which one's a parable?

What I am talking is that if you position yourself in the condition at the time then you may be able to read it literally. But you may not be able to read it if you read it in this period.
Same with the bowing statue example....I don't remember in what topic.
What people say 2000 years ago in different culture may have a totally different meaning of words with us in year 2000. Not forgetting the condition, the types of people. Ex. If somewhere 2000 yrg ago, a country is in war, maybe saying "If people from the other race tresspass our garden, you have to kill them!" may be read literally considering the war, for precaution, the survival of the tribe etc.
But can we read it literally in year 2000? No! We live in a peaceful country and if we kill someone that simply tresspass our garden, we're going to jail. So we have to take a look at the big picture.

Man, that's some bad example.....wonder if you get the gist....
well, somebogy get me a better example.