Parables vs History

Different than myths, fables, allegories, or tales, a parable was a form of teaching in Jewish tradition. In the New Testament it is called "parabole," from "ball - to throw" and "bole - the other side." And in Jesus' parables it is interesting that although he was speaking of and to the simple, there was often a surprise element, and a link to a deeper reality.

PARABLE OR HISTORY?

An unjust judge gives a persistent woman justice.

A man who owed a lot of money is forgiven, but then puts the screws to people who owe him a few bucks.

A house built on sand fell in a big wind and rain storm; a house built on a rock was fine.

Someone makes an axe head float

A good Samaritan helps a wounded man.

A man leaves this world in a chariot of fire.

A son who wasted his inheritance is sorry, comes home and is instantly forgiven.

Two men walk on top of the water and don’t sink.

Many different nationalities hear people speak the same words, but they each hear the words in their own language.

A shepherd left 99 sheep in the wilderness till he found the lost one.

A woman calls her friends to celebrate her finding of her 10th piece of silver, for which she had been searching for by cleaning her house.

A man is healed after 4 days being dead.

A rich man died and in torment in a fire, looked up and saw Lazarus being held by Abraham.

An arrogant Pharisee and a humble tax collector prayed in the temple together, but the tax collector’s prayers were effective and not the bragging Pharisee.

A man was swallowed and hurled by a whale.

3 men walked in a furnace and were not burnt.

Men break up a roof to get their sick friend in a house to see a healer..

A man calls down fire which burns up stones and water.

At midnight a man knocks on his neighbour’s door to borrow food for his guest. The neighbour, who is in bed with his children eventually comes down and gives it to him because of his persistence.

A man feeds 100 men with a few loaves. A man feeds 5000 men with a few loaves

The kingdom of God is like unto a woman who put  some bread and hid 3 measures of leaven in  them until the whole was leavened.
(talking about the Kingdom of Heaven, about what we might call the ultimate spiritual reality, not about baking bread! )