Bible Dictionary
Parable
A parable is a comparison or story drawn from familiar earthly circumstances to communicate spiritual truth. Jesus frequently used parables to reveal the truths of God’s kingdom to receptive hearers.
Biblical Usage
Jesus used parables extensively in His public teaching, especially in the Synoptic Gospels. They communicated spiritual truth through familiar earthly scenes and both revealed truth to receptive hearers and concealed it from those who rejected it. Jesus sometimes explained their meaning to His disciples. The Old Testament and Jewish literature also contain parabolic teaching, but the New Testament’s principal teacher of parables is Christ.
Scripture References
1 Samuel 10:12
1 Samuel 24:13
2 Chronicles 7:20
Numbers 23:7
Ezekiel 20:49
Psalms 78:2
Proverbs 1:6
Mark 7:17
Luke 4:23
Hebrews 9:9
Hebrews 11:19
Matthew 15:15
Matthew 24:32
Mark 3:23
Luke 5:36
Luke 14:7
Matthew 13:13-15
Mark 4:11
Mark 4:12
Luke 8:9
Luke 8:10
Matthew 13:13
John 10:1-16
Numbers 23:18
Numbers 24:3
Ezekiel 12:22
Matthew 13:1
Mark 4:1
Luke 8:1
Luke 7:1
Matthew 18:1
Luke 10:1