The Gospel According to Jesus of Nazareth: Book III: A Philosophical Look at the Parables (English Edition)

Parables, like sermons, are designed to make a point. So, the hermeneutical question is “what is the point?” In very many cases, preachers, Bible school teachers, small group leaders, and others interpret the parables without comprehending the point Jesus designed them to make or the context within which Jesus makes them. In too many cases, the parables are used to make some point the interpreter feels the need to make. Of course, this is entirely alien to genuine exegesis. No one is free to use Jesus to make his points. To follow this subjectivist hermeneutic is to subjugate the Word and Will of the Messiah to the word and will of the agenda driven person notwithstanding the warning of John in the final chapter of the Revelation. Jesus' Word and Will will have been reduced to the individual whims and feelings of the various interpreters. This entails that all interpretations whatsoever would be regarded as equally true. It is, in this case, not the Will of God but the will of individuals that comes to the fore and each can differ from very many others. They can even contradict each other. This is an intolerable and untenable consequence, thoroughly emasculating the Word of God. Any extensions of principled application must genuinely follow from the point Jesus designed the parable to make. Historical context is primary. Existential (Ek-sistenz) is crucial, for only afterward may we identify similar existential applications.The parables tend to occur in clusters. So, Jesus’ intent must be to emphasize some similar point from multiple orientations. To the extent possible, I intend to deal with the parables in these clusters. Of course, these clusters will occur in existential contexts. They will tend to be used in virtue of some event that may be precipitated by other events and sometimes Jesus will use them to make His own points on His own initiative. It should be recognized that Jesus uses some parables on multiple occasions, a fact that should not be at all surprising.

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