Why was teaching in parable the best way for Jesus to get his message across?

Answer 1

The use of parables was a change in Jesus' way of teaching in Matthew 13 v10 the disciples ask why he uses parables to teach. Jesus' reply is that parables are an effective method of revealing truth to the spiritual and the ready mind

A parable is a story to illustrate a truth ,in order to explain it, to make the truth easier to understand.

A parable puts something familiar alongside something unfamiliar. It compares something unfamiliar with something familiar.

A parable is similar to a fable or an allegory or a proverb except parables are generally concerned with spiritual matters

A parable helps people to understand spiritual truth by using everyday objects and relationships.

In New Testament times parables were a common way of teaching.

Answer 2

Teaching in parables allowed Jesus to convey complex spiritual truths in a simple and relatable manner, making his teachings accessible to a wide range of audiences. The parables helped listeners to grasp the deeper meaning behind the stories and apply them to their own lives, fostering reflection and understanding.

Answer 3

Parables are away of teaching spiritual truths. The spiritual truth is hidden in stories of everyday life - "an earthly story with a heavenly meaning."

The real meaning of the parable is hidden to those who are not seeking spiritual truth or are not willing to think about the parable.

Answer 4

In The Bible parables were told by Jesus to convey spiritual truths to the people who listened. Jesus used parables because the true meaning of the parable is hidden and only people who were really seeking the truth would understand the meaning of the parables.

Other people have used parables for example Ignacy Krasicki, a Poish poet used parables in the 1500's.

Modern parable also exist for example The parable of the Broken Window. This is a 19th century parable about economic thinking.

Answer 5

There are a few reasons as to why this method of teaching was preferred by Jesus. (1) The fact that a person sometimes has to dig to get their full, deep, heart-reaching meaning tends to turn back those who do not love God but who have a mere surface interest and therefore do not desire the truth in their hearts. (2) Illustrations conceal truths from those who would misuse them and who desire to entrap God's servants. (3) Because the hearer is left to apply the principles of the illustration to himself, it carry to him a clear message of warning and rebuke, at the same time disarming him so that he has no ground to retaliate against the speaker. (4) Even when being used to give correction to a person, parables can be used to sidestep prejudice on the part of the hearer, keeping his mind from being beclouded by such prejudice, and thereby accomplishing more than would a mere statement fo fact. (5) Parables can motivate persons to take action one way or another, to show their true colors, as to whether or not they are genuine servants of God.

Evidently, this type of teaching is superb and effective, evidence of his true love for mankind.

Answer 6

1) Parables were a popular teaching tool among the Pharisees, and the Gospels show that Jesus spent many hours amongh the Pharisees. The Talmud records hundreds of parables (Mashal it the Hebrew term used). One parable, the Parable of the Workers in the Vinyard, shows up both in the New Testament, and in the Jerusalem Talmud, where it is attributed to Rabbi Zera's funeral oration for Rabbi Abin.

2) Parables illustrate points more effectively than logic. The Parable of the Good Samaritan, for example, was given in answer to the question "who is my neighbor," in the context of the commandment "love your neighbor as yourself." The point of the parable is on the subversive side. The priest and the Levite, members of privileged classes, were not living up to this commandment, while the Samaritan, a member of an underclass (at least from the Jewish perspective of the time) did the right thing.

3) Many Christian sources suggest that parables were intended to obscure the message, so that only the intended audience would understand while, while opponents would be mystified. This is debatable, but indeed, one intent teaching using parables is to spark discussion and questions. People learn better that way then when they merely listen passively to lectures.