Abstract
The paper relates that Brad H. Young's book "The Parables: Jewish Tradition and Christian Interpretation" illustrates how Judaism was not only a background for Jesus Christ but was rather the context of his message and teachings. The paper discusses how Young analyzes these parables in a novel way: instead of looking at them as purely Christian material, he attempts to place them in a broader context. The paper describes how he looks at the settings of the stories, their linguistic values as well as similar parables from Judaic literature of first century period (Second Temple period).

From the Paper
"Brad H. Young's book "The Parables: Jewish Tradition and Christian Interpretation" illustrates how Judaism was not only a background for Jesus Christ but was rather the context of his message and teachings. Young analyzes these parables in a novel way: instead of looking at them as purely Christian material, he attempts to place them in a broader context. He looks at the settings of the stories, their linguistic values as well as similar parables from Judaic literature of first century period (Second Temple period). He chooses and focuses on particular stories of..."

Tags:judaism, christianity, parables

Abstract
This paper compares parables in Mark with those in Luke, primarily the Parable of the Sower, and describes how these two writers treat parables differently.

From the Paper
"The parables of Jesus are among the most simple of Bible stories and yet at times, can be among the most difficult to interpret. Since as Madeline I. Boucher points out, "The parables are for the most part, authentic words of Jesus and contain all of the great themes of Jesus' preaching...""

Tags:parable, parable of the sower, parable of the fig tree, light under bushel

Abstract
This essay discusses the use of parables in describing the Kingdom of God. It examines how the parables helped Jesus explain the Kingdom of God to His disciples in terms that they could relate to.

From the paper:

"In the Parables of the Mustard Seed and the Leaven, Jesus described the Kingdom of God using parables. He compared it to a mustard seed in the beginning, saying that when it is first planted, it is the smallest of the seeds on Earth. He added that when it grows, it becomes the greatest of all shrubs. Next Jesus spoke of the parable of the leaven, saying that the Kingdom of God is like a leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, until it was all leavened."

Tags:textual, grammatical, form, redaction, criticism, disciples, roman, empire, miracles

Abstract
This paper will examine the tradition of the parables. It will be argued that - although minor textual differences exist between parables in different gospels - all nonetheless reflect the singular theology and ministry of Jesus. The interpretation of the purpose of the parables as differentiating between an "in" and an "outsider" group will be shown to be based on a misreading of a Gospel passage. Finally, it will be demonstrated that the significance of the parables for modern Christians lies in their power to translate complex theological issues into everyday terminology and, in the process, allow us to establish an intimate awareness of the presence of Jesus in our lives.

Abstract
The paper argues that Jesus envisaged parables as doing two things: they compelled the listener to think carefully about what it was God really wanted for them; and they actually punished those who refused to let Christ into their hearts. The paper discusses how the parables served as a sort of test: if you passed, the mysteries of the Good Life were opened up to you and salvation was possible (assuming knowledge translated into good thought and deed); at the same time, if the message contained in the parables escaped you, then it was clear you were not ready for salvation - if, indeed, you would ever be ready.

From the Paper
"The following paper will look at the function of parables in Mark 4:11 and 4:12. Specifically, the paper will argue that Jesus envisaged parables as doing two things: they compelled the listener to think carefully about what it was God really wanted for them; and they actually punished those who refused to let Christ into their hearts. In a real sense, the parables served as a sort of test: if you passed, the mysteries of the Good Life were opened up to you and salvation was possible (assuming knowledge translated into good thought and deed); at the same time, if the message contained in the parables escaped you, then it was clear you were not..."

Tags:biblical, studies, mark

Abstract
This paper explores the synoptic parable, "The Budding Fig Tree," as it appears in the works of Luke (21:29-33), Matthew (24:32-35), and Mark (13:28-32). The paper - using primary and secondary sources - compares the passages and describes in detail the content of the aforementioned passages. Ultimately, what becomes manifest is that Mark and Matthew are "cheer-leaders" of a sort who try to navigate troubled Christians through the shoals of doubt, fear and bodily persecution; for his part, Luke appears more eager to urge hisaudience to servitude. In the end, this essay suggests that there are more continuities to be found between Matthew and Mark than there are between either Luke and Matthew or Luke and Mark.

