THE LOST SHEEP, LOST COIN AND LOST SON Essay

Easily one of most recognizable parables in the Bible, the parable of the prodigal son serves as an allegory for God’s unconditional love and mercy for sinners under the guise of a story about a son’s loss and redemption. To provide context about how parables are intended to work, this essay will begin on how parables function on two levels. On the surface, they are just short and linear narratives. However, upon a closer reading there is a deeper meaning behind them. Parables are meant to be symbolic stories that provide moral lessons. This particular parable was set up so that the Pharisees and scribes would understand the criticism that went with it as they were the intended audience.

In today’s world people make a common mistake by making comparisons with the Bible and Aesop’s Fables. In the Bible it is important to which is emphasized more, law or grace. It is just as important to do the same in Aesop’s Fables. Very often a mistake is easily made in reading Jesus’s Parables. Understanding the emphasis of law and grace in both the Bible and Aesop’s Fables and realizing mistakes we make with reading Jesus’s parables can help with reading the parables

The parables were short simple stories/analogies that illustrated spiritual and moral lessons. They connected to the listeners’ lives, showed Jesus’ “voice” incorporated glimpses of the Kingdom of God, since it was easier for people to understand concepts that they can relate to. For example, he used topics of everyday life like the mustard seed appealing to farmers; yeast

“The Prodigal Son”, “The Boy who Cried Wolf”, or “The Mouse and the Lion” are all stories that are commonly well-known, however few people recognize them as parables. The parable is a figure of speech characterized by a short narrative, in prose or verse, full of symbols, allegory, and analogy to convey a moral or religious message. The word ‘parable’ comes from the Greek language and means ‘comparison, illustration, analogy’. The two thousand years old Buddhist story “The Elephant in the Village of the Blind’ portraying simple story, demonstrating universal moral, and using symbols and analogy is the evident representative of the parable.

Parables are stories written in the Bible for truth and life guidance. We have to understand that parables are implied by God to encourage his written word and carry his truths. God’s words can touch a heart of faith despite their external circumstance. The history of parables started with Jesus writing “the sower and the seed” in the book of Matthew. The sower and the seed was the seed is “the word.” The hard ground represents the person who is hardened by sin. Parables date back as far as

Jesus’ use of parables was to fulfill Old Testament prophecy; Psalm 78:2, “I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter hidden things, things from of old-” (NIV). Additionally, Jesus used parables to teach the truth, basic moral, and spiritual principles using simple down to earth stories to reveal the message of the kingdom of heaven. The kingdom of heaven was the heartbeat of Jesus teachings; often his parables began with: the kingdom of God is like…. Jesus used parables to teach not of an earthly kingdom of God but of a spiritual kingdom, and those who chose to accept God’s kingdom would inherit eternal life. It is important to remember, that Jesus used parables not to replace to doctrine but to illustrate and confirm doctrine teachings.

The need to feel a sense of belonging is a powerful and universal one. This sense is formed from connections made with others. The result can be a range of emotions, from an increase in the feeling of security and self esteem, to feelings of unhappiness and loneliness. When someone does not fit in, often because they are different, the negative emotions that they feel can be very harmful.

In all his teaching to the crowds Jesus spoke in parables; in fact he never spoke to them without a parable. This was to fulfill the prophecy of Isaiah: I will open my mouth in parables;

Jesus would use parables to deliver His point to the people of the land. "He taught them many things by parables..." (Mark 4:2 NIV) The definition of parable is: a simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson. Jesus would use these simple teachings to show others the way to live without calling someone specific out on their actions. Jesus talks about how the common people will get everything they need from a parable, but He gives the disciples more, so that they can have a better understanding, and have the ability to be closer with Him. "With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand. He did not say anything to them without using a parable. But when He was alone with His own disciples, He explained everything." (Mark 4:33-34

The parables for me are about change and how difficult it is for humanity to accept change. We are creatures of habit and I can identify with the Jews who struggled with this new way of living, worshipping and the beginning of a new religion which opened the door to receive all, Jew and Gentile alike. I probably would have been just as dumb founded and ignorant to what was happening just as they were.

Parables are modems of communication that Jesus used to get responses from his hearers, to call them into action. They come in many different forms. The first form is a true parable it is a parable like the Prodigal Son or the rich man and Lazarus although I would say the rich man and Lazarus was a very real story. Their form is a story with a story line, a beginning, and end. Another type of parable is a similitude, which are normal pictures of daily life that are used to drive home a bottom line. The third type is a metaphor or simile and sometimes are called “parabolic sayings” (Fee & Stuart, 2014, p. 157). These are in the same genre of a similitude, but with a different purpose for being spoken. It needs to be clarified that parables are not allegories although they may contain some allegorical elements they are not to be understood as being an allegory nor should they be interpreted in an allegorical way (Fee & Stuart, 2014).

In church we learn about all the different parables that are told by Jesus in the Gospels. Although there are many parables, some stories stick out more to specific people due to the obstacles that one faces in their life. One of the parables that is most relatable to people is the parable of the prodigal son. Many people, especially those with siblings, understand how it feels to be treated like one of the brothers in this story. Whether it be accepted back into your home with open arms, or being jealous of the acceptance someone else gets.

A parable is a simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson, as told by Jesus in the Gospels. In Ernest Hemingway’s, The Old Man and the Sea, Hemingway includes key symbols and scenarios to create an allusion to certain points or places in the Bible. Hemingway has a great background on christian writing and references. Szumski says, “He has always been religious, though his religion is not of the orthodox, organized variety.” (Szumski “Readings on the Old Man and the Sea”). Many of Hemingway’s other stories are related to the bible such as, The Sun Also Rises. “The Old Man and the Sea” is considered a parable because of Hemingway’s use of christian symbols, christ-like imagery, and Santiago’s

A parable is a “simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson, as told by Jesus in the Gospels.” Parables are a form of teaching in Judaism, this is where Jesus made it a point in his ministry to gather common things that could be familiar to everyone and anyone who was wiling to hear him speak, for example bread and sheep. He made sure that the meaning of what was said was very clear in the context of His teachings. Parables in other words are an “earthly form of stories with heavenly meaning”. In Matthew (13: 13) Jesus says “Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.” This quote can be seen as Jesus’ way of communicating with his disciples, because many of them could not fully comprehend his teachings and what was being spoken. Another reason why He spoke in parables was so that “…unbelievers would be without comprehension”. Only those who were willing to follow Him and allow Him into their hearts, trusting in Him would understand His ways. His main deal was to be able to teach people, and hopefully in teaching them they would learn an d pass down what was taught to others. Just like in our society now and when it comes to books, magazines, etc Jesus used such things as words, pictures, and stories to help everyone learn and understand things in a certain way, because everyone learns differently he took that into consideration.

Another reason for Jesus teaching in parables is identified as Jesus knowing the best way to capture his audience, make them think deeply about what he has just said and then remember his teaching.