Who Am I? I Am Listening With Ears That Hear.

What is a parable?  Why did Jesus speak in parables?

Parables are "windows into the heart and mind of God Himself."  Gary Inrig, author of The Parables:  Understand What Jesus Meant  He also writes in his book, the parables have a way of making each person who hears them say, "Hey, that's me!" as they bring understanding.  "They reveal who we are and and know who God is," bringing encouragement, and revealing divine answers to our lives.

An online dictionary defines a parable as A simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson, as told by Jesus in the Gospels.

What makes a parable different from a fable, an allegory, an apologue, folktales, fairy tales and the like?  

The parable consists of one single, simple consistent action and does not include circumstantial detail.  It expresses a moral lesson, yet it is a realistic story that is probably and takes place life-like settings.  Characters in parables are human not animals and plants as in fairy tales and apolgues.*  

Jesus used parables in His teaching methods for several reasons.

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• They created a veil to those who did not want to receive truth.  

And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:  (12)  That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.  Mark 4:11-12

• Parables normally address a question or a certain situation, making it necessary to learn the context of the Scriptures in which there were written and spoken by Jesus.   
• Jesus used parables to teach a Truth.  

How many times as a Christian or even as a child have you heard many of the parables Jesus spoke?  

When we have heard something over and over and over again, we tend to tune it out.  We stop listening and let our minds wander.  Do not let "familiarity breed complacency" as we read or listen to the parables from God's Word.  We think we know them, therefore, we do not really listen.  

I have learned, that if I listen to them or reread them as if I am sitting at the feet of Jesus for the first time, I always hear or "see" something new and much deeper than times before.  

*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parable