The Narrow Path Ministries

I recently heard that all but two of the parables taught by Jesus were being taught by the Jewish leaders of the day. The example given was the prodigal son. The Rabbis were teaching that the son was seen on the horizon coming home and the father turned away, went into the house, and locked the door behind him and refused to let the son in. It sure does make Jesus' version hold a much greater impact but I don't know if it is true that Jesus taught the parables of the day with His interpretation. Can some of you enlighten me?
thanks

Hi Tom,

Welcom. The only parable that I have heard of being tought by the Rabbis was the story of Lazars and that rich man. But I don't think it has been proven.

Thats probly not much help, but its all I know on the subject.

Robin

Thanks for the response. It was somewhat helpful.
God bless,

I don't have an answer to your question, but here is a site which says much the same thing as you heard. But in addition, it states that the parable was a common genre among the Greeks and Romans, as well.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline ... ables.html

I've never heard the theory that most of the parables Jesus taught were already in use. It wouldn't be unthinkable though that he might have taken stories that were already circulating and "tweaked" them (a theological term) to describe the Kingdom.

All cultures have certain stories that they tell over and over. How many of our Hollywood movies basically tell the same story over and over again with minor variations?

One possible example from Jesus' time is the parable of the "Ten Minas" in Luke 19:11-27, which begins by mirroring the well-known story of Archelaus Herod's son who went to Rome in an attempt to have Caeser Augustus confirm his claim to rule Judea. In A.D. 6 he was deposed and banished. Jesus seems to have used this bit of common cultural lore as a launching pad for his parable.

The parable was certainly a common device. As the PBS article Paidion linked to stated, "When Jesus preached so strikingly in parables, he did not create a new literary genre." One thing that is striking about the parables of Jesus though is their truth and beauty. Something we miss, because of our distance from the language and culture of their original telling, is that the parables of Jesus were often finely crafted poems. Among other things, this aided in their memorization and transmission during the decades prior to the written Gospels.

Kenneth E. Bailey wrote a series of fascinating books on this topic:

http://www.amazon.com/Poet-Peasant-Thro ... F8&s=books
http://www.amazon.com/Cross-Prodigal-Th ... F8&s=books
http://www.amazon.com/Jacob-Prodigal-Je ... F8&s=books

Thanks Paidion and Mort I'll try to look up those sights soon. I don't have the time at the moment.
God Bless

Though there may have been similar stories told at the time, it seems irrelevant to me. Those who heard Jesus parables certainly didn't take them as repetitions of common sayings:

Matt. 21: 45-46; "Now when the chief priests and Pharisees heard His parables, they perceived that He was speaking of them. But when they sought to lay hands on Him, they feared the multitudes, because they took Him for a prophet."

Great point Homer.

Homer, I agree it is kind of, if not completely , irrelevant. However when I hear people teach this kind of thing I want to know if there is any truth to it or if it is just some internet mumbo-jumbo. I am inquiring simply to know the truth about the statement not to change anything the Lord said. I would like to be able to refute it if it is not true. Thanks for your response brother.
God Bless

(off-topic)

Mort, could you please "name" your links (if you know how)?
(My broswer can't resize the page).

Christopher, do we need a thread on "How to Post?"
(I've thought about asking before; maybe in Announcements)....

Thanx guys.