The significance of parables in the Gospels

The Lord Jesus Christ frequently used parables to present spiritual truths. The Greek word for parable – parabole – simply means “a placing beside” or a comparison, or a similitude. One of the best definitions is “an earthly story with a heavenly meaning”. Ordinary everyday events were used to illustrate spiritual truths, particularly Gospel truths, and gave people an insight into the heart and mind of God. But we should also be aware that there is a designed correspondence between things in nature and spiritual things, e.g. ordinary seeds and the seed of the Gospel.

But to understand the significance of parables, we need to see how the religious leaders of Israel (and others) were responding to the teachings of Christ, and why it became necessary at a certain point in His ministry to resort to parables.

This is clarified for us in Matthew 13:10,11,13 (KJB): And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given... because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.

So it was WILFUL BLINDNESS AND DEAFNESS which made it necessary for Christ to speak in parables. And this is an important lesson for every person today. When God presents us with light and truth, we have two options – embrace it without question and without hesitation, or become wilfully blind and deaf by resisting the truth. When the latter happens, then God does not give more light, but takes away even that light which was formerly given: For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. (Mt 13:12).

So Christ presented mysterious parables (the mysteries of the Kingdom of God) to the general public, but then explained the hidden and spiritual meaning to His disciples (and to us as we read those parables and apply them).

There are about forty six parables in the Gospels, and the greatest number pertain to the Kingdom of Heaven (also called the Kingdom of God). Quite a few pertain to the Rapture and the Second Coming of Christ. But there are also salvation parables, which are very important for understanding the love and grace of God. Some parables are not specifically identified as parables, and we must infer that they are such because they illustrate Gospel truth, e.g. the two debtors and the one creditor.

Some people will insist that the narrative of the Rich Man (called Dives in tradition) and Lazarus is a parable (because it is within the context of other parables), or more likely because it refutes the false doctrines of Soul Sleep and Annihilationism. What should be noted here is that (a) none of the parables deal with the afterlife in Hades, (and there is little about the afterlife given to us in Scripture), and (b) none of the other parables specifically names people by name, particularly a major Bible patriarch such as Abraham. Also this narrative does not begin with the introduction to parables such as “Another parable spake He unto them”. So this is NOT a parable, but a revelation of Hades, and what happened in Hades before the resurrection of Christ.

We should also be aware that if people have been influenced by a certain theology or teaching, they may misinterpret a parable because of that. A good example is the parable of the Leaven. Leaven in Scripture is invariably associated with corruption, sin, evil, hypocrisy, and false doctrine. Yet there are some who choose to ignore all that, and claim that this parable is about the expansion of the Kingdom of God, rather than the corruption of Christendom until the final Great Apostasy.

The parables of Christ were explained by Him to His disciples.

Today they are explained to all who learn of Him, for they all learn His teachings.

It was written, "I will open my mouth in dark sayings so that those who have eyse will not see and those who have ears will not hear."

This latter is only true for those who refuse to learn of Jesus Christ, all who learn from Him are not blinded nor deafened........

His prables and sayings are rich and abundant in wisdom and understanding.........hear Him! See Him always.

Wisdom is available to everyone who seeks it, not many want to.
Either then or now.

“An earthly story with a heavenly meaning” is one way of presenting parables but leaves out much as to how do we search them out for the unseen spiritually application (mixing faith") in what we do see or hear coming from the scriptures. How do we mix faith?

What kind of a earthly story with a heavenly meaning?

Can parables be historical y accurate as well as hiding the spiritual understanding for natural man ?

(ok...so I "mis-spoke"...sometimes, the flesh makes me do things, I don't want to do...like not posting in CC anymore) (anyway)

Although, the "gift" is "given?" It takes certain amounts "spiritual efforts" (aka "works") in the "unwrapping" the gift. But, unlike "gifts" we receive from people as presents, etc. The "boxes" if you will, become "larger"...NOT smaller. "Understanding", is such a "gift." Is a "progressive" thing. Like God being a "consuming fire." When ya "think" about fire, does it "consume TOTALLY" instantly? Or, does it consume TOTALLY "gradually?" To be sure, the fire consumes TOTALLY "eventually!" "Traditions of men", make like a "fire line", or a "breech break", where the fire can burn up to the "breech" (void), but, is unable to "jump" it. When dealing with forrest, grass fires? This is what ya want! With God's "gifts", however? More "circumcision of the heart", or making "unvoid" the breeches, is where the "calling" (should) lead us.

There are so many ways, Jesus "describes" spiritual events, and "histories", it actually is a bit overwhelming. Using "agrarian" terms, was pertinent, in the days of the farmer. Understanding agrarian terms in this "digital" information super high way age, with INSTANT communication capabilities? It becomes MUCH more difficult, yet, not impossible! Understanding, is "A" key! Not the only. But, WITHOUT it? The rest of making unvoid, that which is, and has become void, sound like so much babbling of a brook.

(disclaimer) "I" can't make anyone understand. I can only, by my own spiritual efforts, in unwrapping "gifts", (hopefully), give God cause to help "ME" understand. And, putting up this written record, of "What" I have come to understand. It also, seems to me "You get no wine, until you pay for it." Orsen Wellian commercial from back in the day, comes to mind.

