What does the parable mean for christians today?

Answer 1

Parables are used to relate everyday understanding to those things which are spiritual. The hearer can picture in their head things physical and in their heart things that are spiritual. As we relate the two, we gain spiritual understanding. Read Mark chapter 4

Answer 2

Parables are important because they give real-life examples of proper behavior. From time immemorial, organized religion -- yes, even religion in the Judeo-Christian tradition -- has favored cloistered study and ordained religious leadership. Lifetimes of study were devoted to the intricacies of doctrine and the spiritual study. And it's very easy to be holy living a cloistered existence of prayer and study. Being holy and following God is more like a balancing act for those of us who aren't full-time clergy or theologians.

It's very easy to tell someone to 'love your neighbor as yourself.' But what does that mean? Who is your neighbor? And so goes the parable -- the Jew on the road is passed over by his countrymen, who leave him beaten and dying for selfish or ridiculous reasons. Finally, a Samaritan -- a long-time enemy of his people -- feels compassion on him and rescues him, even paying for his recovery and rehabilitation. That sends an unmistakable message, and illustrates the princible in real life; the idea of being robbed or brutalized on a lawless road was real to the audience, and instantly understood. The thought processes of the two who refused to help him would also have been very familiar and clear to the audience. The bizarre twist of the man's enemy assisting him flies in the face of the audiences preconceptions. So, the parable form is important precisely because it cloaks a vital spiritual message in everyday terms and situations, making it instantly understandable -- without a lifetime of seminary study. And that's what is most needed in religious ministry, since most of us are average Joes, and as smart as we like to think we are, all that hifalutin theological stuff is over our heads.

Another example of the importance of parables: the details can be altered to hide the true meaning of the story, for a dramatic surprise; If Nathaniel had come directly to rebuke King David for stealing the wife of one of his generals, the impact may have been minimal; it may have even put him in danger from David's anger. Instead, Nathaniel crafts a story -- a parable -- likening Bathsheva to the single lamb of a poor farmer, murdered so that a rich man could steal his lamb. When David flies into a rage and swears to kill the perpetrator of such a foul thing, it is revealed that he, himself is the culprit, murdering a poor servant and stealing all that he had, despite his own fabulous wealth. That's a hard-hitting message, and that's another great power of a parable -- the secret reveal.

Another key importance to the parable, is that it can help us to understand the mind of God. No man has ever seen God, and no man knows what or how he thinks... certainly not most men, and not most of the time. A parable can communicate the love and forgiveness of God (and other aspects of God's personality), in terms that are easy to understand -- most often in the form of the relationship between a parent and a child, which is the primary aspect of his relationship with each of us. In the parable of the 'Prodigal Son,' for example, despite the son's disrespect, flight, immoral and irresponsible behavior, he is welcomed back home with celebration and adoration. For guilt-wracked people with checkered pasts, this is a comforting (and admittedly surprising message): God loves, forgives, and joyfully receives back the vile, the disrespectful, the wanton, and the evil.

The teaching strategies found in parables have the ability to quickly teach vital lessons in ways that cannot be misunderstood. It should come as no surprise that the teaching of parables is found so often in The Bible.

Answer 3

Parables are stories that make it easy for people to relate to them. This is probably the main reason why Jesus taught through a lot of parables. They capture a "moral of the story" which is conveyed to the reader in an easy to understand way.

How is another question all together. Let me share with you a story I wrote based on a Parable so you can understand. We all know the story of the Good Samaritan and Jesus' teachings of loving your enemy. But, how can that be applied to today's crazy world?

My friend, a few years ago you'll recall the horrific mass shooting at Virginia Tech that killed 33 people, including the shooter himself. Here is my story, about the 33 rocks that I wrote shortly thereafter:

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Today at Virginia Tech, a memorial exists where 32 rocks have been placed in remembrance of those who died at the shooting two and a half weeks ago. One student, Katelynn L. Johnson, has been placing a 33rd rock secretly in the middle of the night for Cho Seung-Hui in order to avoid backlash. While other students have taken the rock away during the day, she replenishes it over night and the cycle of placing and removing the rock continues.

My friends, 33 people did die on that terrible day. What Cho Seung-Hui did can only be described as barbaric. He certainly is our enemy, and there is a lot of hatred right now directed towards him as the killer. But should we memorialize him too? Does he have the right to be remembered along with his victims as someone who had a lot of problems and not a rational mind? What do we do with those among us who are vile, full of hatred, and malice? Do we abandon them, lock them up and keep them out?

These types of moral dilemmas can easily be solved by looking at the Bible. Christ says (Mat. 5:44) 'Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you'. If Cho Seung-Hui is our enemy, he too should be loved and included in the memorial. For some people, this might be quite possibly the hardest thing they will ever have to do. Forgive him. 'For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have?'.

So I'm with Katelynn on this one -- being a moral and loving person to care enough for such a brutal, vicious, and heinous person is hard. But where is it written that life must be easy, without suffering and pain? If we are to be like Him, we must aspire to be like His love, a more perfect and wholesome love than what is conventional. For if He could forgive even Cho, there would be great hope for us and our salvation too.

As you can see, parables still effect us today.Answer #2:It is a earthly story with a heavenly meaning. Parables were a common teaching device in the days of Jesus. It was a story that had a hidden meaning, those who had spiritual understanding would understand the meaning of the stories, while those who did not have interest in spiritual matters would only hear a story and not necessarily grasp its deeper meaning. It is a common misconception that parables were told to make Jesus' teachings easier to understand, when in fact, Jesus, in His own words said that they opposite is true. The purpose of parables was to give understanding to those who would seek, while hiding it from those who would not seek (Matthew 13:10-17).

Answer 4

It is a earthly story with a heavenly meaning. Parables were a common teaching device in the days of Jesus. It was a story that had a hidden meaning, those who had spiritual understanding would understand the meaning of the stories, while those who did not have interest in spiritual matters would only hear a story and not necessarily grasp its deeper meaning.

Answer 5

yes