Parables - Exegesis

1
Parables - Exegesis

• Parables are images or stories in which Jesus
  illustrates some point of his message by a
  concrete or typical case

2
Parables - Interpretation

• Parables can be interpreted using the following
  headings
• 1) Literary Form, 2) Context, 3) Historical
  Background 4) Type 5) Interpretation.
• This is known as an exegesis (from the Greek to
  explain).

3
1. Literary Form

• As a literary form, parables contain the
  following 4 characteristics that contribute to
  its success.
• A. Repetition
• A technique that helps to imprint the story on
  the minds of the audience by using certain words,
  phrases or ideas that are repeated throughout the
  text to establish its importance in the hearer.
• Eg The Prodigal Son (Luke 15 11-32)
• Repetition is used with the words Father, I have
  sinned against heaven and against you. I no
  longer deserve to be called your son.
• A key idea repeated is the joy at the younger
  sons repentance.

4
1. Literary Form

• B. Contrast
• Opposites and contrasts are used to help throw
  elements of the story into sharp relief this
  has the effect of capturing the attention of the
  listener.
• Eg The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax
  Collector (Luke 18914)
• Shows a sharp contrast between the Pharisee who
  is doing the right thing within the culture (an
  insider) and the Tax Collector who is considered
  an outsider in the culture.
• It also contrasts pride with humility.

5
1. Literary Form

• C. Folkloric Threesome
• Storytellers throughout the ages have discovered
  that three events, characters or issues in a
  story provide an importance access point for the
  hearer.
• Eg The Good Samaritan (Luke 10 30-37) - three
  main characters The priest, the Levite and the
  Samaritan.

6
1. Literary Form

• D. The Rule of End Stress
• There is often some emphasis, climax or
  concentration of attention directed to the last
  character of the series.
• Eg The Parable of the Good Samaritan- You go,
  then, and do the same.

7
2. Context

• Contains two parts
• i) Immediate context
• placing the parable within its surrounding
  passages in the Gospel. Eg The Parable of the
  Prodigal Son is grouped with a number of parables
  dealing with mercy or compassion in chapter 15.
• ii) Broad Context
• placing the parable within context of the
  entire Gospel. Eg The Parable of the Prodigal
  Son is in Lukes Gospel main theme in Lukes
  Gospel Gods salvation is for all people,
  especially the poor and lowly, compassion and
  forgiveness pervades the whole Gospel.

8
3. Historical Background

• What are the cultural and historical issues that
  provide further understanding of the parable?
  Booklet pg 11 -13 handouts.
• Eg Jews hated Samaritans and would assume the
  worst about them.

9
4. Type of Parable

• This is to identify the main theme of the parable
  and group it with other similar parables.
• There are three main types
• Parables about the Coming of the Kingdom of God
  eg The Bridegroom (Mk 218-20)
• Parables about the growth of the Kingdom of God
  eg The Mustard Seed (Mk430-31)
• Parables about the values within the Kingdom of
  God eg The Parable of the Good Samaritan.

10
5. Interpretation

• Based on the all of the above the parable is
  interpreted in its historical context, and for
  today.