Often, people look at the Bible as a rule book, a list of dos and don’ts. This comes from those ignorant of Scripture or seeking to criticize more than to understand. While the Bible does have rules, much of Scripture records a history of real people in real places throughout time. Scripture does this for a couple different reasons. First, the writers wanted to explain why things existed the way they do. Why is there sin? Why does death exist? Second, the Bible focuses on God’s involvement in history, how he acts, interacts, and guides the realms of people through his power and love, leading to redemption from sin and death. 

Jesus rarely taught without using a story, what the gospels called parables. But he didn’t just tell stories, he employed them to support a point or establish one. 

Many people think Jesus taught in parables to relate to people. However, the Scripture gives a couple of other reasons. First, Jesus used parables to reveal eternal truth (Matthew 13:34-35). A story might be simple and short yet contain great depth, enough to properly point to the infinite realities of God, far more complex than a lecture. 

Second, Jesus used stories to hide the truth, like a treasure (Matthew 13:10-15). The lazy want a message pre-wrapped for them. Yet real learning happens when the learner works for it, seeks for it, and gives of him or herself to acquire truth. People love mysteries and finding secrets. Christ gives this adventure to those who truly value truth. 

So, Jesus taught in parables. Reading through the gospels, we find specific themes revealed through numerous stories told by Jesus. Here are seven common themes.

1. The Kingdom of God

The Kingdom of God was one of the main topics of Jesus’ ministry. Therefore, Jesus used several stories to explain how the Kingdom wasn’t only a distant future reality but one his followers could enter in the present. Christ taught how God reigns whenever hearts surrender to God’s will. Being back in right relationship, the Lord’s rule over people transforms their lives. 

Interestingly, Jesus never gave an academic definition of the Kingdom of God. Neither did Paul. Instead, he used parables. Earthly language can’t properly express a heavenly realm, but a story can give us hints, come close. With parables, Christ taught different aspects of the Kingdom of Heaven, which doesn’t follow worldly rules — it grows silently, works powerfully, and welcomes the marginalized. The Kingdom of God is both here and to come, challenging his disciples to respond now with faith in the future fulfillment. 

Some people call the book of Acts the fifth gospel. Luke wrote Acts as a second part to his gospel, detailing how Jesus, by the Spirit, birthed the church and spread the Good News throughout the Roman Empire. At the end of Matthew, Jesus famously gives what we know as the Great Commission, telling the apostles to go out and make disciples, teaching the new followers to obey the same teachings Christ gave while on earth. 

Spreading the Gospel of Jesus required new disciples, people beyond the original twelve, to take up the mission, announcing the work of Christ and his Kingdom, present and future. Luke clearly records these new disciples, almost instant figures to spread the Good News.