Parables by John F. MacArthur

Parables by John F. MacArthur ISBN-13: 978-1-4002-0348-2 Hardcover: 260 pages Publisher: Thomas Nelson Released: October 27, 2015

Source: Review copy from the publisher through BookLook.

Book Description from BookLook:
Pastor-teacher John MacArthur helps readers understand Jesus’ parables and how they relate to the whole of His message.

Jesus was a master storyteller, and the parables He told were ingeniously simple word pictures with profound spiritual lessons. Understanding the parables is a crucial matter for followers of Jesus. Jesus told parables so His people might comprehend His message about the kingdom of God clearly.

Master expositor and Bible commentator John MacArthur has spent a lifetime explaining the Word of God in clear and comprehensible terms. In Parables he helps Christians understand the essential lessons contained in the most famous and influential short stories the world has ever known.


My Review:
Parables is a spiritual growth book. The author explained why Jesus used parables and how the parables tie into Jesus' whole message. The focus wasn't on the parables so much as on themes in Jesus' teachings that are also illustrated in his parables.

The author began with what Jesus said about why he used parables. Then he looked at nine themes in Jesus' teachings along with some parables that further illustrated these teachings. For example, the chapter on God's justice and grace looked at the parable where laborers who worked different lengths of time all got the same pay.

The parables that the author included in this book are: the sower and four types of soil (Luke 8:5-8), treasure hidden in a field (Matt. 13:44), a pearl of great price (Matt. 13:45-46), laborers paid the same (Matt. 20:1-15), the good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-31), two men pray in the temple (Luke 18:9-14), the good and bad servant (Matt. 24:45-51), 10 bridesmaids (Matt. 25:1-13), the talents (Matt. 25:14-30), the shrewd but unfaithful steward (Luke 16:1-8), Lazarus and the rich man (Luke 16:19-31), and the widow and the unjust judge (Luke 17:22).

It was easy to understand the author's points and follow his reasoning. Overall, I'd recommend this book to those who want to better understand Jesus' teachings.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


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