The Jesus’ Parables
As I read and re-read the four biblical gospels, I became acutely aware of just how often Jesus spoke in parables. About one third of his teaching took the form of a parable. While the Good Samaritan and the Prodigal Son are the two most well known parables, there are actually between thirty and forty parables in the gospels. (The exact number not agreed upon since similar material is used by different gospel writers and because there is no universally agreed upon definition of parable.)
Kingdom Centered
The parables are focused on teaching about the kingdom of God, which is a phrase found almost exclusively in the gospels. In fact, some even begin “the kingdom of God is like . . .” These parables show a kingdom (empire, realm, rule, or social order) that is already here in part, yet will not arrive in fullness until some future time. Followers of Jesus must seek to live the way of the Empire of God rather than the Empire of Rome (or any other empire).
What is a Parable?
Understanding the word “parable” is important, but defining it fully is difficult. Two definitions read side-by-side offer shape to the word:
- Charles McCullough, a United Church of Christ pastor and author, defines a parable as “metaphors or similes, plus narratives, usually with a surprise turn that points towards God’s Empire and away from all other empires.”
- Arland Hultgren, a Lutheran scholar, offers a similar definition: “a parable is a figure of speech in which a comparison is made between God’s kingdom, actions, or expectations and something in this world, real or imagined.”
So What?
Jesus’ parables made the original listeners think. Some were puzzling and without clear explanation or application. Others were obvious or even explained in detail by Jesus, yet hard to live. All were designed to help disciples learn about the kingdom/reign/empire of God. Take some time to read some of Jesus’ parables. Allow them to form, reform and even transform your understanding of the kingdom of God and what it means to live a kingdom centered life.
Consider
To view the syllabus and handouts for the class I taught on Jesus’ Parables, click here.
While there are many good books on the topic, the two I referenced are
- Hultgren, Arland, The Parables of Jesus: A Commentary. William B. Eerdmans, 2000. ISBN: 978080286077.
- McCullough, Charles. The Art of Parables: Reinterpreting the Teaching Stories of Jesus in Word & Sculpture. Copper House, 2008. ISBN: 9781551455631.
For group study, I also recommend two DVD resources:
- Modern Parables: Living in the Kingdom of God. Compass Cinema, 2008.
- Deeper Connections: The Parables of Jesus. Zondervan, 2007.