were a series of bible parables and not an actual story 
(ROOT (VP (VBD were) (NP (NP (NP (DT a) (NN series)) (PP (IN of) (NP (NN bible) (NNS parables)))) (CC and) (RB not) (NP (DT an) (JJ actual) (NN story)))))
(ROOT (VP (VBD ) (NP (NP (NP (DT ) (NN )) (PP (IN ) (NP (NN ) (NNS )))) (CC ) (RB ) (NP (DT ) (JJ ) (NN )))))