parable
A parable is a brief story or comparison used to teach spiritual or moral truth. In Scripture, Jesus often used parables to reveal truth to receptive hearers while also confronting unbelief.
At a Glance
A parable is a brief story or comparison used to teach spiritual or moral truth. In Scripture, Jesus often used parables to reveal truth to receptive hearers while also confronting unbelief.
Description
A parable is a figurative teaching form in which a story, comparison, or vivid illustration is used to convey spiritual truth. In the Bible, parables appear most prominently in the teaching ministry of Jesus, who drew on common experiences such as farming, family life, money, servants, banquets, and travel to make the realities of God’s kingdom plain and searching. Scripture indicates that parables both reveal and conceal: they help receptive hearers grasp truth, while those who are hard of heart may hear the story without embracing its meaning. As a rule, parables should be interpreted according to their context and main thrust rather than by assigning symbolic meaning to every minor detail, though some parables do contain several explained features. Used carefully, the term refers not merely to any illustration, but to a purposeful narrative or comparison that presses divine truth on the listener.