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Parables in Matthew:

5:13-16 Salt & Light, 6:19-24 Heavenly Treasure 7:19-24 Two Foundations, 9:16-17 Cloth & Skins 10:25-37 Good Samaritan,11:5-10 Midnight ask for loaves

 13:1-17 Purpose of parables, 13:24-30 Wheat Sown, 13:31-32 Mustard Seed, 13:44 Hidden Treasure, 13:45-46 Priceless Pearl, 13:47-50 Net 13:51-52 Householder new & old treasure

16:5-12 Leaven, 18:21-35 Unmerciful servant 20:1-16 Workers’ fair pay, 21:28-32 The 2 sons 21:33-39 Wicked Husbandman, 22:14-30 The Talents,

24:27+ As Lightning, Fig tree, Days of Noe Two Workers or 2 Sleepers, Servants Watching

25:1+ The 10 Virgins, Servants given Talents, Sheep and Goat Nations

What Is A Parable? - It is a Story Having Spiritual Importance, A Comparison between two unlike objects, Or a story telling some behavior which should be followed.

ASK THESE QUESTIONS:

What Is The Theme of The Book which contains this parable?

Where Does The Parable Fit in the book?

Who Tells The Parable, Who is The Audience, Who is Mentioned in The Parable?

What Images Are Used?

How Would You Summarize The Message?

Most of the Parables have 3 main Characters and 3 Points

The Prodigal Son (Lk 15:11–32 for example) Is a 3 Point Parable - Father, Prodigal and Older Brother....   The story focuses on Prodigal, then Older Brother and Finally on The Father's love and Patience with both sons.

The Ten Virgins (Mt 25:1–13)

The Wise virgins, The Foolish virgins and The Bridegroom comprise the 3 Parts and the 3 Points - Be Prepared, The Bridegroom comes at anytime, and the Door will be Closed at some point.

The Wheat and Tares also has 3 Points:The Sower sowed Wheat, The Devil sowed Tares, The Harvest will come at the end

Abraham, Lazarus and the Rich Man:

(1) Like Lazarus, those whom God helps will be borne after their death into God’s presence.

(2) Like the rich man, the unrepentant will experience irreversible punishment.

(3) Through Abraham, Moses, and the prophets, God reveals himself and his will so that none who neglect it can legitimately protest their subsequent fate.

           Ideas from “Interpreting the Parables” by Craig L. Bloomberg