Reflection
The Parables of Jesus
The Parables of Jesus
It is not as easy as you might think to define the word ‘parable’. The Greek word from which it is derived means ‘to set two things side by side’, so offering a comparison. In the time of Jesus, however, the word could also mean a proverb, an allusion or a prophetic oracle. Generally, a parable in the Gospels is introduced by the words 'The kingdom of God is like... ’ so teasing out a comparison. Jesus mainly used parables to explain the nature of this kingdom.
Jesus told parables for a variety of reasons, but he was mainly concerned to increase the understanding of his listeners about the kingdom of God. He wanted to provoke them into thinking about this kingdom, so he did not usually offer to explain the meaning of a parable. The parable of the sower in Mark’s Gospel is a notable exception to the rule. This parable is based on a familiar sight in first-century Palestine — the sower sowing seed all around him as he walks up and down his fields. However, the parable is much more concerned with the nature of the soil into which the seed falls than it is with the sower himself. The soil provides an analogy for understanding how people hear and respond to the ‘sowing of the seed’ — the message of God’s salvation.
The parables, Jesus said, were given to ordinary people so that ‘they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven’. This seems a very harsh statement and appears to suggest that Jesus spoke in parables in order to hide the truth rather than make it clearer. Yet the evidence suggests that for anyone prepared to listen, the parables do make it quite clear who does and who does not belong to God’s kingdom.
The parables of Jesus concentrate on the kingdom of God, but they also illuminate many other themes, including the demands of discipleship, prayer and the right use of wealth and possessions. Jesus used parables frequently because they caught the attention of his listeners; were instantly memorable; challenged the assumptions that people held about God; encouraged them to look at life from a different perspective; and provoked them into further, deeper, reflection.