Jesus often expressed his teaching in the form of parables. If we consider all of his instructions contained in the four gospels, a third (or rather almost 35%) consists of parables.
I was taught that parables must be interpreted in a specific way do to the nature of what a parable is. The concept is that a parable teaches one lesson and one lesson only. The elements in the parable serve that purpose and they don't always have a definition. When Jesus explains his interpretations you see that some elements are analogous to something in the real world and some things are left undefined. In those cases that element is just there to lead you to the lesson. It should not be further interpreted and/or you should not search for a real world identity.
Not sure where I heard this but it was a part of a sermon in a church at some point of my life. That concept has been fruitful trying to understand parable when I have studied them.
I was taught that parables must be interpreted in a specific way do to the nature of what a parable is. The concept is that a parable teaches one lesson and one lesson only. The elements in the parable serve that purpose and they don't always have a definition. When Jesus explains his interpretations you see that some elements are analogous to something in the real world and some things are left undefined. In those cases that element is just there to lead you to the lesson. It should not be further interpreted and/or you should not search for a real world identity.
Not sure where I heard this but it was a part of a sermon in a church at some point of my life. That concept has been fruitful trying to understand parable when I have studied them.