What Are the Parables?

Matthew 13:35 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: "I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things kept secret from the foundation of the world.”

The parables have predominantly remained a mystery throughout history, leaving people guessing their true meaning. However, even if the details are not understood, a reading of the parables will show that they are not about moral instruction. But instead, they are mysteries from the foundation of the world, revealing the story about the Kingdom of Israel.

While Jesus did address morality, and there's nothing wrong with trying to be good. The problem is striving to please God through good works in order to earn salvation that you already possess. And as a result, use the parables for moral instruction.

People mistakenly take the parables out of context, interpreting them through their own understanding of the Epistles and the Law of Moses on how they must live their lives and miss the true gold of their understanding. In doing so, they create their own laws, imposing burdens on both themselves—much like what the Pharisees did.

Jesus did not speak about morals so that we should judge or condemn one another—instead, He gave us examples of how we should treat our neighbour with love. After all, the Kingdom cannot stand if it is divided and fighting among itself.

An example I witnessed is the use of Matthew 25:21 taken from the 'Parable of the Talents': “Don’t you want God to say to you, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant,’ when He returns?” This verse is often used to persuade people to get involved in the church by using their talents. And if you don't, according to the parable, you will be cast into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

The thinking behind this concept stems from a paganistic attitude embedded in mankind since the beginning of time—the belief that one must be good to appease the wrath or disappointment of a god. It comes from a difficulty of understanding how gracious and loving He is.

Another example of this is Christianity's view on hell. Jesus could not have been giving us detailed instructions on how to avoid eternal damnation. For one, it would have been unfair, as He deliberately spoke mysteries in parables, leaving everyone guessing what He meant. You would think for such a critical subject, it would require far more explicit instructions. Yet, even if you gathered all the biblical teachings, you would still be left wondering whether you had missed some crucial detail.

Even the idea that everything Jesus said is a guide for living or an artistic and ethereal journey of imagination cannot be correct. Morality is universal across all religions; one does not need to be a Christian to be good—and atheists would agree.

Moses brought the Law, so why would Jesus need to introduce a new one and speak it in mysteries? …What, then, sets Christianity apart from all other religions?

Jesus was very specific and repeatedly emphasised, "Listen to Me, follow Me, abide in My Word," because He had something different to say than other religions. He came with a mission—to complete the works of the Father—and it was this mission that He spoke about. (John 4:34)

Although works are indeed necessary, people struggle to see that the parables are prophetic—revelations of what God is doing, not instructions on what we must do. The difference between Christianity and other religions is that the parables are prophetic, giving instruction to God's plan of salvation. It is His salvation, given to the entire world, and through it, we see how it will unfold, demonstrating His faithfulness, love, grace, and mercy.

Luke 4:43 "But He said to them, 'I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent.'”

Jesus explicitly stated that His purpose was to preach the Kingdom, and He did so through parables, often introducing them with the phrase "The kingdom of God" or "The Kingdom of heaven".

The Parables are God's prophetic plan known from the beginning.

Matthew 13:34-35 "All these things Jesus spoke to the multitude in parables, and without a parable He did not speak to them, [35] that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: ‘I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things kept secret from the foundation of the world.’"

Jesus was referring to Psalm 78, written by Asaph, a Levite musician and singer in King David’s court.

Psalm 78:1-7 "Give ear, O my people, to my law; Incline your ears to the words of my mouth. [2] I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings of old, [3] which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. [4] We will not hide them from their children, telling the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and His strength and His wonderful works that He has done. [5] For He established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which He commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children; [6] that the generation to come might know them, the children who would be born, that they may arise and declare them to their children, [7] that they may set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments;”

Verses 1–7 Is a prophecy of how Jesus would speak in parables about things that were already known—truths handed down from generation to generation by the fathers as a law. Not the Law of Moses but the law concerning the things God declared would come to pass as a testimony of Himself in Jacob.

The parables are about the same kingdom that existed in the Old Testament—that Jacob (Israel) would be restored thousands of years later as a testimony to God—and that the Church would become the new priesthood, tasked with understanding and bearing witness to the restored kingdom. For it is the Church’s role to know the mystery of the kingdom:

Matthew 13:11 He answered and said to them, "Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.”