Table of Contents
Preface to the Second Edition xi
Preface To The First Edition xiii
Abbreviations xv
Introduction to the Parables of Jesus 1
Necessary History 4
What Is a Parable? 7
How Should Parables Be Classified? 9
What about Allegory? 15
Characteristics of Jesus' Parables 17
Distribution of the Parables 22
How Should Parables Be Interpreted? 24
NT Criticism - Assumptions and Hesitations, Method and Procedure 31
Parables in the Ancient World 37
The Old Testament 38
Early Jewish Writings 42
Greco-Roman Writings 46
The Early Church 51
Later Jewish Writings 53
Grace and Responsibility 61
The Unforgiving Servant (Matt 18:23-35) 61
The Two Debtors (Luke 7:41-43) 77
Parables of Lostness 93
The Arrangement of Luke 15 93
The Lost Sheep (Matt 18:12-14/Luke 15:4-7) 95
The Lost Coin (Luke 15:8-10) 111
The Compassionate Father and His Two Lost Sons (Luke 15:11-32) 117
The Parable of the Sower and the Purpose of Parables (Matt 13:3-23; Mark 4:3-20; Luke 8:5-15) 145
Parables of the Present Kingdom in Matthew 13, Mark 4, and Luke 13 179
The Growing Seed (Mark 4:26-29) 179
The Wheat and the Weeds (Matt 13:24-30, 36-43) 191
The Mustard Seed (Matt 13:31-32; Mark 4:30-32; Luke 13:18-19) 216
The Leaven (Matt 13:33; Luke 13:20-21) 228
The Treasure (Matt 13:44) 236
The Pearl (Matt 13:45-46) 248
Parables Specifically about Israel 255
The Barren Fig Tree (Luke 13:6-9) 255
The Two Sons (Matt 21:28-32) 266
The Wicked Tenants (Matt 21:33-46; Mark 12:1-12; Luke 20:9-19; Gos. Thorn. 65-66) 276
The Wedding Banquet and the Feast (Matt 22:1-14; Luke 14:15-24; Gos. Thorn. 64) 299
Parables about Discipleship 327
The Two Builders (Matt 7:24-27/Luke 6:47-49) 327
The Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) 338
The Workers in the Vineyard (Matt 20:1-16) 362
The Tower Builder and the Warring King (Luke 14:28-32) 379
Parables about Money 389
The Rich Fool (Luke 12:16-21) 389
The Unjust Steward (Luke 16:1-13) 401
The Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31) 419
Parables concerning God and Prayer 437
The Friend at Midnight (Luke 11:5-8) 437
The Unjust Judge (Luke 18:1-8) 449
The Pharisee and the Tax Collector (Luke 18:9-14) 462
Parables of Future Eschatology 477
The Net (Matt 13:47-50) 482
The Eschatological Discourse 492
The Ten Virgins (Matt 25:1-13) 505
The Talents and the Minas (Matt 25:14-30; Luke 19:11-27) 519
The Sheep and the Goats (Matt 25:31-46) 543
Recent Contributions to Parable Interpretation 565
Epilogue 601
Appendices 603
Occurrences of παραβολη (parabole) in the NT 603
Occurrences of the Verb &cgpN;&cgpR;&cgpS; (mašal) in the OT 606
Occurrences of the Noun &cgpN;&cgpR;&cgpS; (mašal) in the OT 607
Occurrences of παραβολη (parabole) in the LXX 609
Occurrences of παραβολη (parabole) in the Apostolic Fathers 611
Classification of Parables 612
Notes 615
Bibliography 812
Primary Sources 812
Secondary Sources 813
Index Of Authors 858
Index Of Ancient Sources 866
