Overview

One of the most mystifying aspects of the Lord's ministry was the parables that He spoke. Jesus Christ told parables in response to questions, self-righteous attitudes, pious murmuring, or as a means of engaging an audience to think more deeply about spiritual matters. His parables revealed truth, but in a partially-veiled manner that would test those listening. The casual onlooker, the "window shopper," would hear and not comprehend, nor desire any more understanding - "thanks for the good story." But those longing to grasp the significance of the story would seek the Lord for further instruction. Hence, Christ's parables were not intended to develop foundational doctrines of our faith, but to confront smug religiosity and carnal attitudes, and to prompt repentance and righteous behavior. Much false doctrine has been derived from wrongly interpreting stories that were designed to be ambiguous. Yet, through the light of the New Testament Epistles the meanings of Christ's parables are more clearly understood and appreciated.