parables

Throughout the Gospels Jesus constantly speaks in parables, though he’s willing to explain them to his inner circle. In the Gospel According to Matthew 13:1–23 (NABRE), Jesus discusses his use of parables with his followers and suggests that he deliberately uses them to make his message unclear. When evaluating this passage, it’s useful to understand exactly what a parable is. The Greek word παραβολή (parabole) is made up of two parts—the prefix παρα (para-), which means “next to” or “beside,” and the word βολή (bole), which means “throw.” A parable literally refers to things that are thrown next to one another or compared.

How do Jesus’ comparisons throw different concepts together and offer both truth and confusion, as he suggests in this week’s readings? Jesus’ parables focus on everyday occurrences or experiences to which his audience easily can relate. They seem wholly accessible. The difficulty is that Jesus then compares these common and universal experiences to almighty God and to the reign of God, a comparison that was foreign to Jesus’ listeners. Jesus’ parables make God ordinary. For those who do not share Jesus’ view of his Father, these contrasts provide much more confusion than clarity.

How do you see God? How does that perception impact your reading of Jesus’ parables?

related topics: Hades; insipid

you also may like our study of the Gospel According to John
The Gospel According to John: An Encounter with Grace & Truth, a 25-lesson Catholic Bible study with an imprimatur, examines the Fourth Gospel’s view of Jesus Christ as the Son of God, with special emphasis on the institution of the sacraments of the Church as the means by which Christians are purified and made holy. This recently revised study includes maps and additional commentary, and takes a closer look at the way in which Jesus relates to individual men and women. Click on the book’s cover to view a sample lesson.

Click on the picture of the statue of Moses with horns (above) to learn more about Lost in Translation. A new entry is archived each Monday. Contact us to receive Lost in Translation by email every week. You may use any of the contact links on our website to ask Matthew a question.