Looking through my traffic referral logs, I saw that I’m ranked pretty well on Google for information about why Jesus spoke in parables. I wrote a bit of an article about it a while ago, but also just came across some cool Bible passages which reference it, which I’ve never seen before. One is from Psalms, 78:2:

“I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter hidden things from of old.”

That’s from the NIV, although the KJV has a cool alteration of that same line:

78:2 I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old:

78:3 Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us.

78:4 We will not hide [them] from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done.

Interestingly, the meaning of the word “parable” is said to be “to throw alongside”. I’ve never heard that before, but some authors interpret that in the context of simile or metaphor which is thrown alongside of one’s life to offer additional understanding.

Also, it seems that the line above is supposed to be a prophecy of old, which Jesus later fulfilled in the New Testament:

“Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable (NIV).” Matt. 13:34

Another post I did which may shed some light in this area was about the Sufi practice of using stories to teach.