Definition of a Parable
The Gospels tell the reader, "Jesus spoke to them many things in parables" (Matthew 13:3). However, for those reading the Bible for the first time, the word "parable" might be new or unfamiliar and can seem odd in context.
Other People Are Reading
-
History
-
The word for "parable" in the New Testament was often the word used to translate "mashal" in the Hebrew Old Testament as a "dark saying intended to provoke thought."
Etymology
-
The Greek word "parabole" comes from "ballo," which means "to throw, cast," and "para," which means "on the side, alongside." Parable, then, might be seen as something "cast alongside."
-
Use
-
The Greek word is used 50 times in the New Testament and only twice outside of Matthew, Mark and Luke.
Meaning
-
Jesus used parables in his teaching to draw an earthly parallel to a spiritual truth, but often the application was left ambiguous, leaving the hearer to figure out how exactly the parable was intended to be understood (Mark 4).
Importance
-
Parables were used by Jesus to force his hearers deeper into what he was saying. If they really wanted to understand, they would have to think harder and pursue him for answers.
-
