In the gospels we find many parables, spoken by the Lord Jesus. Before we discuss the parables one by one, it is good to first answer the question why the Lord spoke in parables. The common explanation is that He did this to clarify and explain things. But immediately with the first parable that we encounter in the Bible, namely that of the sower, it becomes clear that the parable does not clarify anything, but on the contrary: it is necessary for the Lord to explain the parable to the disciples (Matt. 13:18-23).
In the same chapter we find the parable of the weeds, in which the Lord also provides an explanation at the request of His disciples (verses 36-43). They did not understand the parables and needed an explanation. A parable therefore needs an explanation and is not an explanation.
mysteries
After speaking the parable of the sower, the disciples come to the Lord Jesus and ask Him why He speaks to the crowd in parables (Matt. 13:10). Apparently they did not know why He did this either. The fact that the Lord spoke in parables even raised questions among them, His inner circle of confidants.
Often commentators say that it was a custom in those days in that region to clarify matters by means of parables. But immediately at the first report of parables in the New Testament this is contradicted, because the disciples also had no idea why the Lord did this.
Matthew 13
10 And the disciples came to Him, and said, Why speakest thou to them in parables?
11 And He answered and said unto them, To you it is given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
(…)
13 Therefore I speak to them in parables, that seeing they see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
the mysteries of the Kingdom
The Lord’s answer is that it has been given to the disciples to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, but that this has not been given to the multitudes (Matt. 3:11).
Parables are therefore about the mysteries or secrets of the Kingdom. They speak about a hidden Kingdom, that is to say: about the period in which the Kingdom of God is not open, but hidden (compare Mark 4:11). In short: parables speak about the origin, existence and completion of the hidden Kingdom.
open
Parables are therefore about the period preceding the revealed Kingdom. We often see that parables end abruptly. They end at the moment that a hidden Kingdom changes into a revealed Kingdom.
the barn and the field
For example, in Matthew 13 we just find the mention that the wheat is gathered into the barn, which here is a picture of the revealed Kingdom (:30). And concerning the treasure in the field it is said that it is hidden and the one who found the treasure goes and buys the field (:44). However, what happens to the treasure and the field afterward is not mentioned again.
the royal wedding
In the parable of the royal wedding (Matt. 22), which speaks of a king (God) who had prepared a wedding (a picture of the revealed Kingdom) for his son (Christ) , we are just given a glimpse into the wedding hall (:11-12). There is someone there who does not belong there and he is removed (:13). Here too, no further mention is made of the wedding, which is a picture of the revealed Kingdom.
wise and foolish virgins
In the parable of the wise and foolish virgins, we find something similar. There too, it concerns a wedding (Matt. 25:10), but the parable ends with the wise virgins who enter the wedding hall (Matt. 25:10) and the foolish virgins to whom the door is closed (Matt. 25:10-12). What happens inside the wedding hall is a depiction of the revealed Kingdom and therefore no longer the subject of the parable.