BEREAN.AI ← Ask a Question

John's Use of Parables in the Gospel Narrative

The Gospel of John stands apart from the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) in its presentation of Jesus' teachings, particularly regarding the use of parables. While the Synoptics frequently depict Jesus teaching in parables, John's Gospel contains no parables in the same narrative style as those found in Matthew, Mark, and Luke [3].

The term "parable" (Greek parabole) generally refers to a comparison or similitude, an illustration of one subject by another [1, 4]. In the New Testament, it can encompass short proverbs, dark prophetic utterances, enigmatic maxims, or expanded metaphors [1, 4]. Jesus often spoke in parables to the crowds, sometimes to the extent that he did not tell them anything without using a parable [8]. This method was sometimes explained as a way to convey truth to those who could understand, while obscuring it from those who "seeing don't see, and hearing don't hear, neither do they understand" [5, 11]. For instance, John Gill notes that Jesus "condescended to their weakness, accommodated himself to their capacities, and made use of the plainest and most familiar expressions" [11]. Matthew Henry also suggests that Christ used parables because "the time was not yet come for the more clear and plain discoveries of the mysteries of the kingdom" [13].

The Synoptic Gospels record numerous parables, such as the wise and foolish builders, the sower, the tares, the mustard seed, and the leaven [2]. These narratives typically feature earthly scenarios to illustrate heavenly truths [4, 7]. For example, the parable of the sower describes different types of soil representing various responses to the word of God [2]. Tertullian, an early church father, noted that Jesus spoke "all these things... in parables" to the Jews [14]. Origen also discusses Jesus speaking to multitudes in parables before sending them away [12].

In contrast, John's Gospel presents Jesus' teachings through extended discourses, dialogues, and allegories rather than the short, illustrative stories characteristic of Synoptic parables. For example, Jesus' "I Am" statements (e.g., "I am the bread of life," "I am the good shepherd," "I am the resurrection and the life") function as profound theological declarations about his identity and mission, but they are not structured as narrative parables [10]. The closest John comes to a "parable" in the Synoptic sense is in John 10, where Jesus speaks of the shepherd and the sheepfold. The Geneva Bible refers to this passage as a "parable," noting that the audience "understood not what things they were which he spake unto them" [9]. However, even this passage is more of an extended metaphor or allegory than a narrative parable with a distinct plot and characters.

The Gospel of John was likely written later than the Synoptics, possibly around A.D. 78 or even A.D. 90-100, and its primary aim was to supplement the existing narratives, focusing on cultivating the spiritual life of Christians and bringing them into closer relation with the divine Savior [3, 6]. This different purpose may account for its distinct literary style and the absence of traditional parables. Instead of using parables to veil truth from some while revealing it to others, John's Gospel often presents direct theological arguments and profound spiritual truths, sometimes leading to misunderstanding among his listeners, as seen in the reaction to his discourse on eating his flesh and drinking his blood in John 6 [9].

