Parables 101

I propose a thread that allows us to ask each other our interpretations of various parables in the Bible spoken by Jesus.Crashfrog and I had a discussion over a parableHERE.Before I add any more, does anyone have any other comments on the Parable of the Workers? I will repost it to get this thread started, as well as some of the initial responses. Admin: I propose this to be a topic for Faith and Belief. Are you OK with that?
Here was the first parable and some of the discussion connected with it: What does this parable mean to you? Crashfrog and I did not see this parable the same way. I thought that the offer was fair because the ones hired first got paid what they were promised. To me, it did not matter. Crashfrog asserted that the value per hour was different and thus discriminatory for the early workers. It is interesting, because in my life now, I recently got a job with Safeway. Safeway has many old timers who have worked there for 30 or more years and are making top wage of $15.66 hourly. I was given the same wage because I had prior experience with another unionized chain. Some of the safeway people who are not yet at top wage thought that my promotion to top wage was unfair. It is a provision in the union handbook known as prior experience, however, so they have no argument. From a human perspective, I would agree with them if someone made more than me, but as to the fairness of it, why is it unfair? If we all worked at a grocery store and the janitor stood around for 7 out of 8 hours, (which they do) are we mad that they get paid for doing nothing while we must work to earn our pay? After all, we all make the same wage.This message has been edited by Phatboy, 10-09-2004 02:37 AM

Hi, sidelined. The parable mentions no difference in the amount of pay to each worker. The parable only differentiates the time worked. It would be as if two people made $20.00 an hour and one worked ten hours and one worked an hour and both received $200.00 paychecks. Yes, alas. I am very blessed/lucky to have gotten those prior experience wages. The employer was not going to pay me top rate when I went in, but when I found that the union backed prior experience wages, they relented. If I were one of the store vets, I may grumble a bit about the newbie making too much, but in the context of the big picture, what difference does it make? (although the issue would change were the chain to hire 500 people at top rate)And as for crashfrogs complaint that some people work less and get paid higher per hour wages, is this not life? I can't stand managers who make more than I do and yet who stand around looking important. I will not say that it is unfair, however, for the janitor works harder than I do and makes half what I make. The parable pays everyone 1X amount but some work 1/3 T while others work 1T.This message has been edited by Phatboy, 10-09-2004 09:50 AM

I know your point. If word got around about the pay scale, everyone would theoretically want to hook up at the end of the day, right? I am sure that some agreed to the offer. In those early times, it was not like labor ready. Those people needed to eat. The job was more than just a quick buck. It was a lifestyle. You are suggesting that his reputation concerning fairness got around,eh? human nature. You forget, though, that only the early hired workers had any gripe. They at least knew that he paid them. Perhaps, rather than spreading gossip about the landowner, the early hires from the first day may hold out in the hopes that he ask them to work at 3 p.m. so that they can breeze through two hours and get paid for a day! Eight, crashfrog? Let me give YOU a new parable. You work at a Hotel. Lets say that the wage is uniform and standard. You make ten dollars an hour for eight hour shifts,OK? Everybody makes $80.00 a day and in your world of fixed value for fixed service, everyone punches a clock. Lets say that SOME of the employees stand around and chit chat with the manager for 4 hours a day, while others, like you, have to keep busy. Who are you angry at: The employees who are lazy, or the manager for letting them be lazy? How would you attempt to make it fair?
1)Stand around like they do?
2)Try and become a manager yourself?(ye shall be as gods... )
3) Insist that the lazy workers be docked for doing no work.
Just curious, crashfrog. The fact is, no two people work the same way.
============================================ What does this mean? Are you trying to bring up a new parable for discussion, Purple Dawn? Or have you confused two different parables..The Rich Young Ruler is the one you are thinking of, I think.

This parable blew me away when I first read it. It was almost as if Jesus was encouraging dishonesty! I later understood the context. What about you people? Any comments?This message has been edited by Phatboy, 10-09-2004 05:19 PM

Rrhain, you make a good point. Lets examine this parable. "For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire men to work in his vineyard. He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard. "About the third hour he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. He told them, 'You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.' So they went.
1) Notice that the first men hired may have negotiated a wage. They were looking for pay, and the landowner agreed on a wage.
2) The second group were standing around doing nothing. He offered them a job. No negotiations apart from agreement.(what is right)

quote:

---

When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, 'Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.'

