THE PARABLES OF JESUS CHRIST BIBLE STUDY

The Parables of Jesus Christ Bible Study

Copyright © 2015 by Kim Howard

All rights reserved. This Bible Study was written for non-profit use. Any and all material can be used or copied to further God's Kingdom. This material may not be used in any form for profit.

This Bible Study is for my own personal study and I paraphrased many of the scriptures for clarification of my understanding of the English language. My study came from the KJV translation, the only true translation. If you would like a study on different translations please call or email and I will gladly pass them on to you.

An old definition of parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. Parables tell a story using something we see every day to help us understand a spiritual truth that we can’t see with our eyes. When Jesus taught in parables, He used things that the people of His day were familiar with. If Jesus were here teaching with parables today, they would be different because our culture is different.

It is interesting to note that of all the parables were delivered after the Jewish leaders of the day registered their rejection of Christ as the Messiah (Matthew 12). Jesus interpreted only two parables—the parable of the sower and the parable of the wheat and tares (Matthew 13).  It is proposed that He explained these two parables to set a pattern of interpretation for all His parables.  The fact that He did not interpret His parables that came after these indicates that He fully expected His disciples to understand what He taught.

Approximately one-third of the teachings personally delivered by Jesus Christ as noted in the Gospels were in the form of parables.  In the following passage He gave His reasons for using the parabolic form in teaching truth:

And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.  For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.  Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.  And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says: ‘Hearing you will hear and shall not understand, and seeing you will see and not perceive; for the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, so that I should heal them.’ But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear; for assuredly, I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired 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)

Jesus Christ used parables to illustrate truth for the following reasons:

  

·      Because parables were targeted toward the understanding of Christ’s disciples and not for all who heard His teachings.  He used the parabolic form to reveal truth to some, and to hide it from others.  A mixed audience attended His teachings; some were believers and others were unbelievers.  Some had placed their faith in His person (deity), His purpose (grace-gift of salvation), and His office (Messiah); while others rejected these critical aspects of His incarnation and life.  To those who welcomed Him, they would have more; but to those who rejected Him, they would have less (Matthew 13:10-17).

·      Because His parabolic teachings were the fulfillment of prophecy (vs. 14) found in Isaiah 6:9, which foretold that many would hear but not understand.  But now it was time for His disciples to understand His teachings and to be “blessed” (happy) in their understanding. Also see Psalm 78:2 and Ephesians 3:9.

·      Because parables are based on a known reality. Parables are unlike fictional stories.  While a fictional story is constructed without a basis in reality, a parable is based on a known realm (reality). The truth to be learned was gained from transferring reality (the known) to the unknown.  It becomes the hearer’s responsibility to properly understand what truth is being transferred from the reality of the parable that is told.  When Christ used a parable, He expected the believer to understand the parable by making the necessary transference from reality to the truth that He was seeking to transfer.

The parables in this study are put together in chronological order to try and paint in the mind’s eye a clearer picture of the stories. 

The questions posed at the end of each parable are to help inspire the reader to think of the transference Jesus may have been trying to convey.  Some answers are mine, and some have been taken from the views of other commentators, but I encourage each reader to search out their own answers for themselves. 

My prayer is that readers will see the Kingdom of God and find that narrow path that leads to eternal life (Matthew 7:13-14). Hope to see you there!

With prayers and love,

Kim Howard
kimlovesjesus@icloud.com