Biblical parables are fictional stories in the Bible that teach moral lessons, often focused on the connection between behavior on Earth and reward in heaven. They are similar to allegories but have a more evident meaning. Jesus’ parables are the most well-known and have inspired art and poetry. The story of the Good Samaritan is a widely recognized example of a biblical parable used to encourage compassion.
A biblical parable is a story told in the Bible for the purpose of teaching some sort of moral lesson. Most parables appear in the New Testament and are told by Jesus, his apostles, or other followers. A biblical parable is not meant to tell a factual event, but instead is meant to communicate a moral lesson through a fictional narrative. Parables are similar to allegories in that the literal progression of events is usually less important than the deeper message or meaning. The meaning of a biblical parable, however, tends not to be hidden behind layers of figurative language and symbolism, but is instead evident from the consequences of the characters’ actions.
While some parables are used to communicate lessons about money, honesty, and romance, a biblical parable is more likely to be focused on the connection between behavior on Earth and reward in heaven. In general, short stories about everyday events are used to communicate these ideas. Many of them show that financial success on Earth does not earn God particular favor and, therefore, is not very important. Others try to demonstrate that true holiness and morality come not from trying to appear godly, but from caring for others and treating them well.
Although parables exist in the Old and New Testaments and are told by people other than Jesus, the term “biblical parable” is almost always used to refer to one of the parables told by Jesus. Most of Jesus’ biblical parables come from the gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke. Although a few similar stories appear in the Gospel of John, most rely more on symbolism and figurative language and are therefore considered allegories rather than parables. A biblical allegory, while usually containing a significant and important message, tends to be brief and memorable and does not require working through dense symbolism or metaphor.
Also, it is not uncommon for a biblical parable to appear in a non-religious setting. Jesus’ parables have inspired many different works of art and poetry, and are often told in modified forms as instructional stories without an explicit message. The story of the Good Samaritan, for example, is a biblical parable used extensively to encourage people to act in a generally compassionate way. So widespread is this Biblical parable that the term “Good Samaritan” is widely understood by many religious and non-religious people to refer to someone who helps another person when they are under no obligation to do so and with no hope of personal gain.
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