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Illustrations and Examples in Biblical Teaching and Preaching

Biblical teaching and preaching frequently employ illustrations and examples to clarify spiritual truths, demonstrate principles, and encourage emulation or avoidance of certain behaviors. The use of such rhetorical devices is deeply embedded in the biblical text itself, from the parables of Jesus to the historical narratives of the Old Testament [6].

The term "parable" in Greek (παραβολή, parabolē) literally means "placing beside" or "comparison," indicating its function as an illustration of one subject by another [6]. While often associated with Jesus's teachings, the New Testament applies the term broadly to include short proverbs, prophetic utterances, enigmatic maxims, and extended metaphors [6]. This highlights the diverse ways in which illustrative language functions within scripture.

Jesus Christ himself is presented as the ultimate example in various aspects of Christian life. For instance, Peter exhorts believers to follow Christ's example (1 Pet. 2:21), and Jesus tells his disciples, "For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you" (John 13:15) [1]. This exemplary role extends to specific virtues and practices:

Beyond Christ, the Bible offers numerous other examples for instruction and admonition. Pastors are called to be examples to their flocks (Phil. 3:17; 2 Thess. 3:9; 1 Tim. 4:12; 1 Pet. 5:3) [1]. The experiences of the Jews in the wilderness serve as a warning (Heb. 4:11), and the prophets are presented as examples of patience in suffering affliction (James 5:10) [1]. The book of Hebrews, particularly chapter 11, is a profound example of teaching through historical illustration, presenting a "cloud of witnesses" whose faith is detailed to encourage believers [15, 16]. Matthew Henry notes that this chapter provides both specific examples of faith, like Abel, Enoch, and Noah, and more general accounts of faith's exploits [16].

The use of illustrations is not merely a stylistic choice but a pedagogical tool. Jesus frequently drew "the most striking illustrations of great truths from the most familiar objects and incidents of life," as seen in his discussion of the "cup and platter" (Luke 11:39) [12]. This approach makes abstract spiritual concepts relatable and memorable. The prophet Isaiah, for example, uses "a great variety of imagery" to depict the flourishing condition of the Church in the future, elevating his message through magnificent and consolatory descriptions [13].

Biblical narratives themselves function as extended illustrations. The history of Israel, with its "terrible works" of God, serves as an example to admonish rebels [14]. Figures like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joshua, Gideon, Samuel, and David are cited as examples of early rising for various purposes, from executing God's commands to discharging daily duties [2]. Mary's actions are also presented as an example [2].

The effectiveness of illustrations lies in their ability to illuminate and provide understanding. The psalmist declares, "The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple" (Psalm 119:130) [7]. This "unfolding" often involves making complex truths accessible through concrete examples. For instance, the concept of God's unchanging nature is reinforced by the statement that "whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it or taken from it" (Ecclesiastes 3:14) [8]. Similarly, the call to liberality is illustrated by the promise that "whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered" (Proverbs 11:25, cross-referenced with Ecclesiastes 11:1) [10].

The Bible also uses illustrations to convey warnings and consequences. The call to "rejoice, O young man, in your youth... but know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment" (Ecclesiastes 11:9) serves as a stark illustration of accountability [9]. The exclusion of anything unclean or deceitful from the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:27) illustrates the holiness required for entry [11].

The practice of using illustrations and examples in preaching and teaching is thus deeply rooted in biblical precedent. It is a method that makes divine truths comprehensible, provides models for righteous living, and offers cautionary tales against sin. This pedagogical approach ensures that the message is not only heard but also understood and applied to daily life.

