PARABLES

MEANING OF PARABLES Origin in Greek words: para, meaning

“beside,” and ballo, meaning “to throw”.

Something “thrown beside.”

Stories with a meaning that runs alongside them.

Puzzling, figurative speech, symbolic language with more than one level of meaning.

JESUS TAUGHT THROUGH PARABLES About Kingdom of God using images

from people’s everyday experiences:

The Kingdom of God like….

- A woman who mixed yeast into dough;- A fig tree;- A pearl;- A treasure buried in a field;- A sower sowing seed, a mustard seed.

THREE TYPES OF PARABLES1) Similitude

very concise narratives that make a comparison between an aspect of God’s realm and a typical event in life (seed growing in the ground in Mark 4: 26-29)

THREE TYPES OF PARABLES2) Parables

longer and more detailed telling a story about one-time fictitious but true to life event (a farmer whose enemies sow weeds in his wheat field in Matthew 13: 4-30)

THREE TYPES OF PARABLES3) Exemplary story

Presents a specific example that illustrates the general principle (the good Samaritan in Luke 10: 29-37)

GOAL OF PARABLES To persuade the hearer top adopt the

particular view of God and of life in God’s world;

To convert the hearer;

To prick away at his/ her conscience;

To cause a person to stop and reflect.

MARK 4:1-9 Check which kind of soil represents your

current commitment to Jesus word?

What thorns – especially worries – keep you from getting closer to Jesus?

List some things you can do that will help the word of God grow in you. Name some people who have helped you grow closer to God.