Parable or not?

[B-A-C]

Matt 13:18; "Hear then the parable of the sower.
Matt 13:24; Jesus presented another parable to them, saying, "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field.
Matt 13:31; He presented another parable to them, saying, "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field;
Matt 13:33; He spoke another parable to them, "The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three pecks of flour until it was all leavened."
Matt 13:36; Then He left the crowds and went into the house. And His disciples came to Him and said, "Explain to us the parable of the tares of the field."
Matt 15:15; Peter said to Him, "Explain the parable to us."
Matt 21:33; "Listen to another parable. There was a landowner who PLANTED A VINEYARD AND PUT A WALL AROUND IT AND DUG A WINE PRESS IN IT, AND BUILT A TOWER, and rented it out to vine-growers and went on a journey.
Matt 24:32; "Now learn the parable from the fig tree: when its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near;
Mark 4:13; And He *said to them, "Do you not understand this parable? How will you understand all the parables?
Mark 4:30; And He said, "How shall we picture the kingdom of God, or by what parable shall we present it?
Mark 7:17; When he had left the crowd and entered the house, His disciples questioned Him about the parable.
Mark 12:12; And they were seeking to seize Him, and yet they feared the people, for they understood that He spoke the parable against them. And so they left Him and went away.
Mark 13:28; "Now learn the parable from the fig tree: when its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near.
Luke 5:36; And He was also telling them a parable: "No one tears a piece of cloth from a new garment and puts it on an old garment; otherwise he will both tear the new, and the piece from the new will not match the old.
Luke 6:39; And He also spoke a parable to them: "A blind man cannot guide a blind man, can he? Will they not both fall into a pit?
Luke 8:4; When a large crowd was coming together, and those from the various cities were journeying to Him, He spoke by way of a parable:
Luke 8:9; His disciples began questioning Him as to what this parable meant.
Luke 8:11; "Now the parable is this: the seed is the word of God.
Luke 12:16; And He told them a parable, saying, "The land of a rich man was very productive.
Luke 12:41; Peter said, "Lord, are You addressing this parable to us, or to everyone else as well?"
Luke 13:6; And He began telling this parable: "A man had a fig tree which had been planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and did not find any.
Luke 14:7; And He began speaking a parable to the invited guests when He noticed how they had been picking out the places of honor at the table, saying to them,
Luke 15:3; So He told them this parable, saying,
Luke 18:1; Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart,
Luke 18:9; And He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt:
Luke 19:11; While they were listening to these things, Jesus went on to tell a parable, because He was near Jerusalem, and they supposed that the kingdom of God was going to appear immediately.
Luke 20:9; And He began to tell the people this parable: "A man planted a vineyard and rented it out to vine-growers, and went on a journey for a long time.
Luke 20:19; The scribes and the chief priests tried to lay hands on Him that very hour, and they feared the people; for they understood that He spoke this parable against them.
Luke 21:29; Then He told them a parable: "Behold the fig tree and all the trees;

Usually in the Bible, if a story is a parable.. it is identified as a parable. All the verses above clearly say what Jesus was saying is "a parable".

Matt 13:34; All these things Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables, and He did not speak to them without a parable.
Mark 4:34; and He did not speak to them without a parable; but He was explaining everything privately to His own disciples.

There was a while when Jesus spoke to the multitudes, mostly only in parables. But usually he did not use parables in private when talking to His disciples.

John 16:25; "These things I have spoken to you in figurative language; an hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language, but will tell you plainly of the Father.
John 16:29; His disciples *said, "Lo, now You are speaking plainly and are not using a figure of speech.

Toward the end of Jesus's ministry on Earth, He did not use parables. A few parables, such as the parable of the sower was explained in plain language at a later point. ( Matt 13:18-23; )

In all of the scriptures specifically identified as "a parable". Jesus never uses proper nouns. He always say "a man" or "a woman" or "a vineyard owner". But He never says "Bob", or "John" or "Tom"
in any of the scriptures identified as parables.

