Aesop’s Fables — Two Examples

The Bundle of Sticks

An old man on the point of death summoned his sons around him to give them some parting advice. He ordered his servants to bring in a faggot of sticks, and said to his eldest son: “Break it.” The son strained and strained, but with all his efforts was unable to break the Bundle. The other sons also tried, but none of them was successful. “Untie the faggots,” said the father, “and each of you take a stick.” When they had done so, he called out to them: “Now, break,” and each stick was easily broken. “You see my meaning,” said their father. Union gives strength.

 

The Fighting Cocks and the Eagle

Two game cocks were fiercely fighting for the mastery of the farmyard. One at last put the other to flight.

The defeated Cock waited away and hid himself in a quiet corner, while the conqueror, flying up to a high wall, flapped his wings he was so happy he crowed triumphantly with all his might.

An Eagle sailing through the air pounced upon him and carried him off in his claws. The defeated Cock immediately came out of his corner, and ruled from that day with undisputed mastery.

Pride goes before destruction.

Judges 9:7-15 —

 

Jotham’s Parable

7 When Jotham heard about this, he climbed to the top of Mount Gerizim and shouted,…“Listen to me, citizens of Shechem! Listen to me if you want God to listen to you!…8 Once upon a time the trees decided to choose a king.…First they said to the olive tree, ‘Be our king!’…9 But the olive tree refused, saying,‘Should I quit producing the olive oil…that blesses both God and people,just to wave back and forth over the trees?’

10 “Then they said to the fig tree, ‘You be our king!’…11 But the fig tree also refused, saying,‘Should I quit producing my sweet fruit…just to wave back and forth over the trees?’

12 “Then they said to the grapevine, ‘You be our king!’…13 But the grapevine also refused, saying,‘Should I quit producing the wine…    that cheers both God and people, just to wave back and forth over the trees?’

14 “Then all the trees finally turned to the thornbush and said,‘Come, you be our king!’…15 And the thornbush replied to the trees,‘If you truly want to make me your king,come and take shelter in my shade.…If not, let fire come out from meand devour the cedars of Lebanon.’”

(NLT)

 

What Is A Parable?

A Bible Definition

Jesus gives us many parables in the Bible. 

What is a parable? 

Did Jesus use parables…to hide …..or clarify the meaning?

 

The word parable is from the root word “paraballo” or in the Greek “parabole.” This compound word comes from “para” which means “to come along side or compare” and “ballo” which literally means “to throw” or “see” with. 

The parables are used in giving one or more instructional lessons or principles and can be a metaphor and may include lifeless objects (like trees, plants, or things) or people in various societal positions.  

There is often a tension between good and evil or sinful and holy meaning that they can proclaim what is good versus what is bad and what is evil in contrast to what is holy or God-like.   

A parable is often a significant comparison between two objects that may be used as a mirror image of a comparable object to teach a single concept or teaching.   

Some of the key words that Jesus usually concludes the parables with are phrases that alert the listener to pay close attention to what was just said and may include such words as “

Most assuredly I say to you,” and …“How much more.”  

Jesus wants the listeners to focus on what was just stated in the parable so that they will comprehend what He is trying to teach them.

Hidden from Some

Jesus clearly gives parables to hide the meaning from those whose hearts are hardened. 

Some of the parables are hard to understand but they frequently serve as object lessons that use experiences from life to clearly communicate a meaning for Jesus’ teachings. 

Jesus quotes Isaiah the Prophet by saying 

“I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter what has been hidden since the foundation of the world” 

“the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened” (Heb 4:2). 

So we can say that parables were given to hide the meaning from those who choose to reject Jesus and the message of God and to clarify or give a fuller meaning and understanding to those who believed on the Lord.

 

The Spirit and the Word

Those who hear the gospel message without the Holy Spirit have no chance to understand it. 

First of all, faith comes by hearing the Word of God(Rom 10:17). 

For those who have been born again“these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit.

For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.  

For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him?

So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. … 1 Corinthians 2:10-13…10 But[a] it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets. 11 No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit. 12 And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us.13 When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths.(Or explaining spiritual truths in spiritual language, or explaining spiritual truths to spiritual people.)…… But then Paul describes those that are not filled with the Spirit in the next verse :14

14 But people who aren’t spiritual[a] can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means.…The conclusion is that “The Word of God including the meaning of the Parables cannot be understood, without the Holy Spirit and those who are not saved see this as “folly” or foolishness as some translations state. 

It takes the Spirit of God, mixed with the Word of God, proclaimed by a son or daughter of God to make the children of God. …

With even one of these three missing, the gospel will seem like foolishness to them for they are blinded to the gospel message…2 Corinthians 4:3-4…3 If the Good News we preach is hidden behind a veil, it is hidden only from people who are perishing. 4 Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.

The man of God proclaims the Word of God when he walks in the Spirit of God to bring the message of love from God , he then shines his light for God all for the glory of God.

