Some Keys to Reading and Understanding the Parables
(Adapted from Fee and Stuart's How to Read the Bible for All
Its Worth, pp. 135-148.)
The Parables in History
History has been hard on the parables. They have been misinterpreted and misapplied since almost the beginning of the church. Perhaps the trouble began with the early disciples misunderstanding of Mk. 4:10-12. Some concluded that to those on the outside, the parables were a simple story; but held a deeper spiritual meaning to those "in the know." Even Augustine falls into this trap with his interpretation of such parables as the Good Samaritan where he has every phrase stand for some hidden meaning.
It is doubtful that most, if any, of the parables were for the "inner circle." Note Lk. 15:3; 18:9; and 19:11, where Jesus indicates that the parables were to be understood. Is it not obvious that the lawyer who heard the parable of the Good Samaritan understood it?
If we have trouble understanding a parable it is probably related to one of our keys to understanding the Gospels, such as discovering the original audience. Make no mistake about it, Jesus was trying to be understood when he spoke a parable. Can we teach ourselves to hear what the listeners of the first century heard? If we can, we will be on our way to a better understanding of all the teachings of the New Testament, including the parables of Jesus.
The Nature of the Parables
The Variety of Kinds
Many of the stories in the Bible that have been labeled parables
are actually a similitude (The leaven in the meal), a metaphor
(you are the salt of the earth), or even an epigram (do people
pick grapes from a thorn bush…?)
The Good Samaritan is a true parable; a story pure and simple. Other true parables include: the Prodigal Son, the Ten Virgins, and the Laborers in the Vineyard.
A similitude such as "the leaven in the meal" is simply an illustration from everyday life that Jesus used to make his point.
Similes and metaphors like "you are the salt of the earth" are akin to the similitude but are usually spoken with a different point in mind.
Occasionally, a parable is allegorical. An allegory is a story told that says one thing but represents something else, such as the Wicked Tenants (Mk. 12:1-11, etc.). But this is not the norm.
How the Parables Function
The true parables serve to call out a response from the listener.
The parable is the message. Interpreting parables sometimes ruins
their impact, much like trying to explain a joke. It is often
the immediacy inherent in the telling of the joke that makes it
funny. Having to explain it sometimes strips it of its original
humor. This can happen with the parables as well. After we 'explain"
them to our 21st century minds, we lose the "gotcha effect"
that the first century listeners experienced.
For us it is important to see what would have 'caught' the first century listeners' attention. Our task is to recapture the "punch" that these stories had for the original hearers and bring them into our own time and setting.
Explaining the Parables
Finding the Points of Reference
Knowing the points of reference and catching the unexpected turn
in the story is a major key to understanding and explaining the
parables.
Identifying the Audience
To understand a parable we must be able to understand how the
original hearers would have identified with the story. In the
case of the Good Samaritan we must be able to "get inside
of the head" of the lawyer who posed the question, "who
is your neighbor?" to Jesus. Many of the peculiarities of
the parables can only be fully understood in light of the manners
and customs of the first century Bible world. To get a better
handle on these a book such as The New Manners & Customs of
Bible Times by Ralph Gower could come in handy.
The "Context-less" Parables
A good example of this type of parable is the Laborers in the
Vineyard, Mt. 20:1-16. Here we must reread the parable until the
point(s) of reference emerges. In this parable the three main
points of reference are: the landowner, the full-day laborers
and the one-hour laborers. This can be seen from the focus brought
to bear on these three groups at the end of the parable. The original
listeners probably were identifying themselves with the full-day
laborers when Jesus sprung the surprise - equal pay for everyone!
The Parables of the Kingdom
These are the parables that Jesus begins with, "The Kingdom
of God is like…" Note the following:
1) The expression means "It is like this in the Kingdom."
The whole parable tells something about the kingdom. Do not try
to focus on just one of the points of reference.
2) While we can learn about the kingdom from these parables their
original use by Jesus was as part of His call for disciples. In
His own interpretation of the Parable of the Sower, Jesus explains
that the four soil types are like four different respondents to
the Gospel. He emphasizes the need to respond to the Gospel, correctly
and quickly. So we see that most of the Kingdom parables were
addressed to the multitudes of potential disciples.
3) Do not miss the urgency in Jesus' words.
a) Judgment is impending (Lk. 12:16-20), but
b) Good News is at the door, salvation is full and freely offered
to all (Mt. 13:44-46).
The Question of Interpretation
Two suggestions:
1) Try and retell the parable in 21st century terms. Fee and Stuart
suggest a retelling of the Good Samaritan with the following changes:
A poor family is stranded by the road on Sunday morning (the victim).
A church elder and Kiwanis club president pass by in too big of
a hurry for their own purposes to stop and render aid. Now let
the part of the Good Samaritan be played by…an atheist! The
atheist sets the family up in a motel, obtains food for the family
and sets out to help the father get a job. Of course this retelling
is not inspired, but it will call the modern listener to "put
on" the lawyer's shoes for a moment.
2) All of the parables are somehow kingdom related. The need for
Jesus original listeners to accept the Good News concerning the
kingdom of God still rings true today.
How Best To Teach Our Children by Greg Gwin (The
Beacon)
Concerned Christians, especially those who are parents, are keenly
aware of the great responsibility God has placed upon us to train
up children "in the nurture and admonition of the Lord"
(Eph. 6:4). It is essential to "train up a child in the way
he should go," so that "when he is old, he will not
depart from it" (Prov. 22:6).
This job must principally be done in the home. The Scriptures
should be taught "diligently unto thy children," and
we ought to "talk of them when thou sittest in thine house,
and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and
when thou risest up" (Deut. 6:7). If we neglect such teaching
in the home, there is little hope that our children will grow
up to know and serve the Lord.
The local church offers important assistance in this work of teaching.
Children, of course, are among those covered by the Great Commission
(Matt. 28:19,20), and we do well to pay special attention to converting
those in our own families. While this work is secondary to the
primary work of parents, it is still important and should be done
as effectively as possible.
It is with regard to this congregational work of teaching children
that we comment upon an "exciting training event" coming
to our area this summer (as advertised by a flyer recently received).
The speakers at this special session include an "accomplished
ventriloquist," an "advanced puppeteer," a "gospel
illusionist," and a "professional Christian clown."
Add an elephant and a man shot out of a cannon, and this sounds
like a pretty good circus!
And, that's our point: These folks have taken the modern trends
to new heights, but there are many - even some in the Lord's church
- who are not too far behind. More and more we hear about churches
employing skits, dramas, and other trendy methods to entice children
into Bible classes and worship assemblies. They are selling out
the simple and serious truths of the gospel for fun and games.
Can their "clowning around" possibly be "decent
and orderly?" (1 Cor. 14:40) Think!
MONTHLY BIBLE READING: Lessons from the Parables: Matthew, Mark, and Luke.
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS
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