Parablemeans to lay beside or more properly defined it means to lay side by side. It is a comparison of two objects in order to teach. It is a saying or a story that drives home a point by using illustrations from everyday life. Here is a paraphrase of a comparison of similar figures of speech given by R. C. Trench (Notes on the Parables of Our Lord,1861);
Fable;a fable is a story that can contain truth. the difference between a fable and a parable is that a fable is of the earth alone. whereas a parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. A fable never lifts itself above the earth, it never has a higher goal. In a true parable you will find no transgression of the laws of nature.
Myth;a myth is a story that claims believe me or not I am the truth . It does not claim to be the mere vehicle of the truth, but claims itself to be truth. In myths there are speaking trees and reasoning animals, such things will not be found in a parable. Truth and fantasy blend together in the myth, in contrast the parable is distinct in its form and essence its shell and its kernel.
Allegory;in an allegory there is no room for interpretation as the interpretation of the two things being compared is constantly unrolling as the allegory unfolds. Its interpretation is self contained unlike the parable which calls for the hearers to bring interpretation to it. Jesus also employed this method of teaching such as found in Johns gospel.
In the parable the illustrations make the truth
easier to understand, and it presents a vivid picture to the mind. The
parable follows principles of natures laws. Parables appeal to the feelings
, the intelligence, the spirit , the imagination . In their interpretation
the parables parts all have significant roles to play, the rocks, the birds,
the leaven, the fish, the soils. G.R. Beasley Murray (Jesus and the Kingdom
of God, G.R. Beasley -Murray, 1986 x ) sums them up this way stating; "
The concentration of thought in few words that characterizes his sayings
eludes cursory examination." This only naturally leads us to the conclusion
that the parable must be placed in the restraints of interpretation. Bernard
Ramm ( Bernard Ramm, Protestant Biblical interpretation, 1956, p.257 )
gives the following four points;
1.) Determine the one central truth the parable
is attempting to teach......
2.) Determine how much of the parable is interpreted
by Jesus himself....
3.) Determine whether there are any clues in
the context concerning the parables meaning.....
4.) The comparative rule
While Jesus did not invent the parable. Jesus
is the only one who used it in the N.T. He used it often and effectively.
R.F. Cappon (The Parables of the Kingdom R.F. Cappon,1985) puts it this
way : " Jesus spoke in strange, bizarre, disturbing ways. He balked at
almost no comparison, however irreverent or unrefined.Apparently, he found
nothing odd about holding up, as a mirror to God's ways, a mixed bag of
questionable characters: an unjust judge, a savage king, a tipsy slave
owner, an unfair employer, and even a man who gives help only to bona-fide
pests." It is interesting to see that when this teaching began to be applied
by Jesus it was such an abrupt change of form that His disciples asked
him why he did it. It was of great value for Him to teach this way. This
was an effective means of revealing truth to the spiritually hungry and
ready mind while at the same time concealing it from others. You see, Jesus
came as Israels King and only after His rejection did He employ this method
of teaching. Those who had rejected Him were not to know the secrets of
the Kingdom of Heaven, and to those who believed God He would be revealed:
I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old: 3Which
we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. 4We will not hide
them from their children, showing to the generation to come the praises
of the Lord, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done.
In the parables we find a treasure of both truth and life. Preserved in
His word and left for us to enjoy. The study of them and the other teachings
of our Lord will cause us to understand him and ourselves better.
Bibliography; The New International Dictionary
of the Bible, J. D. Douglas, M.C. Tenney,1987 Pictorial Encyclopedia of
the Bible, M.C. Tenney,1976 The Parables of the Kingdom R.F. Cappon,1985
Jesus and the Kingdom of God, Beasley-Murray,1986 Notes on the Parables,
R.C. Trench,1861 Protestant Biblical Interpretation,B. Ramm,1956 Outlines/Parables/intro/B.Duensing/92698