Sources

  1. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Example — Of Christ (1 Pet. 2:21; John 13:15); of pastors to their flocks (Phil. 3:17; 2 Thess. 3:9; 1 Tim. 4:12; 1 Pet. 5:3); of the Jews as a warning (Heb. 4:11); of the prophets as suffering affliction (James 5:10).”
  2. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Early Rising — Christ set an example of -- Mr 1:35; Lu 21:38; Joh 8:2. Requisite for Devotion. -- Ps 5:3; 59:16; 63:1; 88:13; Isa 26:9. Executing God's commands. -- Ge 22:3. Discharge of daily duties. -- Pr 31:15. Neglect of, leads to poverty -- Pr 6:9-11. Practised by the wicked, for Deceit. -- Pr 27:14. Executing plans of evil. -- Mic 2:1. Illustrates spiritual diligence -- Ro 13:11,12. Exemplified Abraham. -- Ge 19:27. Isaac, &c. -- Ge 26:31. Jacob. -- Ge 28:18. Joshua &c. -- Jos 3:1. Gideon. -- Jdj 6:38. Samuel. -- 1Sa 15:12. David. -- 1Sa 17:20. Mary, &c. -- Mr ”
  3. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Communion With God — Christ set an example of -- Lu 19:41,42. Exhortation to -- Ro 12:15; 1Pe 3:8. Exercise towards The afflicted. -- Job 6:14; Heb 13:3. The chastened. -- Isa 22:4; Jer 9:1. Enemies. -- Ps 35:13. The poor. -- Pr 19:17. The weak. -- 2Co 11:29; Ga 6:2. Saints. -- 1Co 12:25,26. Inseparable from love to God -- 1Jo 3:17; Joh 4:20. Motives to The compassion of God. -- Mt 13:27,33. The sense of our infirmities. -- Heb 5:2. The wicked made to feel, for saints -- Ps 106:46. Promise to those who show -- Pr 19:17; Mt 10:42. Illustrated -- Lu 10:33; 15:20. Exemp”
  4. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Liberality — Pleasing to God -- 2Co 9:7; Heb 13:16. God never forgets -- Heb 6:10. Christ set an example of -- 2Co 8:9. Characteristic of saints -- Ps 112:9; Isa 32:8. Unprofitable, without love -- 1Co 13:3. Should be exercised In the service of God. -- Ex 35:21-29. Toward saints. -- Ro 12:13; Ga 6:10. Toward servants. -- De 15:12-14. Toward the poor. -- De 15:11; Isa 58:7. Toward strangers. -- Le 25:35. Toward enemies. -- Pr 25:21. Toward all men. -- Ga 6:10. In leading to those in want. -- Mt 5:42. In giving alms. -- Lu 12:33. In relieving the destitute. -- Isa 58:”
  5. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Diligence — Christ, an example -- Mr 1:35; Lu 2:49. Required by God in Seeking him. -- 1Ch 22:19; Heb 11:6. Obeying him. -- De 6:17; 11:13. Hearkening to him. -- Isa 55:2. Striving after perfection. -- Php 3:13,14. Cultivating Christian graces. -- 2Pe 1:5. Keeping the souls. -- De 4:9. Keeping the heart. -- Pr 4:23. Labours of love. -- Heb 6:10-12. Following every good work. -- 1Ti 5:10. Guarding against defilement. -- Heb 12:15. Seeking to be found spotless. -- 2Pe 3:14. Making our call, &c, sure. -- 2Pe 1:10. Self-examination. -- Ps 77:6. Lawful business. -- Pr 27:”
  6. Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Parable — (The word parable is in Greek parable (parabole) which signifies placing beside or together, a comparison, a parable is therefore literally a placing beside, a comparison, a similitude, an illustration of one subject by another.--McClintock and Strong. As used in the New Testament it had a very wide application, being applied sometimes to the shortest proverbs, (1 Samuel 10:12; 24:13; 2 Chronicles 7:20) sometimes to dark prophetic utterances, (Numbers 23:7,18; 24:3; Ezekiel 20:49) sometimes to enigmatic maxims, (Psalms 78:2; Proverbs 1:6) or metaphors expand”
  7. Psalms “Declaratio sermonum tuorum illuminat, et intellectum dat parvulis. -- Psalms 118:130”
  8. Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “Ecclesiastes 3:14 cross-references: Deuteronomy 32:4, 2 Samuel 22:31, Psalms 33:11, Psalms 64:9, Psalms 76:10, Psalms 119:90, Proverbs 19:21, Proverbs 21:30, Proverbs 30:6, Ecclesiastes 5:6, Ecclesiastes 5:7, Ecclesiastes 7:18, Ecclesiastes 8:12, Ecclesiastes 12:13, Isaiah 10:12, Isaiah 46:10, Isaiah 59:18, Daniel 4:34, Daniel 8:8, Daniel 11:2, John 19:10, John 19:28, Acts 2:23, Acts 4:28, Acts 5:39, Romans 11:36, Ephesians 3:11, Titus 1:2, James 1:17, Revelation 15:4”
