The difference between a parable and a true story may not be clear to many people ...but, it is nonetheless important, and there are some indications that may help us.

It varies, but most parables focus more on the actual story ...not on the specific details of certain aspects of the story that are usually just general information.

Like the Gingerbread Man story ...it mentions an old man and an old woman, and he can run away from us too.  No names are mentioned.

Similarly, in the Bible, Jesus mentions a certain man, thieves, a certain priest, a Levite, and a certain Samaritan. This has all the elements of a parable.

But, in contrast, let's look at the two stories in the Old Testament that many people think are parables ...the two that most people question the validity of their truth.  

Those two are:

• The Creation
• The Flood

The Flood account doesn't say a certain man ...it mentions Noah by name, who was previously mentioned in the genealogy.  It also does not say a certain large boat, but describes its length as 300 cubits, its width as 50 cubits, and its height as 30 cubits.

In the parable of the Good Samaritan, it does not name the priest, nor does it say he walked 30 cubits from the certain injured man.