Why Jesus Told Parables (and How You Can Understand Them)

Jesus of Nazareth was a master storyteller, and many of his most well-known teachings were told as parables. But these stories were designed to do much more than simply "teach." Jesus said the parables were designed to both reveal and conceal his message about the arrival of God's Kingdom. In this video, we explore the main themes in Jesus' parables and ask why he used them as the primary vehicle for his message.

#BibleProject #Parables #Jesus

[bibleproject]

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[pastorlandon]

The animation just keeps getting more stunning as time goes on.

[aocnetwork]

Simply amazing! Thank you Bible Project...the art direction and Kingdom storytelling in this is breathtaking. A new fav.

Jesus taught in parables, is there anyone like Our Lord? Walked on water, calmed the seas, raised the dead, died in our place and resurrected on the third day and He is coming back for us!! We love you Jesus!!

[jeremiahkirby]

God bless you all that have tasted death and returned. God bless you all that are just hanging on by a thread. God bless you all that have gotten so used to pain that life without it seems odd. God bless you all that have gotten so close to ending your life but chose the pain of living instead. God bless you all that willingly give. God bless you all that smile back at strangers. God bless you all that will take time out of your lives to enrich somebody else's. God bless you ALL!

[kristianwiles]

The Lord Jesus Christ is coming to get His bride very soon. Even so come Lord Jesus come. The bride and the Spirit say come♥️

[nicoleatheart]

I’m studying the book of Matthew now and I love how you guys are spot on and how well illustrated you always are. When I’m stumped on a scripture I know I can always come here for help

[bibleproject]

Jesus of Nazareth was a master storyteller, and many of his most well known teachings were given in the form of parables. These were short fictional stories that appear simple but are packed with many layers of meaning. Most teachers use stories to make complex topics clear, to make difficult ideas more understandable. But, when Jesus was once asked by his disciples why he told so many parables, he gave an answer that has puzzled many readers: "To you all the secret of the Kingdom of God has been given; but to those on the outside, everything comes in parables, so that even though they might see, they will not perceive, and even though they might hear, they will not understand..." (Mark 4:11-12). In other words, Jesus told parables with a dual purpose: to make the arrival of God's kingdom clear to some, but unclear to others. His parables both reveal and conceal his message. Now, that may strike some of us as a strange way to spread your message: "let me be as unclear as possible." But, when we take the historical context of Jesus' mission seriously, and when we understand that Jesus told parables because he saw himself in the tradition of Israel's prophets, things do get more clear. First, Jesus said his mission was to announce the arrival of God's reign to Israel, in order to bring the story of their covenant with God to its climax. Jesus' message both critiqued the power brokers in Jerusalem, and bypassed them in renewing the people of Israel outside of their most cherished institution of the temple. People were hailing him as the "anointed one" (i.e. the Messiah), which put him on a collision course with the "anointed" high priest in Jerusalem. So, Jesus needed a communication strategy that would spread his message and movement while also delaying any potential conflict. And parables were the perfect vehicle. To those who were compelled by Jesus already, these stories about birds and seed and farmers and vineyards were perfectly clear: God's kingdom was arriving through Jesus, and was taking a surprising form that both shocked people and seemed the fitting fulfillment of Israel's story. But to those who opposed Jesus, they would seem like the idle ponderings of an irresponsible itinerant teacher who was leading Israel astray. But Jesus' parables weren't simply a diversion tactic, they also packed a powerful message for those who understood that he was renewing the ancient vocation of Israel's prophets. They too used the power of prophetic poetry, metaphor, and parable to provoke Israel's imagination, to see that God was truly at work in their midst doing a new thing to restore his kingdom on earth as in heaven. Jesus' parable were invitations to see God's kingdom in a new way, and so they stimulate the imagination much more than they make everything clear. Jesus wasn't primarily trying to communication a body of information, rather he was trying to prod and poke and provoke Israel to respond to him. The parables, then, are not short narrative lessons in morality and religion. They are one the primary ways that Jesus invited people to see the arrival of God's kingdom with fresh eyes, so that they get up and respond, and follow him.

[jussikankinen]

Helping others is jesus mission, god is love

[DallasPenner]

Well done! God bless the people at Bible Project for their amazing work!

[moisesdanielalvarado]

The Bible Project is very good and makes the stories of God more amazing and easy to learn

[knowkratom]

This needs about 7.9 billion more views.

[firstnamelastname-dmgo]

Bible project I love the work you do. alot of my help for understanding comes from you But
2:14
I never thought that was about money ....
God is the bussiness owner and no matter what time the "workers" started the work day . They were all paid the same .
Workers are his people . And they all recieved the same salvation no matter when they begin the journey with God.

[Eli-mrne]

This is why i love this channel they actually nade Jesus look like a middle eastern jew.

[austinsalzwedel]

0:09 When the merchant sounds like Waluigi going "waaah" 🤯🤯🤯

[jackcoleman]

Thanks BibleProject!

Watching with my children, Nathan and Kaylee Joy!

[bible.animations]

I'm starting an animated series on the parables of Jesus, what an excellent resource!

[omega-myrrhalphahoney]

I love you guys !!! You guys bring me so much hope and got me weeping with joy ... gosh I love Jesus!

[scripture]

Thank you Bible Project. I'm blessed with Bible Project.

[whenthemorningstarssangtogxrxs]

Love this one! Ears to hear brothers and sisters! We love you King Jesus! 💛💛💛💛