Jesus used parables to engage diverse audiences, allowing them to grasp profound truths through familiar stories. Each parable served as a doorway to deeper spiritual understanding for those receptive to His teachings. Spiritual discernment is required to grasp the deeper meanings embedded in Jesus’ teachings. This underscores the role of openness and receptivity in understanding the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, contrasting those who are receptive with those who have closed hearts and ears.
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Why Jesus chose to teach the crowds by using parables
The reason why Jesus taught in parables was not to explain spiritual truths to the crowds, but to keep spiritual truths from the crowds. Lest we doubt or misunderstand Christ’s answer here, Jesus noted that the veiling of spiritual truths from the unbelieving crowds is actually a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy given at Isaiah 6:9–10. Note Luke’s account of this narrative, as he refers to Jesus’ citation of Isaiah 6:9, and writes,
And Jesus said to the disciples, ‘To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is given in parables, [so] that, “Seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand”’
(Luke 8:10; Mark 4:11–12)
But why would Jesus purposefully veil truth from unbelievers? It is because the condition of the unbelieving crowds was both a natural result of their own rejection of Christ’s message, and a divine response of judicial blinding on account of their sin (2 Thessalonians 2:11–12). Indeed, whenever spiritual truth is communicated—be it plainly or in parables—acceptance will always result in understanding and growth (Romans 3:20; 10:17), while rejecting truth will always result in confusion and hardness of heart (Psalm 81:12; Romans 1:24). This idea is communicated all throughout Scripture.
The nature of biblical parables
The parables of Jesus are unique and are without parallel. First, a parable compares two unlike things and and acts in three ways: comparative, similar, or parallel. Second, whether short or long, its intent is both to inform, by describing some form of reality, and affect, by providing a picture. Third, its genius is in its ability to disarm the listener and persuade, catching one by surprise. Its vivid story or compelling intrigue makes it hard to ignore. Fourth, some of its impact is because it comes suddenly, and usually before people can defend themselves against its message.
A topical summary of Jesus’ parables
Here’s a list of Jesus’ parables categorized by type, along with a brief explanation of the general meaning of each type:
Kingdom Parables:
- Parable of the Mustard Seed (Matthew 13:31-32): Describes the kingdom of heaven as a tiny seed that grows into a large tree, symbolizing the exponential growth and impact of God’s kingdom.
- Parable of the Leaven (Matthew 13:33): Compares the kingdom of heaven to leaven that leavens the whole lump of dough, illustrating the pervasive influence of the kingdom.
- Parable of the Hidden Treasure (Matthew 13:44): Depicts the kingdom of heaven as a hidden treasure worth sacrificing everything to obtain, emphasizing its incomparable value.
Lost and Found Parables:
- Parable of the Lost Sheep (Matthew 18:12-14): Illustrates God’s joy over the repentance of a sinner, comparing it to a shepherd who rejoices over finding a lost sheep.
- Parable of the Lost Coin (Luke 15:8-10): Emphasizes God’s joy in the repentance of a sinner, paralleling it to a woman who rejoices upon finding a lost coin.
- Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32): Highlights God’s unconditional love and forgiveness, portraying a father’s joyful reception of his wayward son.
Ethical and Practical Parables:
- Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37): Teaches about compassion and neighborly love through the actions of a Samaritan who helps a wounded man.
- Parable of the Two Debtors (Luke 7:41-43): Illustrates the theme of gratitude and forgiveness, emphasizing the depth of love in response to forgiveness.
Judgment Parables:
- Parable of the Wheat and Tares (Matthew 13:24-30): Explains the coexistence of good and evil until the final judgment, where the righteous and the wicked will be separated.
- Parable of the Net (Matthew 13:47-50): Depicts the final judgment, comparing it to a net gathering fish, with the good kept and the bad thrown away.
Grace and Forgiveness Parables:
- Parable of the Unforgiving Servant (Matthew 18:21-35): Emphasizes the importance of forgiveness by illustrating a servant forgiven of a large debt who then refuses to forgive a smaller debt.
These categories provide a framework for understanding the diverse lessons and themes that Jesus conveyed through his parables.
Jesus’ other ways of teaching truth
Jesus employed various forms of teaching beyond parables. Some of the additional methods include:
- Sermons and Discourses: Jesus delivered extended speeches, such as the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) and the Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24-25), where he provided in-depth teachings on topics like ethics, the kingdom of God, and eschatology.
- Miracles and Signs: Jesus performed miracles, not only as acts of compassion but also as powerful signs to convey spiritual truths. For example, the healing of the blind emphasized spiritual insight (John 9:1-41).
- Dialogue and Conversations: Jesus engaged in meaningful conversations with individuals and groups. His dialogues with Nicodemus (John 3), the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4), and the rich young ruler (Matthew 19:16-30) are notable examples.
- Symbolic Actions: Jesus sometimes used symbolic actions to convey messages. An example is the washing of the disciples’ feet, illustrating the humility and servant-heartedness expected among his followers (John 13:1-17).
- Prophetic Actions: Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem on a donkey (Matthew 21:1-11) and the cleansing of the temple (Matthew 21:12-17) were prophetic actions conveying messianic significance and a call for true worship.
- Paradoxical Sayings: Jesus employed paradoxical or challenging statements to prompt deeper reflection. Examples include “The last will be first, and the first will be last” (Matthew 20:16) and “Whoever wants to save their life will lose it” (Matthew 16:25).
Jesus’ teaching methods were diverse, tailored to the audience and context. While parables are prominent, these various forms of teaching contributed to the richness and depth of his message, inviting people to understand profound spiritual truths in different ways.
An example of how Jesus used various forms of teaching.
To illustrate the ways Jesus taught, He addressed the concepts of judgment and hell in his teachings. Jesus therefore emphasizes the consequences of choices and the nature of God’s justice. He used various forms of teaching to convey these messages, including parables, direct teachings, and symbolic actions. Here are some key teachings on judgment and hell:
Judgment:
- Parable of the Sheep and the Goats (Matthew 25:31-46): Jesus describes a final judgment where people are separated into two groups. They include the sheep (the righteous) and the goats (the unrighteous), based on their actions toward others. Therefore, this parable underscores the importance of compassion and caring for those in need.
- Parable of the Wheat and Tares (Matthew 13:24-30): Jesus teaches about the coexistence of good and evil until the final judgment. And so, this is where the wheat (the righteous) and the tares (the wicked) will be sorted.
- Direct Teaching (John 5:28-29): Jesus speaks explicitly about a future resurrection and judgment. He states that “a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned.”
Hell:
- Gehenna (Mark 9:43-48): Jesus uses strong language to warn about the consequences of sin, referring to Gehenna—a valley associated with burning refuse—as a symbol of the final destination for the wicked. The imagery emphasizes the seriousness of the choices people make.
- Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31): In this parable, Jesus illustrates the afterlife by contrasting the destinies of a rich man and a beggar named Lazarus. The rich man ends up in Hades, emphasizing the consequences of neglecting the needs of others.
- Symbolic Action (Matthew 5:22): In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus warns against anger and insults, stating that anyone who says, “You fool!” is in danger of the fire of hell. This language emphasizes the severity of destructive words and attitudes.
So, Jesus used a combination of vivid imagery, direct teachings, parables, and symbolic actions to convey the reality of judgment and the consequences of one’s choices. His teachings emphasized the importance of righteousness, compassion, and a relationship with God in light of the ultimate judgment.
