Interpreting Parables of Jesus
Written by Rev Tay Piak Kheng on 2 November 2025
“I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world.” (Ps 78:2, Mt 13:35)
The Lord Jesus often teaches in parables. The word parable, παραβολή, is made up of two roots: parallel and cast, and means a story cast alongside the truth being taught. It includes all forms of word pictures, and the Lord Jesus used at least four of them. One is simile, illustrated by everyday examples such as the power of yeast in a dough and a small mustard seed growing into a large tree. One is epigram, such as “Do people pick grapes from thornbushes?”; one is metaphor, such as “You are the light of the world”; and the last is a parable story, pure and short, with a plot, beginning and ending, bringing out a message, such as the good Samaritan, the great banquet, the prodigal son…etc.
Two mistakes are often made in understanding Jesus’ parables. The first is to treat parables allegorically. Parables and allegories differ in function. Many of the details in allegories are intended to represent something. Whereas parables are to be heard as calls to respond to Jesus and his mission. They illuminate people’s hearts, usually with one truth in a striking way and then call on the hearer to make a timely response to it.
The second mistake is to believe that Jesus deliberately told parables so that those on the outside would not understand them, as if the truth of the kingdom of God was kept only for those on the inside. But we know this is not what Jesus intended. In fact, Jesus frequently told parables to targeted people who understood. For example, the parable of the Good Samaritan was Jesus’ answer to the expert in the law who asked Jesus, “who is my neighbour?” And he got it.
The Old and New Testaments both assure us that Our Creator desires all to know Him and His salvation: “all day long I held out my hands to an obstinate people” (Isa 65:2) “Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? Am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live?” (Eze 18:23) “Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2Peter 3:9)
The problem is this: the self-righteous often become more and more hardened when they hear the rebuke of the truth, and ” Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.” (Mat 13:13, Isa 6:9) Just like how the Pharaoh of Egypt rejected Moses’ appeals again and again. On the hand, the poor in spirit are being awakened by the truth, having turned around, they enter the kingdom of God! In summary, here are four principles to help you read a parable right: 1. Do not build doctrines on parables;
2. Find that one central truth;
3. Resist the temptation to force interpretation into all details;
4. Notice the context going into the parable and coming out
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