……Conclusion

If you haven’t repented, then you cannot completely understand why you need saving. 

A person without the Holy Spirit cannot know Christ as Savior nor can he see the need for salvation. 

For if you have repented, confessed your sins, and have realized the need to trust in Jesus Christ,Our Savior, you have the Spirit and for this reason God said

2 Corinthians 4:6

6 For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.

We ought to give thanks to God, for our salvation is totally God’s work and not something that you or I could ever do …Ephesians 2:8-9

8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.

 

and that’s why it’s called the “good news.”

 

The Parables of Jesus

1. What exactly is a parable? Is a parable the same as an allegory? Is it the same orrelated to a fable (e.g., Aesop’s Fables)? How is a parable related to a metaphor oranalogy?

2. In what books of the Bible are the parables of Jesus found?

Are there similarbooks that do not have any parables?

3. [We will not be getting into this deeply but you should be aware that there aresome significant differences between the synoptic and abstract gospels.

4. Were any parables told in the Old Testament?

If so, how many and what werethey?

Numbers 23:24, Judges 9:7-15, 14:14, 2 Samuel 12:1-4, 14:5-20,

1 Kings20:35-43, 2 Kings 14:9, Isaiah 5:1-6, 28:24-28,

Ezekiel 14:2-9, 17:3-10, 24:3-5

5. How many parables of Jesus are there?

6. Do any parables of Jesus appear any place other than the Christian Bible?

7. What is the purpose of a parable? Why not plain text?

8. When did Jesus stat telling parables? Why then?

 

The Parables of Jesus…1. Let’s start with the lowest level word: metaphor.

A metaphor is a figure of speech in which a word or phrase literally denoting one object or idea is used in place of another to suggest a likeness or analogy between them.

In other words, a metaphor is language that directly compares seemingly unrelated subjects. …For example, “You are my sunshine.” …Another: “He has the wild stag’s foot.”

…An analogy is the assumption that if two things agree with each other in somerespects, they will probably agree in others.

For example, “shells were to ancient cultures as dollar bills are to modern culture.”

An analogy is often used to make a difficult idea or an old subject easier to understand.

…Though it is similar to other metaphorical comparisons, an allegory is sustainedlonger and more fully in its details than a metaphor, and appeals to imagination,while an analogy appeals to reason or logic.

An allegory can be quite long and complex.

For example, Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyon,

The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighier,

George Orwell’s Animal Farm

…A fable or parable is a short allegory with one definite moral.

Fables tend to be longer than parables, e.g.,

Aesop’s Fables such as The Ox and the Frog,

The Bundle of Sticks,

The Cat and the Birds,

The Boy Who Cried Wolf,

The Fighting

Cocks and the Eagle, and

Jupiter and the Monkey.

There are many fables that have similar meanings to Biblical and Jesus’ parables, but many more that present good advice that is not at all Biblical, for example, you can’t please everybody, a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush, if words don’t suffice then blows must follow, or misery loves company.

…2. Most of the parables of Jesus are found in the three synoptic gospels

The Synoptic Gospels are the first three books of theNew Testament, Matthew, Mark, and Luke.

These three books plus John are called the “Gospels” because they chronicle the good news of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection…ie.the basis of our salvation. …TheGospel of Matthewwas written by Matthew the apostle, one of the twelve commissioned by Jesus.

TheGospel of Markwas written by John Mark, a close associate of the apostle Peter. …TheGospel of Lukewas written by Luke the physician, a friend and traveling companion of the apostle Paul.…Only one parable (in three parts) is found in the gospel of John.

…The first three Gospels are called “synoptic” because they “see together with a common view” (the wordsynopticliterally means “together sight”).

Matthew, Mark, and Luke cover many of the same events in Jesus’ life—most of them from Jesus’ ministry in Galilee—in much the same order.

Nearly 90 percent of Mark’s content is found in Matthew, and

About 50 percent of Mark appears in Luke. …All of the parables of Jesus Christ are found in the Synoptic Gospels

(the Gospel of John contains only one parable in three parts).……There are differences, too. …Matthew and Luke are both considerably longer than Mark. …Matthew was written for a Jewish audience, …Mark for a Roman audience, and …Luke for a broader Gentile audience. …Matthew quotes extensively from the Old Testament, and his use (32 times) of the phrase “the kingdom of heaven” is unique—it’s not found anywhere else in the Bible. …Luke places a definite emphasis on Jesus’ acts of compassion toward Gentiles and Samaritans. …Much ofLuke 10—20is unique to that Gospel.……The difficulty in explaining the similarities and differences among the Synoptic Gospels is referred to as theSynoptic Probleminin the world of biblical scholarship.

In the final analysis, the Synoptic “Problem” is not much of a problem at all—God inspired three Gospel writers to record the events surrounding the same Person during the same part of His life in the same locations, yet with slightly different emphases aimed at different readers.…3. A synoptic gospel is one which gives a general view of the whole story; it is

characterized by comprehensiveness or breadth of view.

