Parable | Parable Meaning, Definition, Illustration
Parable | Parable Meaning, Definition, Illustration
Parable | Parable Meaning, Definition, Illustration
A parable is a simple story used to illustrate a moral, spiritual, or religious truth. It is in a sense, an earthly story with a divine meaning.  The parable may be called an expanded simile. There are some best parables in the Bible among which mention may be made of the Parables of the Good Samaritan (St. Luke’s Gospel, Chapter Chapter-X- 30-37) and the Parable of the Prodigal Son (St. Luke’s Gospel, Chapter XV, 11-32).
The parable of the Good Samaritan describes that there was a traveler (probably a Jew), who was robbed and beaten badly by some people and was left on the roadside. A Levite and a priest passed through that road, but both ignored him.
Eventually, a Samaritan came and helped the wounded and miserable person, regardless of his race or religious belief (usually, Samaritans despised Jews). Later, the traveler revealed himself as Christ.
The moral of this parable is to help all those in need, without prejudice to anyone because of perceived differences.
The parable of the Prodigal Son reads like this-
Once upon a time, there was a rich man and he had two sons. His first son was good and obedient to his father. But the second son was wayward and did not want to wait for his inheritance till the death of his father and immediately demanded his share. Then his father divided his property among his two sons. But within a few months, he wasted all his wealth and became miserable. Later, realizing that he would need his father’s help in order to survive, he returned home and begged to become one of his father’s hired servants. Then his father, instead of being furious, welcomed his wayward son, celebrating his return.
The eldest son, who lived with his father all the time, was furious and refused to participate in the celebration. He told his father:
“Look, I serve you for so many years, and never disobey you, and yet you haven’t given me a kid that I can make merriment with my friends…”
The father replied to his eldest son:
“Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. I am to rejoice for your brother as he was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found again.”
When the father died, he left the rest of his inheritance to his eldest son.
The story conveys the symbolic message that God is like a father who loves humanity despite his rebellious nature, and that those who follow His path are welcomed by Him, even if they have gone astray.
Likewise, there are parables in the Upanishad, in the Koran, and in the Deuteronomy.
The Parable is considered to be a great teaching tool because it often uses symbolic imagery and metaphors that the readers can easily recognize. Thus, the storyteller can express complex moral truths in such a way that they become related and understandable to their own lives. Sometimes the audience has to understand the text that a parable tells, and they participate in arriving at the conclusion that way. Generally, parables help readers to understand philosophical issues or moral lessons in related terms, while story-tellers can better lead them to apply such principles in their everyday lives. 0 0 0.
Parable Meaning
Read More: Simile Meaning, Definition, Illustration
Parable Meaning
N. B. The article ‘Parable Meaning, Definition, Illustration’ originally belongs to the book ‘The Rhetoric‘ by Menonim Menonimus.
Parable Meaning
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Books of Composition by M. Menonimus:
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