Page 129 - A Dissertation for Doctor of Philosophy

parable, 101 and allegory.” 102 This classification causes potential confusion since the first two

literary types overlaps with the proverbial or aphoristic sayings of Jesus. Thus, Aune emends the

first two types of usage in the parables of Jesus. 103

The parables of Jesus share the same characteristics as the parables modeled after the mashal, the

literary form use in expressing rabbinic wisdom, such as the stress on brevity and narrative

quality. Yet, the parables of Jesus function especially as a metaphorical symbol, pointing to the

transcendent reality of the Kingdom of God. 104 Parables have metaphorical qualities in and of

themselves. 105 Thus, the parables of Jesus provide metaphorical experiences. David Stern

contends that the parables are “virtual experience in themselves, linguistic and poetic events that

99 For an illustration, see Mark 4:26-29 (The Parable of the Seed Growing Secretly). It’s
characteristics is “Kingdom of God is as if….”
100
Matt. 21:28-32 (The Parable of the Two Sons), 25:1-13 (The Parable of the Ten
Virgins), 25:14-30 (The Parable of the Talents), Luke 14:15-24 (The Parable of the Great
Banquet), 15:11-32 (The Parable of the Prodigal Son), 16:1-9 (The Parable of Shrewd Manager),
18:1-8 (The Parable of Unjust Judge). It is also called as parable proper (analogy) which
describes or deals with a particular situation and event.

101
Luke 10:25-37 (The Parable of the Good Samaritan), 12:16-21 (The Parable of the
Rich Fool).

102 Matt. 22:1-14 (The Parable of Wedding Banquet), Mark 4:2-20 (The Parable of the
Sower), 12:1-11 (The Parable of Wicked Vinegrowers). See Robert H. Stein, The Method and
Message of Jesus’ Teaching, rev. ed. (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 1994), 35-
37.

103
Aune, New Testament, 51. He, then, distinguishes parables into four types: the
similitude, the parable proper, the example story, and allegory. It is almost the same with Stern’s
classification other than the first two.

104
Bailey, Handbook, 106.
105
Mike Graves, The Sermon as Symphony: Preaching the Literary Forms of the New
Testament (Valley Forge, PA: Judson Press, 1997), 42.