Overview
Storytelling is a powerful and effective means of communication, a truth Jesus knew and used to great advantage in his parables. Many of the plots in these parables involve financial matters. They teach about God's perspective on money, resources, and their use, but further, they teach profound spiritual truths about the kingdom of God. This kingdom operates according to a different kind of economy, wherein relationships, love, and serving others take precedence over accumulating wealth and possessions.
Taken together, the parables examined in this book paint a picture of divine generosity and grace in both the financial and spiritual realms. This in turn challenges readers to reexamine their priorities and how money and possessions can be used for the kingdom.
The author brings his expertise in literature and biblical studies to bear in a fresh examination of the nature of parables and their interpretation in general and of a number of Jesus's prominent parables with financial themes, all with an eye toward contemporary application. He does so without scholarly jargon, making this accessible book ideal for both undergraduate courses on the Gospels and for church leaders and groups.
Taken together, the parables examined in this book paint a picture of divine generosity and grace in both the financial and spiritual realms. This in turn challenges readers to reexamine their priorities and how money and possessions can be used for the kingdom.
The author brings his expertise in literature and biblical studies to bear in a fresh examination of the nature of parables and their interpretation in general and of a number of Jesus's prominent parables with financial themes, all with an eye toward contemporary application. He does so without scholarly jargon, making this accessible book ideal for both undergraduate courses on the Gospels and for church leaders and groups.
Table of Contents
Preface: Hidden Treasure
1. The World Wide Web of Parables
2. An Oil Baron and an Embezzler
3. A Solicitor and a Samaritan
4. A Billionaire and a Beggar
5. Bankruptcy, Bitterness, and the Banquet
6. A Widow and the Workers
7. Taxes, Towers, and Bags of Gold
Conclusion: Debtor's Prison
Index
1. The World Wide Web of Parables
2. An Oil Baron and an Embezzler
3. A Solicitor and a Samaritan
4. A Billionaire and a Beggar
5. Bankruptcy, Bitterness, and the Banquet
6. A Widow and the Workers
7. Taxes, Towers, and Bags of Gold
Conclusion: Debtor's Prison
Index
Endorsements
“Keith Bodner has written a concise yet compelling interpretation of some of Jesus’s most stirring and even confusing parables. He appeals to a mix of Old Testament narratives, famous literature, cultural anecdotes, and even movies to show us how the parables work and how they continue to challenge us today. It is a book that shows us, very cleverly, how the parables teach the grift of sin and the gains of grace.”
Michael F. Bird, deputy principal, Ridley College, Melbourne, Australia
“Full of insight and written in a wonderfully engaging style, Keith Bodner’s book demonstrates how Jesus’s financial parables provide a coherent message about God, God’s kingdom, and the upside-down / right-side-up nature of faithful life before God. Practically every page challenges contemporary perspectives and calls readers to reflect on and embody God’s economy of grace. The way Bodner weaves Old Testament material into his work adds real depth to the message of the book. Pastors, students of the Bible, and even those who struggle with what to make of Jesus’s parables will find themselves enriched by this study.”
Joel B. Green, senior professor of New Testament interpretation, Fuller Theological Seminary
“Keith Bodner is a perceptive interpreter and an excellent communicator. Exploring the Financial Parables of Jesus abounds in stimulating exegesis and fresh insight. Every reader will find it satisfying and rewarding.”
Craig A. Evans, distinguished research professor, The Bible Seminary, Katy, Texas
Author
Keith Bodner
Keith Bodner (PhD, University of Manchester; PhD, University of Aberdeen) is Stuart E. Murray Chair and professor of religious studies at Crandall University in Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada. He is also on the pastoral staff at Brunswick Street Baptist Church, Fredericton. Bodner is the author or editor of numerous books, including Jeroboam's Royal Drama, The Psalms, and The Theology of the Book of Kings.