⇒INDUCTIVE BIBLE STUDY HELPS⇐

Possible Questions in Inductive Bible Studies for Parables

Parables are either images (I am the vine, you are the branches) or stories which did not actually happen (there was a man with two sons).

If you are dealing with a parable in Matthew 13, you should ask if the parable is explained anywhere, because several are explained there.  That will be a giant part of the context.

Otherwise, the context before can be (but not always) be especially important.  Question: Is Jesus telling this parable to illustrate something that happened (something someone said or did)?  Are the parables before somehow related to the previous parables?

What are the main images in the parable?  Does one of the characters represent God?  Do any of the characters represent believers?  Do any of the characters represent the religious leaders?

Can you say the main idea of the parable in a simple sentence?  Generally, but not always, parables should be reducible to a simple statement.

Does this parable use farming or fishing images?  Does this make the parable easier or harder to understand?