  9. Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “Ecclesiastes 11:9 cross-references: Genesis 3:6, Genesis 6:2, Numbers 15:30, Numbers 15:39, Numbers 22:32, Deuteronomy 29:19, Joshua 7:21, 2 Samuel 11:2, 1 Kings 18:12, 1 Kings 18:27, 1 Kings 22:15, Job 31:7, Psalms 50:4, Psalms 81:12, Ecclesiastes 2:10, Ecclesiastes 3:12, Ecclesiastes 3:17, Ecclesiastes 7:14, Ecclesiastes 12:1, Ecclesiastes 12:14, Jeremiah 7:24, Jeremiah 23:17, Jeremiah 44:16, Lamentations 3:27, Matthew 5:28, Luke 15:12, Acts 14:16, Acts 17:30, Acts 24:25, Romans 2:5, Romans 14:10, 1 Corinthians 4:5, 2 Corinthians 5:10, Ephesians 2:2, Hebrews 9:27, 1 Peter 4:3, 2 Peter 3:7, 1”
  10. Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “Ecclesiastes 11:1 cross-references: Leviticus 19:25, Deuteronomy 15:7, Psalms 41:1, Psalms 126:5, Proverbs 11:18, Proverbs 11:24, Proverbs 19:17, Proverbs 22:9, Ecclesiastes 3:6, Ecclesiastes 11:6, Isaiah 32:8, Isaiah 32:20, Matthew 10:13, Matthew 10:42, Matthew 25:17, Matthew 25:40, Luke 14:14, 2 Corinthians 9:6, Galatians 6:8, Hebrews 6:10”
  11. Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “Revelation 21:27 cross-references: Leviticus 13:46, Numbers 5:3, Numbers 12:15, Psalms 101:8, Isaiah 35:8, Isaiah 52:1, Isaiah 60:21, Ezekiel 44:9, Joel 3:17, Zechariah 14:21, Matthew 13:41, 1 Corinthians 6:9, Galatians 5:19, Ephesians 5:5, Philippians 4:3, Hebrews 12:14, Revelation 3:5, Revelation 13:8, Revelation 17:4, Revelation 20:12, Revelation 20:15, Revelation 21:8, Revelation 22:14”
  12. Luke (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Luke 11:39: cup and platter--remarkable example of our Lord's way of drawing the most striking illustrations of great truths from the most familiar objects and incidents of life. ravening--rapacity.”
  13. Isaiah (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Isaiah 60 (introduction): The glorious prospect displayed in this chapter seems to have elevated the prophet even above his usual majesty. The subject is the very flourishing condition of the Church of Jesus Christ at that period of the Gospel dispensation when both Jews and Gentiles shall become one fold under one Shepherd. The imagery employed is of the most consolatory and magnificent description. This blessed state of the world shall follow a time of gross darkness, Isa 60:1, Isa 60:2. The universal diffusion of vital godliness beautifully set forth by a great variety of ima”
  14. Psalms (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Psalms 66:5: The terrible works illustrated in Israel's history (Exo 14:21). By this example let rebels be admonished.”
  15. Hebrews (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Hebrews 11 (introduction): A definition of faith, Heb 11:1, Heb 11:2. What are its immediate objects, Heb 11:3. What are its effects, instanced in Abel, Heb 11:4. In Enoch, Heb 11:5, Heb 11:6. In Noah, Heb 11:7. In Abraham, Heb 11:8-10. In Sara, Heb 11:11. In their righteous posterity, Heb 11:12-16 In Abraham's offering of his son Isaac, Heb 11:17-19. In Isaac, Heb 11:20. In Jacob, Heb 11:21. In Joseph, Heb 11:22. In Moses, Heb 11:23-28. In the Israelites in the wilderness, Heb 11:29. In the fall of Jericho, Heb 11:30. In Rahab, Heb 11:31. In several of the judges, and in David,”
  16. Hebrews (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Hebrews 11:4: The apostle, having given us a more general account of the grace of faith, now proceeds to set before us some illustrious examples of it in the Old Testament times, and these may be divided into two classes: - 1. Those whose names are mentioned, and the particular exercise and actings of whose faith are specified. 2. Those whose names are barely mentioned, and an account given in general of the exploits of their faith, which it is left to the reader to accommodate, and apply to the particular persons from what he gathers up in the sacred story. We have here those”
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