OK this story must be one of the best-known that Jesus ever told, everyone has heard it! And if not (at least if they speak English or French or just about any other European language) they know the main character’s name – The Good Samaritan. Except that, what we know if we know this, is all wrong!

Jesus was a prophet so to understand what he’s doing here we need to remind ourselves how Prophets work. So after a quick recap on prophets we think about what Jesus the prophet is doing when he tells this story.

For more on prophets try these:

• E100-36: 2 Samuel 11:1 – 12:25: David and Bathsheba?
• E100 Week 10: Prophets: three principles to unlock the code
• E100-46: Isaiah 51:1 – 53:12: Reading prophets for pleasure and profit
• E100-47: Jeremiah 1:1 – 3:5: Getting started as a prophet
• E100-50: Malachi 1:1 – 4:6: The book that makes the bridge

.

This chapter is a big sack of parables, and we’ve already seen that a parable is in essence a comparison, where light is thrown on something by talking about something else, better known or more clear or vivid. The parable of the the sower is particularly complicated and developed, with lots of details but still turns on a comparison. Though Jesus does not (at first) tell his audience what it is, he wants them to think: “if you have ears then hear!”

There is an English proverb that’s pretty close to Jesus puzzling saying about why he spoke in parables (Matthew 13:10-15). It helps us to understand what is going on and shows us how the Sower is all about grace (not being a more efficient evangelist) but that grace can only work when the soil is ready – you have to want to be saved!

We’ll also notice how Matthew like Luke (maybe they both copied the same Master?) puts parables together so that they help explain each other. I’ll also suggest that talk of a fire that will burn up the dud fish and the tares makes better sense if we are willing to give over the right to judge to God, and not to think we can know the rules God MUST apply. (See Jonah on that

.

Right-click here to save the podcast for this audio

Fixed: in sheeps clothing by manitou2121

Prayer and Parables

This section is a mix of teaching and parables. There is so much to talk about, so I’ll focus on how Jesus teaches:

• like a true Jew!
• in parables

6:5-8 sounds just like the prophets: true religion is not about what other people think of us, but Jusus is even more deeply theological. Remember it’s the Bible – it’s about God!

Like all of Jesus teaching this is radical stuff the whole Christian music industry risks being demolished at a stroke, not to mention using crosses as jewellery, and prayers on FaceBook! Or are they? Again like the prophets (e.g. Am 4:4-5 see Genre matters: 1) it’s the motive that matters.

When someone says “parable” today we tend to think stories (perhaps with a “heavenly meaning”) but actually both in Greek parabol? and Hebrew mashal a parable is a comparison. (Two things are put side by side so that one illuminates the other.) In his parables Jesus mixes metaphors like a cocktail barman!

.

Right-click here to save the podcast for this audio

Luke 16:1-11 records one of Jesus most puzzling parables. In it he praises an agent who defrauds his boss.

What’s going on?

We reach an uncomfortable conclusion