THERE ARE 39 DISTINCT PARABLES OF JESUS. THIS WAS JESUS' TEACHING STYLE THAT PAZZLED AND SURPRISED MANY. HIS TEACHING CAPTIVATE THE CROWD, AND HE WAS ABLE TO HOLD THE INTEREST  OF MANY WHO LISTENED TO HIM. PEOPLE WERE AMAZED AT HIS TEACHING. THE WAY HE COMMUNICATED WAS ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE, BUT IT STILL CARRIED AN AUTHORITY THAT FIRST-CENTURY JEWS COULD NEVER EXPLAIN. PARABLES ENGAGE PEOPLE'S IMAGINATION, ALLOWING JESUS' TEACHING TO REALLY HIT HOME AND REACH THE LISTENERS ' HEARTS. THE PHARISEES REJECTED HIM, SO JESUS' PARABLES REMAINED RIDDLES FOR THOSE WHO REJECTED HIM BECAUSE THEY HARDENED THEIR HEARTS. A LOT OF NONBELIEVERS AND THOSE NONBELIEVERS COULD NOT UNDERSTAND THE PARABLES.