When Jesus told the Pharisees concerning "Traditions of Man" making void the Word of God? He was "speaking" TO Jews! So how much WORSE off are "we?" Being GENTILES, from the "wild grape vine?" Just something to ponder/pray about.

There are three things necessary: (1) the indwelling Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth, (2) a diligent study of Scripture to compare Scripture with Scripture, and (3) total faith or confidence that something which appears to be trivial is in fact very significant. Something that is very common and which can be easily understood and appreciated by ordinary people. I would not be surprised if the Lord (who knows all things)was using actual incidents which had occurred at one time or another, so I would say historically accurate would be true.

Why would the Lord present something as "historically accurate" when it contradicts so many other scripture?

People who believe the parable in Luke 16 is literally true have to dismiss many scriptures describing death as not true.

That was very VERY well written and enlightening.Amen

I agree that the story of Lazarus and the rich man is a true story, not a parable. Like you said, it gives specific names. Also the rich man wanted to go back and warn his brothers- which means people were still on the earth, and the earth was still here- so it was not after Judgement Day- therefore it happened in the past, specifically in old testament times, because Abraham mentioned they could listen to to the Prophets- so it was after Abraham died, and before Christ came into authority...

(Matthew 28:18 All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth, therefore..." (all leaves no authority for Moses). Also in Matthew 17 a cloud hides Moses and Elijah, leaving only Christ to be seen, and God says "This (singular- excluding Moses and Elijah) is My Son (singular again) listen to Him! (One person). So God was saying we are no longer to listen to the old law or the Prophets- which is echoed in Romans 7:1-4).

Also I wanted to mention, leaven/yeast does not always represent sin. In Matthew 13:33 it represents the kingdom of God- how it grows by us teaching and making new disciples/Christians. It reminds me of that song... "It only takes a spark to get a fire going, then soon all those around will warm up to its glowing- that's how it is with God's love. Once you've experienced it you'll want to pass it on."

But I wouldn't say Jesus resorted to parables. It was in God's plan all along. The whole old testament is a parable- physical representactions of the spiritual way (the real way) to be revealed in the new testament. In speaking of the old law, it says "These were only a shadow of things to come, the reality however is found in Christ." Colossians 2:17. What is found in Christ? The way of obeying God's laws spiritually instead of physically- which is the real way, the reality. God compares physical things to spiritual things to better our understanding. But like you said, only those who have ears to hear and eyes to see will understand.

Which scriptures?

There cannot be any contradictions in Scripture.
We should keep in mind a few things regarding divine revelation.

1. Everything has not been revealed at once. So what we have is progressive revelation within Scripture. The best example is the Mystery of the Church, which was not revealed to the OT prophets but was revealed specifically to Paul.

2. Every mention of Sheol in the OT is only a partial revelation of Sheol/Hades. We had to wait for the Lord Jesus Christ to provide further light on Hades, the two resurrections, the two judgments, as well the the reason for the creation of Gehenna (the Lake of Fire) properly called Hell.

3. The KJV translators (and perhaps others) mistakenly called Sheol "the grave", when it is in fact in the lower parts of the earth (the core of the earth). How can we be so sure? It is the prophecy of Christ's presence in Sheol and his subsequent resurrection that confirms that Sheol is actually Hades.

כִּ֤י ׀ לֹא־תַעֲזֹ֣ב נַפְשִׁ֣י לִשְׁאֹ֑ול לֹֽא־תִתֵּ֥ן חֲ֝סִידְךָ֗ לִרְאֹ֥ות שָֽׁחַת

For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; [SHEOL] neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. (Psalm 16:10)

ὅτι οὐκ ἐγκαταλείψεις τὴν ψυχήν μου εἰς ᾅδου, οὐδὲ δώσεις τὸν ὅσιόν σου ἰδεῖν διαφθοράν

Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, [HADES] neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. (Acts 2:27)

Agreed!

I am familiar with progressive revelation. But what is revealed later cannot CONTRADICT what was revealed earlier, as Luke 16 CONTRADICTS many scripture in the OT describing death.

Either this is true:

Ecc 9:
5) For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.
6) Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun.
10) Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.

Or this is true:

Luke 16:
23) And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
24) And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
25) But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
26) And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.
27) Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house:
28) For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
29) Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.
30) And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.
31) And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

Abraham and the rich man are portrayed as knowing, seeing, talking, feeling, etc. Luke 16 does not add further understanding to Ecc 9, as it would if it were progressive revelation, it DIRECTLY CONTRADICTS it. Therefore either Ecc 9, and many other OT scripture that describe death, are flat out wrong, or the story in Luke 16 is not literally true, and it was a parable Jesus told to the Pharisees to make a point.

It is "the lower parts of the earth", "the pit", "the grave", the state of being dead. It is not a place where disembodied souls hang out waiting for judgment. The WHOLE IDEA of the immortal soul, or the soul/spirit living on after the "body" dies is not true. It came from the Greeks.

When PEOPLE die, PEOPLE are dead. When the resurrections come, dead PEOPLE will be raised from the dead.