We must carefully distinguish between true allegory and the allegorical or mystical application of real history.  In the former case it is not the literal meaning, but the higher sense represented by it, which constitutes the historic truth.  God, for example, never transferred a vine from Egypt to Palestine, but he did the covenant people.  The story of Sarai and Hagar, on the contrary (Gen., chap. 16), is true history.  The apostle Paul makes an allegorical application of it to the two covenants, that on Sinai and that in Christ, which is very beautiful and appropriate; yet the story itself is not allegory, but plain history.  See further, in Chap. 37, No. 4.

(3.) A parable is the narrative of a supposed event for the purpose of illustrating a spiritual truth or principle.  The office of the narrative is to embody the principle.  It should, therefore, be natural and probable; but its literal truth is of no consequence.  In our Lord’s parable of the unjust steward, for example (Luke 16:1-9), the incidents of the narrative may or may not have been historically true; but either way the great principle which it illustrates (ver. 10) remains the same.

Allegories and parables pass into each other by insensible degrees.  Some of our Lord’s so-called parables are rather allegories; as that of the vineyard let out to husbandmen (Matt. 21:33-41), which is founded on the beautiful allegory of Isaiah (chap. 5:1-7); so also that of the good shepherd (John 10:1-18).  In their pure form, however, the allegory and the parable are easily distinguished from each other.  In the allegory, the figure represents directly the higher transaction.  Hence the incidents introduced in the figure—­at least all the main incidents—­must have something corresponding to them in the spiritual transaction which the figure represents.  The case of the parable is different.  Here the spiritual truth is not directly described in terms of the figure, but simply illustrated from it.  The incidents and characters of the story are separable from the general principle which it inculcates, and are sometimes formally separated by the speaker himself; as when our Lord says:  “The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field,” etc.  Matt. 13:24.  For this reason they may belong more or less to the mere drapery of the parable, so that to press them in its interpretation would lead to error instead of truth.  See further below, No. 7.

(4.) The fable is related to the parable, but it differs from it in two respects. First, it moves in a worldly sphere, having to do with prudential maxims rather than spiritual truth. Secondly, it allows, in harmony with this its lower nature, irrational objects as speakers and actors, which would be contrary to the dignity of the parable.  Our Lord never employed fables as vehicles of instruction.