Hermeneutics Lesson VIII The Interpretive Task Parables What

Hermeneutics Lesson VIII The Interpretive Task: Parables

What is a “parable? ” 1. A story (Lk. 18: 1 -8; note a setting, a plot, a conclusion, and generally, a call for a response from the audience) 2. A proverb (I Sam. 24: 13, Ez. 18: 2 -4, Lk. 4: 23) 3. A satire or taunt (Ps. 69: 11, Is. 14: 3 -4) 4. A riddle (Prov. 1: 6) 5. Figurative speech (Lk. 5: 36 -38) 6. Extended simile (Matt. 13: 31 -32, 33, 34, 45 -46) 7. An allegory (Ez. 16: 1 -5, Mk. 4: 1 -8; note that biblical allegory is different than the fanciful allegory of the medieval church, as we shall see)

St. Augustine’s Allegorical “Insights” • A certain man = Adam • Jerusalem = the heavenly city of peace, from which Adam fell • Jericho = the moon, signifying Adam’s morality • Thieves = the devil and his angels • Stripped him = namely, of his immortality • Beat him = persuaded him to sin • Left him half dead = as a man he lives, but he died spiritually so is “half dead” • The priest and the Levite = the priesthood and ministry of the OT • The Samaritan = Christ • Bound his wounds = binding the restraint of sin • Oil = the comfort of good hope • Wine = exhortation to work with a fervent spirit • Beast = the flesh of Christ’s incarnation • Inn = the Church • The morrow = after the resurrection • Two pence = promise of this life and the life to come • Inn keeper = the Apostle Paul

An Allegorized version of the Good Samaritan Adam was going down from the heavenly city of peace to the moon, and fell among the devil and his angels. They stripped him of his immortality and persuaded him to sin, and left him physically alive but spiritually dead By chance the OT priesthood was going down that road, and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. Likewise the ministry of the OT also saw him, but passed by on the other side. But when Christ, who was on a journey saw him, he had compassion on him, and came to him and bound the restraint of sin, and poured in the comfort of good hope and an exhortation to work with a fervent spirit. He then placed him on his own incarnate flesh, took him to the church and cared for him. After the resurrection he took out the promise of this life and the life to come and gave them to Paul and said “Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, when I come back I will repay you. ”

Unlike with unjustified allegorizing, notice in the Parable of the Sower how the details of the parable and the details of the interpretation correspond to one another • Sower (v. 3) = the preacher of the word (implied). • Seed (v. 4) = word of the Kingdom (v. 19) • Wayside (v. 4) = unresponsive heart (v. 19) • Birds (v. 4) = Satan (v. 19) • Rocky places (v. 5) = man who immediately receives (v. 20) • Sun scorched (v. 6) = falls away because of persecution (v. 21) • Thorns (v. 7) = the distractions and cares of this world (v. 22) • Good ground (v. 8) = one who understands and bears fruit (v. 23)

Jesus’s Allegory “Makes Sense” A preacher went out to preach the message of the Kingdom. Sometimes the message fell on unresponsive hearts that are blinded by satan. Sometimes people embraced the message, but they soon rejected it because they couldn’t bear the persecution. Others embraced the word, but fell away because the world lured them with temptations. But other hearts were truly receptive, as seen in a life of repentance and good works.

AB C Principles for Interpreting Parables • Remember they are fictional stories/illustrations. • Refrain from unnecessary/unwarranted allegorizing. • Keep in mind parables generally have one main point. • Take note of the parable’s context • Identify the main characters or “points of reference. ” • Determine the audience and setting (“sitz im leben”).