The parable of the gourd is found in the Book of Jonah, specifically in Jonah 4:6-10. This narrative, while not a parable in the traditional sense of a account told by Jesus, functions as a didactic illustration used by God to teach Jonah a profound lesson about compassion and divine mercy.

Context and Setting

The Book of Jonah is a prophetic narrative that recounts the mission of the prophet Jonah to the city of Nineveh. After initially fleeing from God's command, Jonah eventually goes to Nineveh and delivers a message of impending judgment. The people of Nineveh repent, and God spares the city, which displeases Jonah greatly. In his anger, Jonah retreats to the east of the city and constructs a shelter, waiting to see what will happen to Nineveh.

The Gourd

In Jonah 4:6, the Lord God appoints a plant, often referred to as a "gourd" or "vine," to grow over Jonah's shelter, providing him with shade and relief from the scorching sun. The Berean Standard Bible states: "So the LORD God appointed a vine, and it grew up to provide shade over Jonah’s head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was greatly pleased with the vine."

The gourd serves as a temporary comfort for Jonah, who is described as being exceedingly glad for the plant. However, the following day, God appoints a worm to attack the plant, causing it to wither. As the sun rises, God also sends a scorching east wind, and the sun beats down on Jonah's head, leading him to grow faint and wish for death, saying, "It is better for me to die than to live" (Jonah 4:8).

Divine Lesson

God uses the gourd to teach Jonah a lesson about His own compassion and mercy. In Jonah 4:9-10, God questions Jonah, "Is it right for you to be angry about the vine?" Jonah responds that he is right to be angry, even to the point of death. God then explains, "You cared about the vine, which you neither tended nor made grow. It sprang up in a night and perished in a night."

Through this illustration, God contrasts Jonah's concern for the gourd with His own concern for the people of Nineveh. Jonah's attachment to the plant, despite its fleeting existence, highlights his lack of compassion for the Ninevites, who are described as more than 120,000 people who cannot "tell their right hand from their left" (Jonah 4:11).

Theological Implications

The parable of the gourd underscores several key theological themes:

1. Divine Sovereignty and Compassion: The narrative emphasizes God's sovereign control over creation, as He appoints the gourd, the worm, and the wind. It also highlights His compassion, not only for Jonah but for the repentant city of Nineveh.

2. Human Self-Centeredness: Jonah's reaction to the gourd reveals a self-centered perspective, where his personal comfort takes precedence over the spiritual well-being of others. This serves as a critique of a narrow, nationalistic view of God's mercy.

3. Universal Mercy: The account illustrates the universal scope of God's mercy, extending beyond Israel to include even the Gentile city of Nineveh. This foreshadows the New Testament revelation of God's love for all nations.

4. Moral and Spiritual Growth: The parable invites readers to reflect on their own attitudes towards God's compassion and to grow in understanding and empathy for others, aligning their hearts with God's merciful nature.

In summary, the parable of the gourd in the Book of Jonah serves as a powerful reminder of God's boundless compassion and the call for His people to reflect that compassion in their own lives.Jonah 4:10,11
Then said the LORD, You have had pity on the gourd, for the which you have not labored, neither made it grow; which came up in a night, and perished in a night:
Nave's Topical Index

Selections from the Work against Heresies by Irenaeus, Bishop of ...
... But it consists in working out the things that have been said in parables, and building ...
Since this is the Power which I call the Gourd, there is with it the ...
/.../richardson/early christian fathers/selections from the work against 2.htm

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