"The Parables" (Douglas D. Webster)

TITLE: The Parables: Jesus's Friendly Subversive Speech
AUTHOR: Douglas D. Webster
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Academic, 2021, (352 pages).

Storytelling is one of the most powerful ways of spreading a message. Jesus used lots of them. Parables communicate. They disarm. They clarify. They also rebuke. Used appropriately, they transform lives. There are 2 Old Testament parables and 35 in the New Testament. How and why do we study the parables? For author Douglas Webster, he discovers that the parables are transformative strategies rather than merely an alternative way to teach. After many years of teaching and preaching, while trying to help students make sense of the Sermon on the Mount, he realizes that Jesus uses parables not to teach but to use parables to "penetrate people’s defenses, circumvent the opposition, extend his gospel ministry, and creatively train his followers." In other words, parables are not just another way of telling gospel truths. They are there to prick the conscience and to open hearts up for the message of the kingdom. They reveal the truth that sets people free. Jesus uses ordinary characters from common life. He bridges heavenly truth with earthly objects. Concentrating on the parables in Matthew and Luke, the author deals with each of Luke's parables individually to paint the gospel story. He organizes Matthew's parables according to the Passion Week narrative. He structures the book dealing with the 22 parables in a chronological fashion. Beginning with the Parable of the Sower (Matt 13:1-23), and ends with the end of the world judgment parable. 

Each parable begins with a plain explanation of the story before Webster introduces the kingdom interpretation. This is followed by either a modern illustration, anecdote, or a real-life application for readers to learn from. The author brings in ethical issues of today such as corruption, injustice, materialism, poverty, the rich-poor divide, and others, to show us the relevance of the parables for today. 

My Thoughts
How does this book on parables compare with the others dealing with the same subject? While there are plenty of similarities, there are some subtle differences. William Marty's "Fascinating Bible Studies on Every Parable" is more comprehensive in terms of content. He covers every parable in the Bible. He categorizes them as the nature and ethics of the Kingdom of God. His focus however is on small group studies and discussions. John MacArthur's "Parables" sees the parables as mysteries of God's Kingdom and attempts to unlock them. The classic study on "The Parables of Jesus" by James Montgomery Boice helps us to apply the teachings of the parables into our lives. He classifies them using the categories of Kingdom, Salvation, Wisdom/Folly, Christian Life, and Judgment. All of these help readers to understand in depth what the specific parables are about. Webster begins the book with a personal connection, revealing to readers his early frustrations as a teacher unable to have a pedagogical breakthrough. Driven with the goal of seeing the parables as subversive stories, he hopes to capture the purposes of Jesus dealing with all kinds of opposition at that time. If I were to summarize the essence of Webster's book, it would be this. In one phrase, it aims to transform the heart rather than simply head knowledge. To be fair, many books do the same but this book is a little more intentional on that over the rest. He consistently reminds us to practice what we believe. Toward the end of the book, he even includes an appendix to enable preachers to see parables as ways to reach hearts. 

I believe the parables have timeless principles for us. Our modern world has become a lot more complex with many different kinds of challenges to faith. Rather than fighting fire with fire, we can learn about how Jesus overcomes opposition with refreshing perspectives to subvert evil without compromising Truth. Even within our own churches, we sometimes see clashes between worldly and heavenly values. Learning to live peacefully in a cultural world at war is getting more difficult each day. Thus, seeing the parables as a new way to flank opposition not only helps us subvert falsehood and injustice, it also equips people of faith with the ways of Jesus. In terms of equipping, I think this book helps out three groups of people. For the layperson, it teaches the fundamental messages of the parables, making it a good reference for general understanding. For the teacher, it shows the way to structure the parables according to the themes of friendly subversion without compromise. For the preacher, the ten tips on Jesus's communication strategies help deliver the gospel message clearly and in many cases, helps to challenge the status quo.

Douglas Webster has been a professor of Pastoral Theology and Christian Preaching at Beeson Divinity School since 2007. Before that, he was the senior pastor at First Presbyterian Church of San Diego (1993-2007). He has taught at Tyndale Seminary in Toronto, Canada and served churches in Toronto, Bloomington, Denver, and New York City.

Rating: 4.5 stars of 5.

conrade

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This book has been provided courtesy of Kregel Academic without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.