“While claiming full unity and equality with God, Jesus was very active as a teacher and healer. Through his parables, direct teaching on important topics, and miracles, Jesus used common human situations to tell us about God's concern for each of us, about making good choices in our lives, and about the Kingdom” (Student Guide adults). ParablesWhat is a parable? A parable is a story or short story told to illustrate a religious, moral, or philosophical idea. About a third of the recorded teachings of Jesus Christ are in the form of parables. Jesus often used parables as a means of illustrating profound, divine truths. Stories like these are easily remembered, the characters are bold, and the symbolism is rich with meaning. Parables were a common form of teaching in Judaism.