Parables

"The Lost Boy" parable illustrates the unconditional love and care shown by a father towards his wandering son, symbolizing forgiveness and compassion that transcends mistakes. By embracing the lost boy with open arms and celebrating his return, the father exemplifies the power of love to heal and restore relationships, emphasizing the value of caring for others regardless of their past errors.

Jesus used this comparison to highlight the incredible value and worth of the kingdom of God. Just like a hidden treasure is highly valued and worth sacrificing everything for, the kingdom of God is something worth pursuing and prioritizing above all else in life.

Moses

The monk does not include any biblical figures in his parables. He often uses animals or ordinary people to teach moral lessons rather than biblical characters.

In Hebrew, the word for prodigal is "בן רועה," which literally means "son of a shepherd." The concept of prodigal in Hebrew is often associated with someone who goes astray or wanders away from their upbringing or values.

Every one of the two or more individuals composing a number of objects, considered separately from the rest. It is used either with or without a following noun; as, each of you or each one of you., Every; -- sometimes used interchangeably with every.

at the resolution of the story, when the reader can see how the story ends

The exact wording of translated piece of material may be copyrighted. The original story is likely out of copyright if it is several hundred years old.

The Parable of the Good Samaritan in the Bible addresses prejudice by showing how kindness and compassion should transcend cultural and social barriers. It teaches that anyone can act with love and mercy regardless of differences.

The parable of the sower teaches about different responses to the word of God: being receptive (good soil), worldly distractions (thorny ground), superficial faith (rocky ground), and rejection (pathway). It emphasizes the importance of having a receptive heart to receive and nurture the word of God to bear fruit in our lives.

Both stories involve themes of forgiveness, redemption, and the transformation of the protagonists after facing adversity and making mistakes. They also highlight the importance of faith, hope, and the belief in the possibility of change and growth.

Jesus gives the interpretation of the parable in Luke 8:11ff.

I think a good hidden meaning is the seed grew the best in the soil that had been prepared for the seed. If we think of the soil as representing a persons 'heart' then a person must be prepared before receiving God's word.

The Two Debtors -- Luke 7:41--43

The Lamp under a Bushel -- Luke 8:16--18

Parable of the Good Samaritan -- Luke 10:25--37

The Friend at Night -- Luke 11:5--8

The Rich Fool -- Luke 12:16--21

The Wise and the Foolish Builders -- Luke 6:46--49

New Wine into Old Wineskins -- Luke 5:37--39

Parable of the strong man -- Luke 11:21--22

Parable of the Sower -- Luke 8:5--8

The Barren Fig Tree -- Luke 13:6--9

Parable of the Mustard Seed -- Luke 13:18--19

The Leaven -- Luke 13:20--21

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Counting the Cost -- Luke 14:28--33

The Lost Sheep (the good shepherd) -- Luke 15:4--6

The Lost Coin -- Luke 15:8--9

Parable of the Prodigal Son -- Luke 15:11--32

The Unjust Steward -- Luke 16:1--13

Rich man and Lazarus -- Luke 16:19--31

The Master and Servant -- Luke 17:7--10

The Unjust Judge -- Luke 18:1--9

Pharisees and the Publican -- Luke 18:10--14

The Wicked Husbandmen -- Luke 20:9--

The Great Banquet -- Luke 14:15--24

The Budding Fig Tree -- Luke 21:29--33

The Faithful Servant -- Luke 12:35--48

The Talents or Minas -- Luke 19:12--27

Parable of the Wedding Feast -- Luke 14:7--14

The following parables are found in three of the four gospels:

The Lamp under a Bushel -- Matthew 5:14-15 -- Mark 4:21-25 -- Luke 8:16-18

New Wine into Old Wine skins -- Matthew 9:17-17 -- Mark 2:21-22 -- Luke 5:37-39

Parable of the strong man -- Matthew 12:29-29 -- Mark 3:27-27 -- Luke 11:21-22

Parable of the Sower -- Matthew 13:3-9 -- Mark 4:3-9 -- Luke 8:5-8

Parable of the Mustard Seed -- Matthew 13:31-32 -- Mark 4:30-32 -- Luke 13:18-19

The Wicked Husbandmen -- Matthew 21:33-41 -- Mark 12:1-9 -- Luke 20:9-16

The Budding Fig Tree -- Matthew 24:32-35 -- Mark 13:28-31 -- Luke 21:29-33

The Faithful Servant -- Matthew 24:42-51 -- Mark 13:34-37 -- Luke 12:35-48

The story of The Parable of the Good Samaritan, found in the Gospel of Luke, involves a man who is beaten and left for dead on the side of the road. A priest and a Levite both pass by without helping, but a Samaritan stops to care for the injured man, highlighting the importance of compassion and kindness towards those in need regardless of societal or cultural differences.

