THE Saviour, in His ministry, spoke so frequently in an illustrative manner that it is sometimes difficult to determine whether a formal parable was intended, or whether He merely used parabolic language. The new wine and new garments, and the lighted candle, for example, while parabolic in character, have been left aside for the purposes of this book.
But some may be surprised at the omission of the Rich Man and Lazarus, and the Sheep and the Goats (Luke 16; Matt. 25). The former I am not free to regard as a parable, while having no controversy with those who do so regard it. Not only is it not called a parable, but names are introduced, a thing without precedent in Our Lord’s parables, so far as I remember. I prefer to look at the Rich Man and Lazarus as actual characters, whose history both in this world and beyond is solemnly traced by the Saviour for the moral profit of men everywhere.
Matthew 25:31-46 is commonly regarded as a parable, but, as I judge, mistakenly. The passage describes an important incident in the judgment of the quick at the Lord’s appearing. The Gentiles will be challenged as to their treatment of those whom the King calls “My brethren,” i.e., the latter-day remnant of Israel. I see nothing parabolic in the passage beyond the words, “he shall separate them one from another as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats.” With this explanation, I leave the matter to the judgment of my brethren.
The Parables are treated in the order in which they are found in the Gospels.
W. W. F.