There are some controversial scriptures, such a story of Lazarus and the Rich man. ( Luke 16:19-31; )
Some people think this is a parable. But the Bible never identifies it as a parable. Also Lazarus is specifically called by his proper name. Not just "a man".
For these two reasons, most scholars do not consider the story of Lazarus and the Rich man to be a parable.

Another thing about parables, is that Jesus never uses hyperbole in scriptures identified as parables. For example, He says a woman lost a coin. Well in real life people lose things, certainly people have lost coins.
So while this may or may not be a true story, it is certainly a story that could be true. Jesus never uses exaggerated fantasy in a parable. He never says something like "an eagle carried a man off". Because
this isn't a common occurrence in real life that people could relate to.

 

[Waggles]

Luke 16:14 The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these things, and they ridiculed him.
15 And he said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.

Luke 16:19 “There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day.
20 And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores,
21 who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man's table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores.
22 The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried,
23 and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side.
24 And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’
25 But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish.
26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’
27 And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father's house—
28 for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’
29 But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’
30 And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’
31 He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’”

I believe that this moral story is directly aimed at the Pharisees and religious rulers of Judah and confronts their failings to teach the truth of Moses and the Prophets.
The Jews did not just rely on reading the Torah and the other books of the OT (which they held with far less esteem) - they also had volumes of rabbinical teachings that added their teachings on
how to follow and uphold the Law of Moses.
The rabbis had over the centuries had fabricated many other ideas and teachings on the nature of YHWH and the Heavens, angels and demons, sheol and death, good and evil, etc.
I believe here in Luke 16 the parable of the dishonest manager and the story of the rich man and Lazarus are very much directed at the Pharisees, Sadducees and scribes who ruled Judah and the Temple,
and were the custodians of the Law and the books of the OT.

 

[complete]

Matt 13:18; "Hear then the parable of the sower.
Matt 13:24; Jesus presented another parable to them, saying, "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field.
Matt 13:31; He presented another parable to them, saying, "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field;
Matt 13:33; He spoke another parable to them, "The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three pecks of flour until it was all leavened."
Matt 13:36; Then He left the crowds and went into the house. And His disciples came to Him and said, "Explain to us the parable of the tares of the field."
Matt 15:15; Peter said to Him, "Explain the parable to us."
Matt 21:33; "Listen to another parable. There was a landowner who PLANTED A VINEYARD AND PUT A WALL AROUND IT AND DUG A WINE PRESS IN IT, AND BUILT A TOWER, and rented it out to vine-growers and went on a journey.
Matt 24:32; "Now learn the parable from the fig tree: when its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near;
Mark 4:13; And He *said to them, "Do you not understand this parable? How will you understand all the parables?
Mark 4:30; And He said, "How shall we picture the kingdom of God, or by what parable shall we present it?
Mark 7:17; When he had left the crowd and entered the house, His disciples questioned Him about the parable.
Mark 12:12; And they were seeking to seize Him, and yet they feared the people, for they understood that He spoke the parable against them. And so they left Him and went away.
Mark 13:28; "Now learn the parable from the fig tree: when its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near.
Luke 5:36; And He was also telling them a parable: "No one tears a piece of cloth from a new garment and puts it on an old garment; otherwise he will both tear the new, and the piece from the new will not match the old.
Luke 6:39; And He also spoke a parable to them: "A blind man cannot guide a blind man, can he? Will they not both fall into a pit?
Luke 8:4; When a large crowd was coming together, and those from the various cities were journeying to Him, He spoke by way of a parable:
Luke 8:9; His disciples began questioning Him as to what this parable meant.
Luke 8:11; "Now the parable is this: the seed is the word of God.
Luke 12:16; And He told them a parable, saying, "The land of a rich man was very productive.
Luke 12:41; Peter said, "Lord, are You addressing this parable to us, or to everyone else as well?"
Luke 13:6; And He began telling this parable: "A man had a fig tree which had been planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and did not find any.
Luke 14:7; And He began speaking a parable to the invited guests when He noticed how they had been picking out the places of honor at the table, saying to them,
Luke 15:3; So He told them this parable, saying,
Luke 18:1; Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart,
Luke 18:9; And He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt:
Luke 19:11; While they were listening to these things, Jesus went on to tell a parable, because He was near Jerusalem, and they supposed that the kingdom of God was going to appear immediately.
Luke 20:9; And He began to tell the people this parable: "A man planted a vineyard and rented it out to vine-growers, and went on a journey for a long time.
Luke 20:19; The scribes and the chief priests tried to lay hands on Him that very hour, and they feared the people; for they understood that He spoke this parable against them.
Luke 21:29; Then He told them a parable: "Behold the fig tree and all the trees;

