Parables and Parabolic Images in the Gospels

What Is a "Parable"?

Although we usually think of biblical parables as the brief "stories" told by Jesus, the Greek word παραβολή (parabolē) -- and the related Greek παροιμία (paroimia) and Hebrew mashal -- are also used for other short "figures of speech" in the Bible (OT and NT), including proverbs, sayings, riddles, etc. Please see a separate webpage, Parables in the Bible, describing the use of the biblical vocabulary related to parables.

Scholarly Definition: "At its simplest a parable is a metaphor or simile  drawn from nature or common life,  arresting the hearer by its vividness or strangeness,  and leaving the mind in sufficient doubt about its precise application  to tease it into active thought."(C. H. Dodd, The Parables of the Kingdom, New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1961, p. 5)

Implications of this definition:

• The meaning of most parables (both the short sayings-parables and the longer story-parables) is not so obvious, or at least it shouldn't be. If we assume we know what Jesus is talking about, we are probably missing the main point; if we are too familiar with the story (having heard it so often before), we might not think carefully enough about its real meaning.
   
• Most parables contain some element that is strange or unusual. They should cause you to say, "Wait a minute! That's not how farmers do their work! That's not what kings usually do! That's not what normally happens in nature!" And this strange element should cause you to think!
   
• Parables do not define things precisely, but rather use comparisons to describe some aspect of how God acts or interacts with human beings. Yet to say "A is like B" does not mean that "A is identical to B in all respects"; so one should be careful not to misinterpret or misapply the parables.
   
• Most parables are open-ended. Rather than reaching a conclusion, they challenge us to keep on thinking!
  Rather than having us "stop thinking", they invite us to "stop and think"!

Old Testament Background:

Both shorter proverbs and longer story-parables are already found in the Old Testament / Hebrew Bible. Here are only some examples:

• Gen 49:9 & Num 23:24 – Lions & lionesses
• Judges 9:7b-15 – Trees looking for a king
• Judges 14:12-18 – Riddle: strong bringing forth sweetness
• 2 Sam 12:1-7a – Poor man's lamb
• 2 Sam 14:1-11 – Two brothers fighting
• 1 Kings 20:35-40 – Escaped prisoner
• 2 Kings 14:9 – Thistle and cedar
• Isa 5:1-7 – Vineyard yielding wild grapes
• Ezek 17:3-10 – Eagles and vine
• Ezek 19:2-9 – Lioness & cubs
• Ezek 19:10-14 – Vine & branches
• Ezek 24:3-5, 6-14 – Boiling pot (with application)
• See the webpage, Parables in the Bible, for a complete list of OT/LXX texts using the words parabolē and paroimia.

The Purpose of Jesus' Parables?

We might think that Jesus spoke in parables to make it easier for people to understand his message. After all, don't all good teachers use memorable stories?
According to the Gospels, however, Jesus surprisingly does NOT expect everyone to understand his parables!
This is clearly expressed in Mark 4:9-13 and Matthew 13:10-17 (see full texts at the bottom of this page ).

In Matthew, at least the disciples of Jesus understand the parables; but in Mark, even they have a hard time understanding, despite receiving extra instructions in private!

• "Have you understood all this?" They [the disciples] answered, "Yes." (Matt 13:51)
• And he said to them [the disciples], "Do you not understand this parable? Then how will you understand all the parables?" (Mark 4:13)
• With many such parables he spoke the word to them [the crowds], as they were able to hear it;
  he did not speak to them except in parables, but he explained everything in private to his disciples. (Mark 4:33-34).

Where Are the Gospel Parables?

This page lists all Gospel texts normally identified by scholars as parables, as well as related texts dealing with Jesus' use of parables. From the following tables, you will note that Mark has only few parables and related images; Matthew adds quite a few more; and Luke has by far the most parables in the New Testament, including some of the most famous ones. The non-canonical Gospel of Thomas also contains quite a few parables that are also found in one or more of the Synoptics. In contrast, John's Gospel never uses the word "parable" and has only few very images that are even similar to the parables of the Synoptic Gospels. To compare the texts of parables that appear in two or more of the Gospels, see The Five Gospel Parallels website.