Sources

  1. 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”
  2. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Parables — Remarkable Parables of the Old Testament -- Jdj 9:8-15; 2Sa 12:1-4; 14:5-7. Parables of christ Wise and foolish builders. -- Mt 7:24-27. Children of the bride chamber. -- Mt 9:15. New cloth and old garment. -- Mt 9:16. New wine and old bottles. -- Mt 9:17. Unclean spirit. -- Mt 12:43. Sower. -- Mt 13:3-23; Lu 8:5-15. Tares. -- Mt 13:24-30,36-43. Mustard-seed. -- Mt 13:31,32; Lu 13:19. Leaven. -- Mt 13:33. Treasure hid in a field. -- Mt 13:44. Pearl of great price. -- Mt 13:45,46. Net cast into the sea. -- Mt 13:47-50. Meats defiling not. -- Mt 15:10-15. Un”
  3. Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: John, Gospel Of — This Gospel was probably written at Ephesus about A.D. 78. (Canon Cook places it toward the close of John's life, A.D. 90-100.--ED.) The Gospel was obviously addressed primarily to Christians, not to heathen. There can be little doubt that the main object of St. John, who wrote after the other evangelists, is to supplement their narratives, which were almost confined to our Lord's life in Galilee. (It was the Gospel for the Church, to cultivate and cherish the spiritual life of Christians, and bring them into the closest relations to the divine Savio”
  4. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Parable — (Gr. parabole), a placing beside; a comparison; equivalent to the Heb. mashal, a similitude. In the Old Testament this is used to denote (1) a proverb (1 Sam. 10:12; 24:13; 2 Chr. 7:20), (2) a prophetic utterance (Num. 23:7; Ezek. 20:49), (3) an enigmatic saying (Ps. 78:2; Prov. 1:6). In the New Testament, (1) a proverb (Mark 7:17; Luke 4:23), (2) a typical emblem (Heb. 9:9; 11:19), (3) a similitude or allegory (Matt. 15:15; 24:32; Mark 3:23; Luke 5:36; 14:7); (4) ordinarily, in a more restricted sense, a comparison of earthly with heavenly things, "an eart”
  5. Matthew “Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they don’t see, and hearing, they don’t hear, neither do they understand. -- Matthew 13:13”
  6. Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Gospels — The name Gospel (from god and spell, Ang. Sax. good message or news, which is a translation of the Greek euaggelion) is applied to the four inspired histories of the life and teaching of Christ contained in the New Testament, of which separate accounts are given in their place. They were all composed during the latter half of the first century: those of St. Matthew and St. Mark some years before the destruction of Jerusalem; that of St. Luke probably about A.D. 64; and that of St. John towards the close of the century. Before the end of the second century, t”
  7. Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Fable — A fable is a narrative in which being irrational, and sometimes inanimate, are, for the purpose of moral instruction, feigned to act and speak with human interests and passions.--Encyc. Brit. The fable differs from the parable in that-- + The parable always relates what actually takes place, and is true to fact, which the fable is not; and + The parable teaches the higher heavenly and spiritual truths, but the fable only earthly moralities. Of the fable, as distinguished from the parable [[510]Parable], we have but two examples in the Bible: + That of the tree”
  8. Matthew “Matthew 13:34 (BSB) — Jesus spoke all these things to the crowds in parables. He did not tell them anything without using a parable.”
  9. John “John 10:6 (Geneva1599) — This parable spake Iesus vnto them: but they vnderstoode not what things they were which he spake vnto them.”
  10. Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “John 6:57 cross-references: Psalms 18:46, Jeremiah 10:10, Matthew 16:16, John 3:17, John 5:26, John 11:25, John 14:6, John 14:19, John 17:21, 1 Corinthians 15:22, 2 Corinthians 13:4, Galatians 2:20, Colossians 3:3, 1 Thessalonians 1:9, Hebrews 9:14, 1 John 4:9”
  11. Mark (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Mark 4:28: And with many such parables,.... As those of the tares, of the leaven in three measures of meal, of the treasure hid in the field, the pearl of great price, the net cast into the sea, and of the Scribe instructed unto the kingdom of God; which though not related at length here, are by the Evangelist Matthew, in Mat 13:24 together with others elsewhere: spake he the word unto them; preached the Gospel to the multitude, as they were able to hear it: meaning either that he condescended to their weakness, accommodated himself to their capacities, and made use of the pla”
  12. Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 9: Gospel of Peter, Diatessaron, Origen's Commentaries — 1. THE PARABLE OF THE TARES: THE HOUSE OF JESUS. (part 1): "Then He left the multitudes and went into His house, and His disciples came unto Him saying, Declare to us the parable of the tares of the field"(1) When Jesus then is with the multitudes, He is not in His house, for the multitudes are outside of the house, and it is an act which springs from His love of men to leave the house and to go away to those who are not able to come to Him. Now, having discoursed sufficiently to the multitudes in parables, He sends them away and”
  13. Matthew (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Matthew 13:24: In these verses, we have, I. Another reason given why Christ preached by parables, Mat 13:34, Mat 13:35. All these things he spoke in parables, because the time was not yet come for the more clear and plain discoveries of the mysteries of the kingdom. Christ, to keep the people attending and expecting, preached in parables, and without a parable spake he not unto them; namely, at this time and in this sermon. Note, Christ tries all ways and methods to do good to the souls of men, and to make impressions upon them; if men will not be instructed and influenced by ”
  14. Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 3: Tertullian — CHAP. XXXIII.--SO MUCH FOR THE PROPHETIC SCRIPTURES. IN THE GOSPELS, CHRIST'S PARABLES, AS EXPLAINED BY HIMSELF, HAVE A CLEAR REFERENCE TO THE RESURRECTION OF THE FLESH. (part 1): This is evidence enough from the prophetic Scriptures. I now appeal to the Gospels. But here also I must first meet the same sophistry as advanced by those who contend that the Lord, like (the prophets), said everything in the way of allegory, because it is written: "All these things spake Jesus in parables, and without a parable spake He not unto them,"(1) that is, to the Jews. Now the discip”
Ask Your Own Question
About Terms Privacy Contact

© 2026 BEREAN.AI. All rights reserved.