Usually in the Bible, if a story is a parable.. it is identified as a parable. All the verses above clearly say what Jesus was saying is "a parable".

Matt 13:34; All these things Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables, and He did not speak to them without a parable.
Mark 4:34; and He did not speak to them without a parable; but He was explaining everything privately to His own disciples.

There was a while when Jesus spoke to the multitudes, mostly only in parables. But usually he did not use parables in private when talking to His disciples.

John 16:25; "These things I have spoken to you in figurative language; an hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language, but will tell you plainly of the Father.
John 16:29; His disciples *said, "Lo, now You are speaking plainly and are not using a figure of speech.

Toward the end of Jesus's ministry on Earth, He did not use parables. A few parables, such as the parable of the sower was explained in plain language at a later point. ( Matt 13:18-23; )

In all of the scriptures specifically identified as "a parable". Jesus never uses proper nouns. He always say "a man" or "a woman" or "a vineyard owner". But He never says "Bob", or "John" or "Tom"
in any of the scriptures identified as parables.

There are some controversial scriptures, such a story of Lazarus and the Rich man. ( Luke 16:19-31; )
Some people think this is a parable. But the Bible never identifies it as a parable. Also Lazarus is specifically called by his proper name. Not just "a man".
For these two reasons, most scholars do not consider the story of Lazarus and the Rich man to be a parable.

Another thing about parables, is that Jesus never uses hyperbole in scriptures identified as parables. For example, He says a woman lost a coin. Well in real life people lose things, certainly people have lost coins.
So while this may or may not be a true story, it is certainly a story that could be true. Jesus never uses exaggerated fantasy in a parable. He never says something like "an eagle carried a man off". Because
this isn't a common occurrence in real life that people could relate to.

'For the living know that they shall die:
but the dead know not any thing,
neither have they any more a reward;
for the memory of them is forgotten.
(Ecc 9:5)

Hello @B-A-C,

The story of the rich man and Lazarus which our Lord told in response to the Pharisees, was not a parable: it is a form of Divine irony.

Thank you
In Christ Jesus
Chris

 

[Brother Paul]

Luke 16:14 The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these things, and they ridiculed him.
15 And he said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.

Luke 16:19 “There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day.
20 And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores,
21 who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man's table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores.
22 The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried,
23 and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side.
24 And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’
25 But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish.
26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’
27 And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father's house—
28 for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’
29 But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’
30 And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’
31 He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’”

I believe that this moral story is directly aimed at the Pharisees and religious rulers of Judah and confronts their failings to teach the truth of Moses and the Prophets.
The Jews did not just rely on reading the Torah and the other books of the OT (which they held with far less esteem) - they also had volumes of rabbinical teachings that added their teachings on
how to follow and uphold the Law of Moses.
The rabbis had over the centuries had fabricated many other ideas and teachings on the nature of YHWH and the Heavens, angels and demons, sheol and death, good and evil, etc.
I believe here in Luke 16 the parable of the dishonest manager and the story of the rich man and Lazarus are very much directed at the Pharisees, Sadducees and scribes who ruled Judah and the Temple,
and were the custodians of the Law and the books of the OT.

I think you are correct and the same applies to many modern "religious leaders '