1. Understand the nature of the parables - Parables are tools to compare something physical to
something spiritual… Jesus chose to teach in story form because stories engage
the mind and emotions of listeners like no other form of teaching…
2.
Understand the
purpose of parables -
Jesus taught with parables for two main purposes: to explain truth to some
(Luke 10:36-37) and to keep truth hidden from others (Mark 4:10-12)….[ii]
3.
See the parable
in its proper context - Often times
a parable has a brief introduction that will greatly affect its meaning and
interpretation. Luke 18:1 shares a key for interpreting the parable that
followed when it said, “And He told them
a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.”
Other times, a parable’s context will inform us that it is directed toward a
certain group of people (like the Pharisees in Luke 15).
Parables are
often grouped thematically, and understanding the main thread that ties related
parables together can shed light on their overall meaning and interpretation…
4. Remember the cultural gap - Some of the images and metaphors have rich meaning to
people in Jesus’ time. [They] are not as easy to recognize for those living in
the twenty-first century…A good study Bible[iii] will likely have helpful notes to aid you…
5.
Parables
usually have one main point - Our
understanding of a parable, and its details should all flow from the main point
(or points). This is a crucial step, because the main point of the parable is
the reason Jesus said it in the first place. Some recommended questions for
finding the main point are:
ü
Who are the main characters?
ü
What occurs at the end?
ü
What occurs in quotation marks?
ü
Who (or what) is the focus of the
story?
6. Take notice of surprise details - Certain parables have shocking and unexpected twists in the
story that help us understand the point Jesus was trying to make…Sometimes [special]
details are hard to pick up on due to cultural differences…
7.
Not every minor
detail has significant meaning - Because parables
are stories, they sometimes need supporting information in order for the main
idea of the parable to make sense and have its power… Often times pressing
on insignificant details can make the story unravel, and make one miss the
entire point of the story.
8.
Notice stock
imagery in the parables - Stock imagery is a term…for many of the [descriptions] used
repeatedly throughout the parables. Many times repeated images are paralleled
in the Old Testament, and would have been common spiritual ideas understood by
Jesus’ original hearers…
9.
The ending of
parables is very important - While
longer parables share a lot of important details along the way, the key to
understanding the implications of the parable is often found in its conclusion…
10.
Be careful with
allegorical interpretations of parables - There have been some throughout church history who have
thought that the meaning of parables was hidden, and unable to be explained
without applying special meanings to the text. The problem with this is that
they normally disregarded the plain reading of Scripture and offered confusing
ideas from the mind of the interpreter…[iv]
“He [Jesus] speaks in
parables…Though we have approached these parables reverentially all these many
years, and have heard them expounded as grave and reverent vehicles of holy
truth. I suspect that many (if not all) of them were originally not grave at all,
but were antic, comic, often more than just a little shocking.” [v]
[i] The term “bright idea” is a clever thought or plan. (www.dictionary.com)
[ii] And
when He was alone, those around Him with the twelve asked Him about the
parables. And He said to them, “To you has been given the secret of the kingdom
of God, but for those outside everything is in parables, so that they may
indeed see but not perceive, and may indeed hear but not understand, lest they
should turn and be forgiven.” Mark 4:10-12
[iii] Personally, I suggest the Life Application Study Bible series (in the following translations
of HCSB, KJV, NASB, NIV, NKJV, and NLT).
[iv] This article is adapted from, “10 Tips for Understanding and Interpreting Jesus’ Parables” by Kevin
Halloran.
[v] Quote by Frederick Buechner,
author of Telling the Truth: The Gospel as Tragedy, Comedy,
and Fairy Tale
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