Reading
the Parables of Jesus
“He began to teach them many
things in parables” (Mark 4:2)
by Don Schwager
Olive Tree and Temple Menorah, entrance to the Jewish
Quarter of the Old City in Jerusalem,
an artistic rendered photo by Don Schwager
Communicating with images
and stories
Like the rabbis of his time, Jesus used simple word-pictures, called
parables, to help people understand who God is and what his kingdom or
reign is like. Jesus used images and characters taken from everyday life
to create a miniature play or drama to illustrate his message. This was
Jesus most common way of teaching. His stories appealed to the young and
old, poor and rich, and to the learned and unlearned as well. Over a third
of the Gospels by Matthew, Mark, and Luke contain parables
told by Jesus. Jesus loved to use illustrations to reach the heart of his
listeners through their imagination. These word-pictures challenged the
mind to discover anew what God is like and moved the heart to make a response
to God's love and truth. Like a skillful artist, Jesus painted evocative
pictures with short and simple words. A good picture can speak more loudly
and clearly than many words. Jesus used the ordinary everyday to point
to another order of reality -- hidden, yet visible to those who had "eyes
to see" and "ears to hear". Jesus communicated with pictures and stories,
vivid illustrations which captured the imaginations of his audience more
powerfully than an abstract presentation could. His parables are like buried
treasure waiting to be discovered (Matthew
13:44).
How can ordinary everyday images and stories, such as hidden treasure, a tiny mustard seed, a determined woman looking for her lost coin, a barren fig tree, the pearl of great price, the uninvited wedding guests, portray timeless and extraordinary truths? Jesus taught by use of comparisons. To what shall we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable can we use for it? It is like a mustard seed... (Mark 4:30-31). God's kingdom or reign is like what happens in Jesus' stories. The comparisons have to do with a whole process, and not simply with an object or person alone. While his parables are rooted in a specific time and place, they nonetheless speak of timeless realities to people of every time and place. They underline the fact that God works in every age and he meets us in the ordinary everyday situations of life.
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What is a parable?
A parable is a word-picture which uses an image or story to illustrate
a truth or lesson. It creates a mini-drama in picture language that describes
the reality being illustrated. It shows a likeness between the image of
an illustration and the object being portrayed. It defines the unknown
by using the known. It helps the listener to discover the deeper meaning
and underlying truth of the reality being portrayed. It can be a figure
of speech or comparison, such as "the kingdom of God ..is like a mustard
seed ..or like yeast" (Luke 13:19, 21). More commonly it is
a short story told to bring out a lesson or moral. Jesus used simple stories
or images to convey important truths about God and his kingdom, and lessons
pertaining to the way of life and happiness which God has for us. They
commonly feature examples or illustrations from daily life in ancient Palestine,
such as mustard seeds and fig trees, wineskins and oil lamps, money and
treasure, stewards, workers, judges, and homemakers, wedding parties and
children's games. Jesus' audience would be very familiar with these illustrations
of everyday life. Today we have to do some "homework" to understand the
social customs described.
Jesus' parables have a double meaning. First, there is the literal meaning, apparent to anyone who has experience with the subject matter. But beyond the literal meaning lies a deeper meaning -- a beneath-the-surface lesson about God's truth and his kingdom. For example, the parable of the leaven (see Matthew 13:33) describes the simple transformation of dough into bread by the inclusion of the yeast. In like manner, we are transformed by God's kingdom when we allow his word and Spirit to take root in our hearts. And in turn we are called to be leaven that transforms the society in which we live and work. Jerome, an early church father and biblical scholar remarked: "The marrow of a parable is different from the promise of its surface, and like as gold is sought for in the earth, the kernel in a nut and the hidden fruit in the prickly covering of chestnuts, so in parables we must search more deeply after the divine meaning."
Jesus' parables often involve an element of surprise or an unexpected twist. We are taken off guard by the progression of the story. The parable moves from the very familiar and understandable aspects of experience to a sudden turn of events or a remarkable comparison which challenges the hearer and invites further reflection. For example, why should a shepherd go through a lot of bother and even risk his life to find one lost sheep when ninety-nine are in his safe keeping? The shepherd's concern for one lost sheep and his willingness to risk his own life for it tells us a lot about God's concern for his children.
How to read the parables
Jesus told his disciples that not everyone would understand his parables.
To
you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God; but for
others they are in parables, so that seeing they may not see, and hearing
they may not hear (Luke 8:10). Did Jesus mean to say that he
was deliberately confusing his listeners? Very likely not. Jesus was speaking
from experience. He was aware that some who heard his parables refused
to understand them. It was not that they could not intellectually understand
them, but rather, their hearts were closed to what Jesus was saying. They
had already made up their minds to not believe. God can only reveal the
secrets of his kingdom to the humble and trusting person who acknowledges
the need for God and for his truth. The parables of Jesus will enlighten
us if we approach them with an open mind and heart, ready to let them challenge
us. If we approach them with the conviction that we already know the answer,
then we, too, may look but not see, listen but not hear or understand.
When reading the parables it is important to not get bogged down in the details of the story. The main point is what counts. Very often the details are clear enough, but some are obscure (for example, why would a rich man allow his dishonest steward to take care of his inventory; see Luke 16:1-8). A storyteller doesn't have to make every detail fit perfectly. Each parable will typically present a single point. Look for the main point and don't get bogged down in the details. In addition, Jesus often throws in a surprise or unexpected twist. These challenge the hearer and invite us to reflect. Jesus meant for his parables to provoke a response. If we listen with faith and humility then each will understand as he or she is able to receive what Jesus wishes to speak to each of our hearts.
For a list of the parables with short commentaries by the author, see The Parables of Jesus.
[Don Schwager is a member
of The Servants of the Word
and the author of the Daily Scripture
Reading and Meditation website.]