As Hooper got older, he began wearing a black veil in public, leading the community to refer to him as "the minister's black veil." The veil symbolized hidden sins and secrets that everyone carries, causing unease and curiosity among the townspeople. Hooper's refusal to remove the veil heightened the mystery surrounding his true reasons for wearing it.

In "The Minister's Black Veil," the pale-faced congregation symbolizes the sense of guilt and sin that the minister's veil brings to light. The reactions of the townspeople reflect their own hidden sins and the discomfort of confronting them. The contrast between the minister concealed behind the veil and the congregation's exposed faces highlights the themes of secret sin and judgment.

Jesus said that He spoke in parables to hide the meaning from the self-righteous but to make known the mystery of the kingdom to His own. There is something special about the Parable of the Ten Virgins that many might. He wanted to hide its meaning to those who thought they had a special relationship with God because of their being the children of Abraham but Jesus never taught about salvation belonging to a race but about salvation being about grace. Even so, "They answered him, "Abraham is our father." Jesus said to them, "If you were Abraham's children, you would be doing the works Abraham" (John 8:39) "And do not think you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham" (Matt 3:9). Making them even angrier Jesus said "You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desires" (John 8:44). Jesus always spoke the truth but they were blinded and again, that is part of the reason that Jesus spoke to them in parables like the Parable of the 10 Virgins, so here is a personal view of this parable that you may have a different opinion on and if so, please chime in on what you think this parable means.

Both stories teach about forgiveness and mercy. In the parable of the Samaritan, a man showed compassion and help to a stranger in need, while in the story of the prodigal son, the father forgave his son and welcomed him back home despite his past mistakes. Both stories emphasize the importance of showing kindness and forgiveness towards others.

The use of parables to teach religious concepts.

This parable was told in answer to two questions: what shall I do to inherit eternal life (Lke 10:25a) ? and who is my neighbour (Luke 10:29b)? Through this parable Jesus showed the true spiritual nature of Israel at that time.

The robbery-victim (almost certainly a Jew) lay half dead on the road to Jericho. The Jewish priest and Levite refused to help; perhaps they feared it was a plot, or were afraid that they too might be robbed if they tarried. It was a hated Samaritan who came to the rescue, who applied first aid, who took the victim to an inn, and who made provision for his care. To the Samaritan, a Jew in need was his neighbor.

Then Jesus asked the question. Which of the three proved neighbor to the helpless man? The one who showed mercy, of course. Then the one who asked the questions should go and do likewise.

We can see in the priest and Levite a picture of the powerlessness of the law to help the dead sinner; the law commanded "Love your neighbor as yourself" but it did not give the power to obey. The priest and the Levite could be said to represent the nation of Israel who failed to keep God's law. Also we can identify the good Samaritan with the Lord Jesus who came to where we were, saved us from our sins, and made full provision for us from earth to heaven and through all eternity. Priests and Levites may disappoint us but the Good Samaritan never does.

The story of the good Samaritan started off to answer the question "Who is my neighbor?" But it ended by posing the question "To whom do you prove yourself a neighbour?"

The parable was told because of the attitudes of two groups of Israelites - the scribes and Pharisees. The Pharisees carefully carried out the rituals of the law while the scribe were the interpreters of the law. Both of these groups were self righteous and rejected Jesus. This parable along with the parables of the lost coin and the lost son, are rebukes to the scribes and Pharisees.

The lost refers to people of the nation of Israel.

Jesus primarily came to Israel to call them to repent:

Mat 15:24 But He answered and said, "I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."

Mat 10:5 These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: "Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans.

Mat 10:6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.