Using Biblical Parables and Analogies in Teaching and Preaching
The term "parable" derives from the Greek parabolē, meaning "a placing beside" or comparison, and corresponds to the Hebrew mashal, denoting similitude [1, 2]. In Scripture, this designation encompasses a wide semantic range: proverbs (1 Samuel 10:12; 24:13), prophetic utterances (Numbers 23:7, 18), enigmatic maxims (Psalm 78:2; Proverbs 1:6), and the narrative comparisons most familiar from Jesus' teaching [1, 2]. The parable differs fundamentally from the fable in that it "always relates what actually takes place, and is true to fact," teaching "higher heavenly and spiritual truths" rather than merely earthly moralities [4].
Christ's Pedagogical Method
Jesus employed parables extensively as a teaching instrument. He "taught them many things in parables" [6], delivering at least seven major parables to mixed audiences and three additional ones privately to the Twelve [9]. The structure of these teachings reveals deliberate pedagogical architecture: the parable of the Sower functions as an introduction to the entire sequence [9], while Psalm 78:2—"I will open my mouth in a parable"—finds its fulfillment in Christ's method (Matthew 13:35) [10]. Yet parables serve a dual function. Jesus explained, "Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they don't see, and hearing, they don't hear, neither do they understand" [3]. The parable both reveals truth to receptive hearers and conceals it from those hardened against the message [8].
Principles for Contemporary Use
The Preacher in Ecclesiastes "taught the people knowledge, and caused them to hear, and searched forth, and prepared many parables" [7], modeling the preacher's task of careful preparation. Hosea records God's declaration: "I have also spoken to the prophets, and I have multiplied visions; and by the ministry of the prophets I have used parables" [5], establishing divine precedent for analogical instruction. When interpreting parables for teaching, one must locate the central analogy within its historical and textual context, avoiding speculative allegorical meanings in every narrative detail [8]. The parable of the Sower, for instance, addresses the varied responses to Jesus' message among first-century Jews [8], a historical specificity that grounds its broader application.
Effective use of biblical parables in preaching requires fidelity to their original function: they compare earthly realities with heavenly truths [2], engaging hearers in active interpretation rather than passive reception. The preacher's responsibility mirrors that of the ancient sage—to search out, prepare, and deliver comparisons that illuminate divine truth for contemporary audiences [7].
Sources
- 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”
- 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”
- 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”
- 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”
- Hosea “I have also spoken to the prophets, and I have multiplied visions; and by the ministry of the prophets I have used parables. -- Hosea 12:10”
- Mark “He taught them many things in parables, and told them in his teaching, -- Mark 4:2”
- Ecclesiastes “Ecclesiastes 12:9 (Geneva1599) — And the more wise the Preacher was, the more he taught the people knowledge, and caused them to heare, and searched foorth, and prepared many parables.”
- Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 13:3: 13:3-9 This parable (interpreted in 13:18-23) addresses the mostly negative responses of the Jewish nation to Jesus and his message. • Parables (Greek parabolē) are stories that usually express an analogy between a common aspect of life and a spiritual truth. To understand a parable, it is necessary to locate the central analogy and understand it in its historical context and in the context of the Gospel text; then the central message can be understood. Speculative allegorical meanings that were not intended should not be found in every element of a parable.”
- Matthew (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Matthew 13:3: And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, &c.--These parables are SEVEN in number; and it is not a little remarkable that while this is the sacred number, the first FOUR of them were spoken to the mixed multitude, while the remaining THREE were spoken to the Twelve in private--these divisions, four and three, being themselves notable in the symbolical arithmetic of Scripture. Another thing remarkable in the structure of these parables is, that while the first of the Seven--that of the Sower--is of the nature of an Introduction to the who”
- Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 78:2: 78:2 The psalmist recites Israel’s story (78:5-72) in a parable in order to teach wisdom and insight. • Jesus quoted this verse to explain why he taught in parables (Matt 13:35).”