In Luke 13, Jesus tells a parable about a barren fig tree. The tree is planted in a vineyard, which sounds weird, but fig trees were often used as trellises in vineyards. The owner is unhappy because ...
Voices of Faith offers perspectives from religion columnists. This week’s question: What explains Jesus’ impatience with the fig tree? A parable on leadership The Rev. Joe Nassal, priest at Precious ...
The Parable of the Mustard Seed is a short one: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches” (Matthew 13:31–32).
Charlotte Observer: Voices of Faith: What explains Jesus’ impatience with the fig tree?
A parable is, literally, something “cast alongside” something else. Jesus’ parables were stories that were “cast alongside” a truth in order to illustrate that truth. His parables were teaching aids and can be thought of as extended analogies or inspired comparisons. A common description of a parable is that it is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. For a time in His ministry ...
So, then, the parable is a blessing to those with willing ears. But to those with dull hearts and ears that are slow to hear, the parable is also an instrument of both judgment and mercy. Return to: Questions about Jesus Christ Why did Jesus teach in parables?
If we define parable loosely enough to include all parabolic instruction (such as Proverbs 25:11), the number of “parables” naturally rises. Some count about 100 parables in the Bible; others see over 250. There are over 30 parables of Jesus recorded in the Synoptic Gospels (the Gospel of John has none).