JESUS' PARABLES (17)

1. Jesus' Parables

a) There are 43 parables that Jesus used. The Lord Jesus frequently used parables as a means of illustrating profound, divine truths. Stories such as these are easily remembered, the characters bold, and the symbolism rich in meaning.
 
b) Jesus' parables are short stories based on the agricultural life that was intimately familiar to His original first century audience. Some aspect of an unfamiliar concept, such as the kingdom of God, was compared to something from everyday life that could easily be understood.
 
c) It has been said that a parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. Each of Jesus' parables teaches only one or two important lessons. It is the lesson of a parable that is important to us. The story is not important in itself; it may or may not be literally true.

d) My prayer will be "Lord, for Your glory, help me understand these parables, and apply their principles to my everyday life."

2. Parable: New Cloth on an Old Coat 
 
Matthew 9:16 New International Version (NIV)

¹⁶ “No one sews a patch of un-shrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse.