PARABLE / DOUBLE EDGED PARABLE
A parable is a story, not a true event, with a spiritual message or a significant moral lesson. It reflects the everyday life and events of its time while conveying deeper spiritual truths for those who follow Jesus. The Synoptic Gospels provide thirty-five parables, which were particularly beneficial for the illiterate in those days. Even today, their messages remain relevant and applicable.
The literal meaning of “parable” is “cast alongside.” It can be a comparison or similitude of a spiritual fact, or figures taken from everyday life. Parables are also an expanded proverb because proverbs are condensed similitudes serving a similar purpose.
Jesus employed parables to communicate profound spiritual truths in a way that was easy to comprehend, using relatable stories. The full story of a parable is used to convey a spiritual lesson. Examples include:
1. The Parable of the Good Samaritan (Lk 10:30–37) – Teaches a powerful lesson about the significance of love and mercy.
2. The Parable of the Prodigal Son (Lk 15:11–32) – Highlights forgiveness and redemption.
3. The Parable of the Lamp (Mt 5:14-16) – Shows that you are the world’s light.
4. The Parable of the Speck and the Log (Mt 7:1-5) – Teaches us not to judge others.
In the early part of His ministry, Jesus taught without parables. Later, when the Pharisees confronted Him, He began teaching in parables. The higher-class Jews, who were against Jesus, were close-minded. So, Jesus wanted to conceal the truth from them while continuing to communicate the truth to His disciples. He even explained the meaning of parables to His disciples. There was a time when He said nothing without parables (Mk 4:34). For this reason, the disciples asked Jesus why He was speaking to the people in parables (Mt 13:10).
DOUBLE-EDGED PARABLES
A double-edged parable has two parts, each with its own message. In a double-edged parable, the message of the second part takes precedence over the first.
The story of the two sons (Prodigal Son) has two parts with diverse messages (Lk 15:11-32). The message of the first part is the magnanimity of God the Father to offer unconditional forgiveness to the repentant and His amazing joy in the sinners’ conversion. The second part emphasizes the necessity of the “righteous” to join the father’s magnanimity in accepting the repentant sinners.
Another double-edged parable is the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus (Lk 16:19-31). The message of the first part is that people involved in luxury without concern for others would have torments in the afterlife, whereas God would comfort people who trust in Him amid suffering or take up suffering for the Kingdom of God in the afterlife. The second part of this parable deals with the five brothers of the rich man who were also self-centered and representatives of the Pharisees during Jesus’ public ministry. So, the primary emphasis of the parable is the urgency for repentance of the elite group.
REFLECTION
The teachings of Jesus are relevant now and forever because they are the eternal message from God. The wisdom of Jesus and the simplicity of His teachings, understandable to ordinary people, are evident from the use of parables. Let us learn from the Bible and communicate these lessons with our children and others.
As Christians, we are called to reflect on the parables and apply their teachings in our lives. They challenge us to examine our hearts, our relationships with God and others, and our understanding of the Kingdom. May we approach Christ’s parables with open hearts, allowing His words to shape us and guide us in our journey of faith.