A parable is a story told to teach a lesson, in which spiritual or moral ideas are explained by comparing them with well-known everyday things and occurrences. Jesus taught in parables so that only those who were sympathetic to his message would understand his teaching.

For example, God is a father, with obedient and rebellious children; Jesus is a shepherd who leads his flock to safety; the kingdom is a wedding feast for which guests are chosen; the gospel is seed sown, some of which grows and some which does not. The parable with its message is a memorable and effective way of teaching.

"The disciples came to him and asked, 'Why do you speak to the people in parables?' He [Jesus] replied, 'The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. This is why I speak to them in parables: ''…For this people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them."'" (Matthew 13:10-15).

Pagan
Parable
Paradise
  New Testament references to paradise
Passover
  1. The first Passover
  2. Old Testament Passover feasts
  3. Jesus and the Passover
Pastor
Patriarch
Peace
Pentateuch
Perfect, Perfection
Pharisee
Power of God
Prayer
Preach
Predestination
Priest
  1. The Mosaic priesthood
  2. Pagan priests
  3. Christian priesthood
  4. Priests in the age to come
Promise
Promised Land
Prophet, Prophecy
Pure