What are the parables?

“And the disciples came up and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” And Jesus answered them, “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted. For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him. Therefore I speak to them in parables; because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. And in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled, which says, ‘You shall keep on listening, but shall not understand; And you shall keep on looking, but shall not perceive; For the heart of this people has become dull, With their ears they scarcely hear, And they have closed their eyes, Otherwise they might see with their eyes, Hear with their ears, Understand with their heart, and return,
And I would heal them.’ But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. For truly I say to you that many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.” Matthew 13:10-17 NASB

• Parables are short stories that illustrate a deeper spiritual meaning

• Parables captivate people’s attention

• Parables expose the motives of people’s hearts

• Parables show the surprising nature and arrival of God’s kingdom

• Parables reveal the upside-down value system of the kingdom

• Parables force people to make a decision about God’s kingdom

Why did Jesus teach in parables?

• To conceal truth from those who do not want truth

• To reveal truth to those who want truth

How should we read the parables?

• Understand His audience

• Understand the main characters in them

• Understand what the parables meant for the original audience first