may have become too comfortable with. Sometimes it is
about us, sometimes it is about who and what we think is
important in society and sometimes it is about our concept of
God.
continued….
PARABLES contain a ‘twist’ (continued)

It’s not always obvious – the twist may be in the
title(Good Samaritan), right in the story (Dishonest
Steward)or what were to happen afterwards if this
story’s events really took place (Lost Sheep).
Sometimes, the twist ‘happens’ before the story is even
told. (e.g.: In the Parable of the Sower, we may
presume that if God were all powerful, why wouldn’t
God make sure EVERYONE understood his word. After
all, that’s how WE would use power if we had it! Jesus
describes God as someone who wants our love to be a
free will gift back to him, and risks not getting that from
everyone out of respect for the free will he gave us that
makes us human….