GrenadesFromHeaven:ParableStudyGuide

ByNickRoark

HerearesevenkeystohelpyouunlockthemeaningoftheparablesofJesusintheGospelofLuke: 1. PrayfortheHolySpiritshelpasyouseektounderstand,interpret,andapplytheparablesinLukesGospel.As youpray,keepinmindJesuscentralmessageofthegospelofthekingdomofGod(Luke8:1).MuchofJesus teachingintheparablesillustratesandilluminatesaspectsofHiskingdom. 2. Studytheparablethoroughlybyreadingandrereadingitinordertounderstandboththenearandfarcontext. Thenearcontextincludeswhatcomesimmediatelybeforeandaftertheparable.Whoistheintendedaudienceof theparable?DoesLukeofferanycluestothemeaningandsignificanceoftheparable?(cf.14:7;15:12;18:1;18:9; 19:11)ThefarcontextincludestheentireGospelaccordingtoLuke.Issomethingintheparablementionedin anotherpartofthebook?RememberthattheparablesarestoriestoldwithinalargerStory:thedeathand resurrectionofChrist.LukeintendsforhisreaderstointerprettheparablesofJesusinconstantshadowofthecross andresurrectionofJesus. 3. Seektheprimarypointoftheparable.Whileaparablemayteachseveralrelatedtruths,allofthesewillnormally relatetoonecentralpoint.Theprimarymessageoftheparablewilloftencomeattheend,orinaconcluding remarkmadebyJesus.(cf.Luke18:14.Thepointoftheparableisthedangerofprideandselfrighteousnessandthe needforhumilityandrepentance.) 4. Payparticularattentiontotheconclusionoftheparable.Usuallythemainpointoftheparableisstressedatthe endofthestory.Thinkoftheendastheparablespunchline.Inotherwords,lookcloselyatthematerialthatcomes attheconclusionoftheparable.Whatcomesattheendoftheparableisoftentheclinchingindicatorofintent. 5. Payparticularattentiontothestructureoftheparable.HowdoesJesusdevelopthestoryHeistellinginthe parable?Whoarethecharacters?Howdoeseachcharacterrespondinthestory?Isthereanysymmetryor parallelismbetweenthevariouscomponentsofthestory? a. Forexample:InLuke15:331,Jesustellsthreeparablesthathaveasimilarstructureandtheme:something orsomeoneislost,thenfound,andthereisaresponseofjoy.Noticethecallandresponseofjoyinthe conclusionofthefirsttwoparables(cf.15:67;15:910).Isitsignificantthatthefinalparableincludesacall torejoicebutnoresponse?(cf.15:28)TowhomisJesusdirectingtheseparables?(cf.Luke15:12).Jesus leavesthethirdparablewithoutaclosingresponseofjoybecauseHeiscallingthePhariseesandthescribes torejoicethatsinnersarebeingfoundandsavedbyHim.Thequestionremains:Willtheseelderbrothers jointherejoicinginthepartyorbeleftoutside? 6. Aimtodiscovertheimpliedquestionaparableisaddressing.OftenJesusparablescomeasaresponsetoa statementsomeoneelsemakesoraquestionsomeoneelseasks.Theintentoftheparablesisoftentobringabouta responsethatmovessomeonepastsuperficialthinkingtogodlydiscernment.Asyoureadthetext,askyourself: WhatistheultimatequestionthatisbeingaskedorraisedbyJesus?Focusyourattentionondiscoveringthis question.Knowingtherightquestiontoaskisthefirststeptofindingtherightanswer. a. Forexample:TheparableofthegoodSamaritan(Luke10:2537)istoldbyJesusinresponsetoaseriesof questionsaskedbyalawyerthatculminateswiththelawyersquestion:Whoismyneighbor?(Luke10:29) Insteadofansweringthatloadedquestion(thelawyerwasdesiringtojustifyhimself10:29),Jesustellsa parableandconcludesbyaskingthelawyer:Whichofthesethree,doyouthink,provedtobeaneighborto themanwhofellamongrobbers?(10:36).SotheimpliedquestioninthisparableisNOT:Whoismy neighbor?Theimpliedquestionhoveringoverthisparableis:WillIbeaneighbor? 7. LookforhelpintheOldTestament.Rememberthattheprimarysourceofmanyoftheallusions,ideas,and metaphorsincludedintheparablesofJesusistheOldTestament.Oneofthewayswecanknowandunderstandthe parablesofJesusbetterisbyknowingandunderstandingtheOldTestamentScripturesthatareallwrittenabout Him(Luke24:27).SeveralofthethemesthatwefindinLukesGospelarealldrawndirectlyfromtheOldTestament. ThesethemesincludethefulfillmentofGodspromisesgiventoIsrael,thehopeofarighteousDavidicKing,unbelief amongGodspeople,andareturnfromaspiritualexile.
FurtherStudy:Muchofthismaterialisfromthefollowingtworesources: MarkL.Strauss,FourPortraits,OneJesus(GrandRapids:Zondervan,2007),449451. KlyneSnodgrass,StoriesWithIntent:AComprehensiveGuidetotheParablesofJesus(GrandRapids:Eerdmans,2008),130.