As I said previously the gospel of John isnon-synoptic, i.e., indirect or abstract, and has many differences with the synoptic

gospels.

…4. There are many parables, allegories, and analogies in the Old Testament. As well 12 parables in 7 different books.…Old Testament Parables

1 Jews and Moabites (analogy)       Of Balaam       Numbers 23:24

2 Trees make a king (parable)       Jotham      Judges 9:7-15

3 Strong brings forth sweetness (riddle) Samson       Judges 14:14, 18

4 Poor man’s ewe lamb (parable)       Nathan       2 Samuel 12:1-4

5 Two sons fighting (allegory)    Woman of Tekoah   2 Samuel 14:5-20

6 Escaped prisoner          Son of a prophet    1 Kings 20:35-43

7 Thistle and cedar (parable)    Jehoash, King of Israel    2 Kings 14:9,

2 Chronicles 25:18

8 Vineyard and wild grapes (allegory)    Isaiah       Isaiah 5:1-6

9 Farmer prepares his fields       Isaiah       Isaiah 28:24-28

10 Lion’s whelps             Ezekiel       Ezekiel 14:2-9

11 Boiling pot (analogy-parable)       Ezekiel       Ezekiel 24:3-5

12 Great eagles and wine (parable)    Ezekiel       Ezekiel 17:3-10

…5. How many parables of Jesus are there?

The CatholicEncyclopedia lists 33 parables.

The NIV Study Bible lists 40, although five appearin different gospels in different forms.

For example, in the parable of the talents inMatthew 25:14-30, one servant was given 5 talents, one was given 2 and anotherwas given one.

It is clear to me that this is not the same parable recorded in Luke19:12-26 in which the master give ten minas to each to ten servants, yet the NIV

considers it the same.

Small but similar differences exist with four others as well.

 

The Catholic Encyclopedia does not recognize several short parables that they

apparently consider analogies such as Matthew 13:52 (He said to them, “Thereforeevery teacher of the law who has been instructed about the kingdom of heaven islike the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well asold.”) or Matthew 9:16 (new cloth on an old coat).

This is understandable, but it isnot at all clear why parables such as Matthew 24:45-51 (faithful and wise servant)and Luke 14:16-24 (great banquet) were excluded from it.

 

Counting analogies such as “the Kingdom of God is like [blank]” one could comeup with as many as 60 parables. I lean to the NIV Study Bible list of 40 plus thefive additional ones that Jesus told at other times in a different form plus one inJohn for a total count of 46.

 

6. Do Jesus’ parables appear other places?

Yes and no. The noncanonical Gospelof Thomas contains up to 15 parables of which two are unique.

The author of thisGospel did not have a special word for “parable,” making it difficult to know whathe considered a parable.

The noncanonicalApocryphon of James also containsthree unique parables of Jesus. They are known as

“The Parable of the Ear ofGrain”,

“The Parable of the Grain of Wheat”, and

“The Parable of the Date-PalmShoot”.

These are not recognized by any major Christian denomination.

 

7. Mark 4:10-12, Matthew 13:10-17 and Luke 8:9-10 offer an explanation as towhy Jesus would teach in parables.

These verses say that whenever Jesus wouldgo off by himself (away from the crowds of followers he attracted), those close tohim and the disciples would ask about the parables.

He told them that they hadbeen given the secret of the Kingdom of God but that outsiders did not have thissecret, so everything to them is given in parables, never to be fully understood,otherwise they might find forgiveness, citing variations of Isaiah 6:9-10.

Matthew13:12 adds: “Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance.Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.”

Mark 4:33-34 and Matthew 13:34-35 repeat that Jesus would only speak to the“crowds” in parables, while secretly, in private, explaining everything to hisdisciples.

 

Stephen L Harris has, on the other hand, surmised that Jesus used parables

because they provoked thought and coaxed the listeners into participating moreactively as they considered the parables’ ambiguous content.

According to him,the belief that Jesus taught secret meanings to his disciples is a product of theEarly Christian tradition and does not originate with Jesus himself.

 

The Jewish Encyclopedia states: “The simple meaning of these parables,

however, was lost later on, and they were taken to be allegories and mysteries,especially when they alluded to the Messianic expectations, about which it was notsafe to speak in public, as they assumed the end of the kingdom of Satan.

Another possible reason for parables is that they are memorable stories that

could be transmitted orally for years before being written down.

 

8. After some time into his great Galilean ministry, teaching and performingmiracles, Jesus begins to gain great popularity.

This posed a threat to theestablished Jewish leaders and opposition started to build against him. Aftercalling Matthew (Levi) to follow him, Levi holds a great banquet at which time thePharisees complained that Jesus was not following their customs and he waseating with tax collectors and sinners.

He said to them, “Can you make the guestsof the bridegroom fast while he is with them? But the time will come when thebridegroom will be taken from them; in those days they will fast.” He then told theparable about patching an old garment with new cloth and the one about puttingnew wine in old wineskins.