---

Why did the owner want the last to be first? Hmmmmm....If he had paid the first hired first, chances are there would have been no awareness of unfairness and thus no controversy.

And also notice that the ONLY ones complaining are the first hired. This parable can get deep. The first hired are like the Jews. The Jews originally were chosen, and, in effect, made a "contract" with God. The ones hired in the middle of the day would be the Christian Church. They agreed to be paid "what is right." The ones hired at the end of the day could be likened to jars sheep/goats example. They are the non believers of the world. The ones "standing around." Just a thought on all of this. God extends His Grace to the most disinterested atheist or non devout pagan as much as He did His people. The first shall be last and the last shall be first.

First of all, purpledawn, you or I or anyone else is not lofty or haughty enough to call the Gospels "poorly constructed." Even Shakespeare could'nt get away with that! Examine this parable: Manager is going to lose his job; he's been squandering the master's wealth. He decides to set himself up with people who'll do him favors in return later.He accepts the judgment of dishonesty; future is uncertain: he's too weak and too proud. So what does he do? lessens people's debts, tries to get away with it by not cancelling debts, merely decreasing them, making people be in debt to him. (Owe him a favor) The master praises him. Why? because of his shrewdness! To condemn his dishonesty, to have been angry at the steward's squandering of the masters money(or time, or talent)metaphorically. No. It may be that he used money to his advantage for the first time-- before he was squandering; shrewdness: trickiness or cleverness, knowing how to deal in the best way with the situations that he had. sons of this world are more shrewd than sons of light =Who are the sons of this world? worldly people... Typified by? businessmen Christians, disciples use worldly wealth to gain friends. This message has been edited by Phatboy, 10-11-2004 01:28 PM

Concerning the Parable of the Unjust Steward,(Shrewd Manager) I found a site that explains the issues rather well.
http://www.carm.org/parables/parablesteward.htm
What do you think, purpledawn?

First of all, Jesus is addressing His disciples. These men, although Jewish, are following the man whom they believe to be the Messiah. He has addressed them concerning the last days,(Matthew 24) and they are aware of the meanings behind the parable. As to the reasoning ofthe unjust stewerd, he is maintaining hookups with the clients of his Manager/Landowner so as to perhaps have places to sleep at night? Or perhaps future employment of some sort.

1) The young ruler still felt as if he lacked something in life, despite his great wealth.
2)Jesus asked him why he called Jesus "good". What does this mean to you?This message has been edited by Phatboy, 10-27-2004 10:52 AM

It does not say that. It says that works will give him treasure in the world to come. His membership was bought by Grace...not works. Of course, being Jewish, I can see where the works thing may have applied...Paul was still Saul at this point in time.
Wrong Dispensation...sorry

Here is a Parable that seems rather simple. Now if "seed" equals wisdom, what type of wisdom do you think that Jesus wants us to have?

well, the word is wisdom.

Hi, purpledawn! First off, thank you for summing up the Biblical teaching that Jesus Himself said. I do not disagree with the Parable at all! See, there are two basic origins of wisdom. Either it comes from God Himself, or our own experience, feelings, thoughts, and logic deduce it. A wise man can still be a scientist who knows and tests natural law. The beginning? Perhaps the origin of true wisdom. Even the O.T. showed a God who never had vengence on anyone who loved Him. In many cases, it was either kill or be killed for Israel. If Israel had "turned the other cheek" they may have made it to Heaven as a people, but they would be gone. A footnote. For whatever reason, God wanted Israel around for times such as these today. God deals with people differently today because of the reality of Grace and of Jesus Christ. The only way that God could have dealt with people without allowing them to be killed would have been to change them. The people who were slaughtered by Israel were reprobate. There was simply no chance of them ever receiving the love of God by loving Israel.

Receiving the Word of God is receiving the Spirit of God. Receiving the Word is more than reading a good philosophy...it is allowing Gods Spirit to renew you and allowing you to relate to Him on a personal level as your source of wisdom.