What's the Story, Allegory? Trivia Quiz

Answer: Mustard seed

"And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth: But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it." (Mark 4:30-32)

It is thought that Jesus was referring to black mustard, which has tiny seeds, but grows into a plant that can be as much as nine feet tall. The birds described in the passage may represent the worldwide appeal of Jesus's teachings. It could also describe the tenacity of the Kingdom of Heaven, since mustard rapidly spreads and is hard to remove. Interestingly, a version of this parable also appears in the non-canonical Gospel of Thomas.

Answer: Feeding pigs

"And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him." (Luke 15:14-16)

Many of those who heard Jesus's parables were Jewish. The Mosaic Law listed the pig (or swine) as an unclean animal. It is important to remember that the Prodigal Son asked for his inheritance while his father was still alive (figuratively wishing him dead). When he returns home, the son only hopes to be treated as one of his father's servants (which was still better than how he was treated when he was tending pigs), but his father instead welcomes him back as a son who has (figuratively) returned from the dead.

Answer: The Samaritans were hated by the Jews and vice versa

"But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him." (Luke 10:33-34)

The Samaritans were an offshoot of the ancient Israelites and the tension between them and the Jews had developed over centuries. The road from Jerusalem to Jericho on which the journey took place in the parable was in real life a notoriously dangerous location for travel. Also surprising may have been that the Priest and the Levite, who would have been thought to be more obedient to God's word, did not help the injured man while the Samaritan did.

Answer: Oil to light their lamps

"Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps." (Matthew 25:1-4)

The parable suggests to the listeners that they should be vigilant because they will not know in advance when the kingdom of heaven is at hand. The bridesmaids (or virgins) who were vigilant brought extra oil with them. The ones who were foolish did not and had to try to buy extra oil at that moment. Because of that, they would be shut out from the kingdom of heaven.

Answer: Some fell in the water

"And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the wayside, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up. And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth: But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit." (Matthew 13:4-7)

Jesus explains to the apostles that the seed represents the word of God. The seed on the wayside or path represents those who are influenced by Satan immediately after hearing the word. The seed on the stony ground represent the those who hear the word, but give up in times of trouble. The seed among thorns represents those who hear the word but are tempted by worldly cares and material things. The final category is the seed on good ground, representing those who hear and heed the word, for whom its benefit is multiplied manyfold. This parable also includes an explanation by Jesus to the apostles that his followers must believe in him and his word before they are ready to understand the meaning of his parables.

Answer: Lazarus

"There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores." (Luke 16:19-21)

Lazarus may be the only specifically named person in any of Jesus's parables. He is thought to be distinct from Lazarus, the brother of Mary and Martha, who was raised from the dead by Jesus. The parable describes how Lazarus's life was far worse than the wealthy man's, but after death the wealthy man was punished while Lazarus was not.

Answer: The wise man built on rock and the foolish man on sand.

"Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it." (Matthew 7:24-27)

A similar parable is described in the Gospel of Luke. In the parable, the rock represents the solidity of Christian doctrine and the sand the lack of the same. The rain, flood, and winds represent the tribulations of life. Many hymns have been based on this passage.

Answer: a publican

"Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican." (Luke 18:10-11)

In many ways the Pharisee acts more appropriately, praying and donating to charity. The publican (tax collector) has sinned and asks for God's mercy. (Many who listened to Jesus's parable would have viewed the publican as a supporter of the occupying Roman Empire.) The key difference is comparing the Pharisee's pride with the publican's humbleness. Jesus concludes the parable by saying the one who humbled himself was justified, rather than the one who boasted of his goodness.

Answer: The man with one talent

"For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money." (Matthew 25:14-18)

A talent in the Roman world represented approximately 71 pounds of a precious metal such as silver. As such, the master is a wealthy man and has trusted his servants with significant sums. The first two servants invested the master's money and made more money, pleasing the master. The third servant earned no additional money and displeased the master. Ironically, burying the talent probably was more effort for the third servant than simply depositing the money with bankers (which would have earned money for the master).

Answer: The hired hand will run away.

"I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep." (10:11-13)

Jesus repeats more than once that He is the Good Shepherd and presents the shepherd favorably compared to the hired hand. The Good Shepherd is willing to lay His life down for the sheep, not because it is required but because He is willing to do so. Earlier in Chapter 10, Jesus described how the sheep (humanity) recognized the voice of the Good Shepherd and responded to his call.