Parables 101

Perhaps the parable has taught you without need of my interpretation. My interpretation does not take anything away from what the traditional teaching on this parable is.One learns, in a Bible study, from allowing Gods Spirit----Gods wisdom to open their eyes and heart.
We also learn through communion---a spiritual union in common because of Christ. Gods Spirit is the teacher.It is not forbidden, however, for you or I to voice our interpretations as to the meanings gleaned from the scripture. It has been shown to me at least that when people are gathered for a Bible study and the focus is on being taught by the Spirit of God rather than on any human legalistic philosophy lesson which glorifies the intellect and shows one guy to be the Hebrew scholar, everyone learns something.
What do we as believers learn? That God has a message. That His message is simple yet profound. This message is that God wants to have a relationship with us. That God wants us to trust in Him with our hearts and to lean not on our own human understanding. Not to be "duped" by religion or mans agenda. Not to be ignorant of the wonder of our own mind. What, then? To know that we as humans were created to have a relationship with God. That we cannot "figure it out" without Him for there is no purpose without His Spirit---His communion with us.My apology to Atheists. This was a Bible study and not a human philosophy course. The philosophy of the Bible is simple:
1) Love God. Allow Him to run the show. Not human wisdom.
2) Live His love, not His judgment. We are NOT God.
3) He is alive and personal.

Equal pay for equal work, right? At the grocery store, some people make twice what others make, and there are certain types of work that are performed equally by both. The pay scale is based on years of service to the company. Its not exactly fair, but either
1) The company should raise everyone to similar levels...(unlikely)
2) The company should cut the higher paid rates next contract (which we will fight, of course)I think P.D. had a good explanation of how her father did it and of how things could be done, however.How do we justify paying a C.E.O. millions of dollars? THAT is where the unfairness really shines through, IMHO.

This parable confounded the wisdom of the "expert" in the law....as it implied that not only should Holy men like priests and levites be expected to act accordingly but that even the "least of these" (a Samaritan) could inherit eternal life by behaving accordingly.

You guys argue about the most basic stuff! Iano is right theoretically in that not everyone (or anyone, perhaps) always helps out every single needy person within radius of our perception. I think he is trying to hint at salvation by grace since the law can never be followed perfectly.Yet "doing our best" is not an on again off again reaction. How many people do any of us know who would give you the shirt off their backs one day and not give you the time of day another day?Behavior leads to more behavior of similar effect.Whether by grace or by internal command, all of us have behaviors that can be improved.Jesus never spoke of salvation by grace alone through faith alone because his audience was Jewish believers! In context, the expert in the law had to be shown that there was the possibility of doing what was in his power to do.

Ringo, its interesting to read the various opinions on this parable. On the one hand, we have your basic belief that "doing our best" and observing the behaviors taught by Jesus is the summation of the Christian walk.2) Many commentaries, such as this one indicate that the lesson is that perfect love cannot be done by humans. Perhaps a compromise to these two dichotomies is that it is the effort that counts. I don't think that the summation of the effort is in merely doing our best. I believe that acknowledgement of the authority of the teacher (Jesus) and the realization that we do not usually do likewise are indicative of our need for a savior.I realize that behavior is more important than mere profession, but how many of us have the heart within us to be loving to our neighbors (everyone) as to ourselves? The entire capitalist system would collapse if we collectively did such a thing.This message has been edited by Phat, 05-08-2006 11:44 AM

Bishop Spong, whom I respect but who is extremely controversial among the traditional christianity that I matured in, says I can appreciate the fully human,great example part of Jesus life that you use to encourage behavorism and action among all people.What is harder for me to accept is what Spong says when he states: I find it impossible to conceive of Christianity as mere philosophy devoid of supernatural elements. I suppose it is because I view God as my rescuer and reedemer and not a good teacher who expects me to do it all..(Indeed, I think it impossible)

Use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves???Is this like bribing folks into Heaven?

No! Thats socialism, which I avoid like the plague! The whole idea is to get paid more than the minimum....thats what an upwardly mobile lifestyle is all about. At Safeway, I just got a raise to $16.35 an hour while the newbies are still hired in at $7.00.We are smart enough to realize that not all employees should make $16.00+ an hour, but we also want to make sure that the wage is available for some of us. Otherwise, Safeway would be like WalMart.(Great for the American consumer yet horrible for the American Worker)

You mean that I have to surrender even if the Boss pays all the slackers the same as He pays me?

It has been six years since I originally commented on these parables and I am intrigued by the way that many of my thoughts on them have changed, while many others have remained the same.As for the parable of the workers, I have no problem with a Boss who decides what to pay everyone, as long as my pay is adequate for my own personal needs. What he pays you and how hard you work to earn it are irrelevant.We recently had an old EvC member,Pelican, propose a new topic similar to this old one, and I thought it appropriate to bump my old topic and revisit the original parables.To those who are reading this thread for the first time, keep in mind that my views have changed ever so slightly in the past six years.

That is often a controversial view that you have, jar. Some say that trusting in Jesus is EVERYTHING and that doing the best that we can won't cut it. But thats another topic.... Yes, quite honestly, I would protest if others received a better deal than I. Others doing the same exact work as I, that is. Ironically, I dont protest when I receive a better deal than they, since I justify it based on my longevity. So too would the workers hired early in the day, although it was wisely pointed out that their workload would decrease if more were hired later in the day. Food for thought! *sigh* Yes, yes, I know. The only issue I have is WHO determines all I can or should do? I have no problem with the meek getting their fair share, though I balk at having to surrender some of mine. In the parable, everyone received the SAME wage, which I suppose is fairer than the meek coming along and grabbing better deals, regardless how hard they work. We Christians may not be special, but we certainly dont deserve being goats. I agree. If God treats everyone the same, it seems fairer to me than accepting either the chosen or the hardest workers. The workers hired early in the day were expected to harvest a full field for an agreed upon sum. The master later brought other workers in to help. The workload was actually shared, and the ones hired earliest thus had less to be responsible for. They should have thanked the master for helping them rather than cursing those who recieved the same wage.

This parable blew me away when I first read it. Does it mean that we are to strike deals with whomever can help us? Even as a Christian, I will strike a deal with either the union or my employer, whichever helps me to get the wages i deserve. Perhaps the point of the parable, however, is that it is friends and contacts who are important...not wages.

Yes, but first one has to have worldly wealth. A nation of minimum wage workers (the so called jobs that are being created) cant help themselves, much less the neighbors.And I know you, jar. You will probably reply something similar to this: And I would reply that the world seems to be doing fine taking our jobs and the money that once belonged to us...on its own...Of course, we are charged to feed and clothe the poor.Returning to the Shrewd Manager..... no, they can only offer concrete dwellings. My initial point was that it is not selfish for me to shrewdly do what I can to gain wealth for myself while I can. The issue is what I do with my wealth.

So lets talk about the Widow with two mites. Are we in fact *all* commanded to do likewise? What does the parable imply?

I appreciate you charging me to think more deeply about what I write. It is a good exercise. Good point. Yes. And the house that was hopefully given to me (unless we have to sell it to take care of Mom) is a sancuary where my 60 year old diabetic body can rest and recuperate so that I may be of value to myself and others. I cant argue with that. I seek to expand my talent through prayer, fasting, introspection and ultimately action. My behavior does include prayer.Edited by Phat, : No reason given.