SALT Exercise- The Parables of Jesus Assignment
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Dec 6, 2023
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“SALT” Exercise: The Parables of Jesus
Jonathan Gibson
NBST515: New Testament Orientation I (C02)
October 2023
Content
Summary
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Application
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Bibliography
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Summary
In the Bible, Jesus often used parables when trying to teach. The parables of Jesus are a collection of stories or teachings found in the New Testament of the Bible, primarily in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. These parables are short, narrative lessons that Jesus used to convey spiritual truths and moral lessons. They often had a hidden hook or twist, challenging listeners to think deeply about the message. Dr. Robert Wayne Stacy said in our lesson titled The Parables of Jesus, “So when you read a parable, look for the hook. Look for the gotcha. Something out of play, something not quite right. Something so unsettling, disturbing, and troubling that it causes you to rethink what you thought you knew. That’s what parables do.”
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Jesus often used everyday stories and scenarios to teach profound spiritual and ethical lessons. The parables were designed to be easily understood by a wide audience. Jesus’ parables covered a wide range of themes, including forgiveness, mercy, love, humility, and the nature of faith. Each parable focuses on a specific aspect of spiritual life. While the parables have many different
themes they always point to the Kingdom of God and describe what it is like and how someone can enter the Kingdom. The parables about the Kingdom of God often contrast the values of the Kingdom and those of the world. The Kingdom of God is an extremely complex subject, so Jesus
would use parables to try to simplify it. Dr. Stacy said, In the case of the parables, the thing about which the analogy is being made is always, always the Kingdom of God. That’s what all the parables are about. But what in this world can we point to and say, that’s the Kingdom of God? The Kingdom is so eschatological, so counter-cultural that any attempt to point to anything in this world and say there is the Kingdom of God would be fraught with misunderstanding and unintended
associations.
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1 Dr. Robert Wayne Stacy, “The Parables of Jesus” (video lecture in NBST 515 at Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA, October 9-15, 2023).
2 Stacy, “The Parables,” 0:44.
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There are some differences between the Gospels, but they all point to the Kingdom of God. Our lecture The Four Gospels: Luke and John said, “There are no parables in the Gospel of John. Jesus in John speaks in long, sermonic discourses, not in short pithy parables as he does in the synoptic. And then finally the phrase Kingdom of God. So central in Matthew, Mark and Luke virtually vanish from the Gospel of John. Instead, John talks about eternal life, which is his substitute for the Kingdom of God.”
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The interpretation of Jesus’ parables can vary, and they often invite reflection and contemplation. They encourage listeners to think deeply about their meaning and how it applies to their own lives. Jesus used parables to communicate with both his disciples and the broader crowd. They were an effective means of teaching that could reach people of all backgrounds.
Application
One of the parables from the Synoptic Gospels is The Parable of the Good Samaritan, found in the New Testament of the Bible in the book of Luke 10:25-37, is a timeless and thought-
provoking story that has profound relevance both in the time it was written and in contemporary society. This parable was aimed at challenging societal norms and prejudices. It revolved around a lawyer who asked Jesus how to inherit eternal life, and Jesus responded with the story of a Samaritan who helped a wounded Jewish man. The hook here was the unexpected hero, a despised Samaritan helping the injured Jew. This parable addresses the fundamental principles of
compassion, empathy, and the universality of human suffering, making it a powerful message with enduring significance. In the first-century Jewish context, Samaritans and Jews had deep-seated animosity. The parable sought to teach that one’s neighbor is not limited to those of the same faith or ethnicity. 3 Dr. Robert Wayne Stacy, “The Four Gospels: Luke and John” (video lecture in NBST 515 at Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA, October 9-15, 2023).
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The parable was originally told by Jesus in response to a question posed by a lawyer who asked Jesus how his neighbor was. The story takes place in the context of a conversation about Jewish law and ethics, highlighting the tension between religious teachings and practical morality. In Jesus’ time, the Jewish-Samaritan relationship was marked by deep historical and religious animosity. The Jews generally despised the Samaritans, considering them religiously impure and socially inferior. The parable challenged this discrimination by casting a Samaritan as the compassionate and virtuous character, while a priest and a Levite, who were considered more righteous, ignored the injured man. The Samaritan, a member of a despised group, displayed kindness and empathy towards a wounded Jewish man. His compassion challenged the prevailing prejudices of the time and illustrated that human suffering should elicit a compassionate response regardless of cultural, ethnic, or religious differences. The Parable of the
Good Samaritan challenged the lawyer’s understanding of who deserved love and care, it urged the audience to transcend religious and racial boundaries and show compassion to all. The parable served as a reminder of the universal moral imperative to help those in need, regardless of their ethnicity, social status, or religious beliefs. It emphasized that true righteousness is not about adhering to religious laws or rituals but is found in acts of compassion and mercy. The parable exemplified the essence of loving your neighbor as yourself. It extended the definition of
neighbor to include all of humanity, transcending cultural and ethnic boundaries. This was a radical idea at the time, challenging conventional notions of social hierarchies.
In today’s world, the Parable of the Good Samaritan remains profoundly relevant. It serves as a powerful reminder of the need to overcome prejudices, biases, and divisions in society. In an increasingly diverse and interconnected world, the parable reminds us of the importance of showing compassion and empathy to people from different backgrounds. It
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underscores the idea that our neighbor is not confined to those who share our identity but encompasses all of humanity. It encourages us to extend help to those in need, regardless of their background or beliefs. This parable calls on us to be compassionate, empathetic, and selfless. In a 21
st
-century context, we can apply this parable to issues like racial and cultural diversity, immigration, or socioeconomic disparities. It challenges us to be good neighbors to refugees, people from different ethnic backgrounds, and those facing economic hardships. The parable encourages us to be advocates for justice and equality, promoting social cohesion and unity. Like the Good Samaritan, individuals and societies are called to provide help and support to the vulnerable and oppressed. In a time of increased globalization and multiculturalism, the parable emphasizes the importance of seeing the humanity in others. It encourages individuals and societies to embrace diversity and cultivate a spirit of unity and cooperation. This story can be a basis for interfaith and intercommunity dialogue, as it highlights the shared values of compassion
and helping others. It provides a common ground for people of different faiths and backgrounds to come together and work for the common good.
In summary, the Parable of the Good Samaritan was a subversive story that confronted prejudices and social divisions in its original first-century Jewish context. Today, it continues to inspire us to break down barriers and demonstrate love and compassion to all, making it a timeless and universal lesson for humanity. The parable is an enduring story that transcends historical and cultural boundaries. Its message of compassion and responsibility remains highly relevant in our modern world, challenging us to practice kindness and empathy, to break down prejudices, and to prioritize the welfare of all individuals, regardless of their background or identity.
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Bibliography
Stacy, Robert Wayne, Dr. “The Parables of Jesus.” Lecture in NBST 515 at Liberty University,
Lynchburg, VA, October 9-15, 2023.
Stacy, Robert Wayne, Dr. “The Four Gospels: Luke and John.” Lecture in NBST 515 at Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA, October 9-15, 2023.