From the Paper
"This essay explores the synoptic parable, "The Budding Fig Tree," as it appears in the works of Luke (21:29-33), Matthew (24:32-35), and Mark (13:28-32). The paper will - using primary and secondary sources - compare the passages and describe in detail the content of the aforementioned passages. Ultimately, what will become manifest is that Mark and Matthew are "cheer-leaders" of a sort who try to navigate troubled Christians through the shoals of doubt, fear and bodily persecution; for his part, Luke appears more eager to urge his audience to servitude. In the end, this essay suggests that there are more continuities to be found between..."

Tags:parables, budding, fig

Abstract
The paper looks at the parable of the Lost Sheep as it evolved from the ancient Gospel Q - a document preceding even Mark - to its final manifestation in Matthew and Luke. This paper is a redactional exercise (as well as a careful reading of some key primary sources) which examines textual differences as they appear and then offers a rationale for their existence. One thing that becomes apparent is that there are many similarities between the works of Matthew and Luke; that is why they can be described as "synoptic gospels" inasmuch as they can be easily read side by side with plenty of parallels between them. However, if there is one major difference, it is that the Sermon on the Mount (which contains Jesus' parables) was uniquely Matthew's creation; the parables are scattered in Luke's work but brought together by Matthew; on a more subtle level, the Lost Sheep parable found in Matthew seems to better reflect Matthew's belief in loving all. The paper concludes that the one subtle difference between the two individuals is that Matthew's teachings of love permeate his version of the parable; the same cannot be said for Luke's version.

From the Paper
"The ensuing paper looks at the parable of the Lost Sheep as it evolved from the ancient Gospel Q - a document preceding even Mark - to its final manifestation in Matthew and Luke. This is a redactional exercise (as well as a careful reading of some key primary sources) which examines textual differences as they appear and then offers a rationale for their existence. One thing that will become apparent is that there are many similarities between the works of Matthew and Luke; that is why they can be described as "synoptic gospels" inasmuch as they can be easily read..."

Tags:sheep, parable, lost

Abstract
This paper describes one of the most well-known parables the "Prodigal Son" or "Lost Son" (Luke 15:11-32), which encompasses all the ideas of Christian doctrine. The author discusses the literal and the spiritual or metaphorical interpretations of the message of the story and relates the way that Franco Zeffirelli directed the telling of this parable in his movie "Jesus of Nazareth". The author concludes that Zeffirelli probably chose to include this scene in the movie as a way to visually demonstrate the response that Jesus' listeners had when incorporating the story into their own lives.

From the Paper
"Because Jesus' mission on Earth was to spread the word of God and wash away people's sins, the purpose of this particular parable is to show that even the most corrupt individual can still enter the Kingdom of Heaven if he or she places full faith in the Lord and asks to be forgiven for his or her sins. In order to be permitted to enter the Lord's Kingdom, one must trust and believe completely in the words of Jesus and the omnipotent supremacy of God over all things human and earthly."

Tags:preaching forgiveness repentance mission, broken friendship

From the Paper
" At first reading, this parable seems to be easy to understand, although that may be at least partially because it has entered the culture at such a deep level. In a cultural context, the good Samaritan is the person who responds to the need of others, binding up their wounds. It is the individual who does good deeds, who is compassionate, and behaves as a good neighbor within the community as a whole. The good Samaritan is a valuable person within the community.

However, in the form in which it is embedded in the culture, the parable of the good Samaritan has lost some of its rougher edges. It retains some sense that it is not always the professed religious person who behaves in the most loving way, but it does ..."

From the Paper
"GENERAL COMMENTS

This essay is concerned with the parable technique used by Jesus in his sermons. Both Mark 4 and Matthew 13 describe the way Jesus used parables to illustrate his points. A parable is an illustrative story suggesting a moral or lesson. Another way to describe a parable is to say that it is an allegory. This is a form of extended metaphor in which objects, persons, and actions in a narrative are equated with meanings lying outside the narrative itself. Consequently, an allegory or parable represents one thing in the guise of another. The purpose of this is to generate a dual interest -- one in the events, characters, and setting presented; and the other, in the ideas they are intended to convey or the significance they hold.

Whenever Jesus used a parable, he was teaching a lesson to ..."