Parables and Parabolic Images in the Gospel according to MARK:

Parable-like Images in the Gospel according to JOHN:

The Greek word παραβολή (parabolē) is never used in the Fourth Gospel. However, the Johannine Jesus does use some metaphors and images that are somewhat similar to but also significantly different from the Synoptic parables. John's Gospel four times also uses the related word παροιμία (paroimia = "proverb" or "figure of speech").

Shepherd and Sheep (John 10:1-16)

• In Matthew 18:12-14 and Luke 15:3-7, Jesus tells a parable about a Shepherd who lost one of his 100 sheep.
• In John, Jesus directly says, "I am the Sheepgate" (10:7, 9) and "I am the Good Shepherd" (10:11, 14).

Vine and Branches (John 15:1-8)

• In the Synoptic Gospels, Jesus tells several parables involving workers in vineyards (Mark 12:1-11 & par.; Matt 20:1-16; Matt 21:28-32).
• In John, Jesus directly says, "I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower" (15:1) and "I am the vine; you are the branches" (15:5).

Paroimia = "proverb" or "figure of speech"

• John 10:6 - Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.
• John 16:25 - "I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures, but will tell you plainly of the Father."
• John 16:29 - His disciples said, "Yes, now you are speaking plainly, not in any figure of speech!
• Cf. 2 Peter 2:22 - It has happened to them according to the true proverb, "The dog turns back to its own vomit," and, "The sow is washed only to wallow in the mud."

Why Do People Have Difficulty Understanding Jesus?

Several New Testament writings (not only all four Gospels, but also Acts and Paul) try to explain why most people did NOT understand or accept Jesus. These explanations often quote Isaiah 6:9-10:

Trivia:

• What's the LONGEST parable of Jesus? - The Lost/Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32), with 391 words in the Greek NT, or about 500 words in most English translations.
• What's the SHORTEST parable of Jesus? - "Physician, heal yourself" (Luke 4:23), although we might consider it a "proverb," it is explicitly called a parabolē by Jesus in Luke.
• What's your FAVORITE parable of Jesus?

Related Resources:

• Biblical Vocabulary for Parables - with all the verses containing the words parabolē and paroimia
   
• Parables in Matthew's Gospel (PPT) - warning: very large file; may take long to download

Recommended Readings:

• Gerhard Lohfink. The Forty Parables of Jesus. Translated by Linda M. Maloney. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 2021.

• Amy-Jill Levine. Short Stories by Jesus: The Enigmatic Parables of a Controversial Rabbi. HarperOne, 2015.

• Gary M. Burge. Jesus, the Middle Eastern Storyteller. Zondervan, 2009.

• John Jay Hughes. The Parables: How to Understand and Live Jesus' Great Stories. Learn25, 2007. - Audio Book

• Mary Ann Getty-Sullivan. Parables of the Kingdom: Jesus and the Use of Parables in the Synoptic Tradition. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 2007.

• Kevin Perrotta and Amy Welborn. Parables: Stories of the Kingdom. Six Weeks with the Bible. Chicago: Loyola Press, 2003.

• Barbara E. Reid, O.P. Parables for Preachers: The Gospel of Matthew, Year A. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 2001.

• Barbara E. Reid, O.P. Parables for Preachers: The Gospel of Mark, Year B. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 1999.

• Barbara E. Reid, O.P. Parables for Preachers: The Gospel of Luke, Year C. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 2000.

• David B. Gowler. What Are They Saying about the Parables? Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 2000.

• John R. Donahue, S.J. The Gospel in Parable. Philadelphia: Fortress, 1988.

• C. H. Dodd. The Parables of the Kingdom. New York: Scribners, 1961.

• Joachim Jeremias. Parables of Jesus. New York: Scribners, 1954-1972 (various editions).

• Joachim Jeremias. Rediscovering the Parables. New York: Scribners, 1966.

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