“What is the meaning of the Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard?”……Answer: This lengthy parable is found only in the gospel of Matthew. Jesus tells the Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard (Matthew 20:1-16) in response to Peter’s question in Matthew 19:27: “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there […]

Aesop’s Fables — Two Examples The Bundle of Sticks An old man on the point of death summoned his sons around him to give them some parting advice. He ordered his servants to bring in a faggot of sticks, and said to his eldest son: “Break it.” The son strained and strained, but with all […]

Parable #5–7 Parable #5…Luke 7:41-47 …The Moneylender 41 Then Jesus told him this story: “A man loaned money to two people—500 pieces of silver[a] to one and 50 pieces to the other. 42 But neither of them could repay him, so he kindly forgave them both, cancelling their debts. …Who do you suppose loved him more after that?”…43 Simon answered, …“I […]

Parable #39 – Matthew 21:33-44…The Wicked Tenants of the Vineyard?”… 1. Let’s sort out the people and things in the parable (then and now): what does the vineyard represent? Who does the vineyard owner represent? The servants the owner sent to the vineyard? The tenants?The son of the vineyard owner?…2. Doesn’t it seem a bit […]

How Should We Understand the Teachings of Jesus? His teaching was dynamic and interactive. It spoke into both the practicalities of everyday life, and into cosmic, eternal issues If someone asked you who your favorite teacher was when you were growing up, chances are someone specific would come to mind. And chances are you still […]

Parable #10 One of the most prominent features of the four canonical gospels in the New Testament is the parables attributed to Jesus. Estimates usually place the number of parables somewhere between thirty and eighty, though if the definition of “parable” is expanded to include any simile or proverb, then just about every statement attributed […]

Parables #12 The Wheat and Weeds Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 Jesus tells a second parable about sowing seeds, this time …about two sowers — one who sows good seed to grow wheat, …and the enemy who sows weeds among the wheat. For this parable too, Jesus offers an extended metaphoric …interpretation to his disciples in private. […]