Commentary

Commentary: The Coffee Shop Assistant (Luke 17: 7-10)

February 25, 2023 by P A Downs Leave a Comment

The Coffee Shop Assistant is based on Luke 17: 7-10

Does this Parable Need Retelling?

This master-servant parable can no longer be told without an explanation. Without some kind of commentary, sermon, or discussion, the hearers are likely to think that the master is cruel and demanding. The poor servant is both unfairly treated and downtrodden, with no sense of self-worth.

When there is time to unpack the parable, this is fine. When there isn’t time to unpack, to show that this isn’t the case, an ‘instantly understandable’ version might get closer to Jesus’ meaning.

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Commentary: Left in Charge (Matt. 24: 45-51)

February 11, 2023 by P A Downs Leave a Comment

Left in Charge is based on Matthew 24:45-51

Retell?

The setting of this parable would have been understandable up to the beginning of the Twentieth Century. Nowadays, it’s more likely that people will have to handle their own catering. But, even today, fans of TV programmes like Downton Abbey could recognise the scenario – especially when ‘slave’ is translated as ‘servant’. That leaves us with the question of whether the parable even needs retelling.

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Commentary: The VIP Lounge (Luke 14:8-14)

November 12, 2022 by P A Downs Leave a Comment

The VIP Lounge is based on Luke 14: 8-14

Retelling

The first part of the parable, in verses 8-11, definitely needs retelling. Yes, any kind of banquet will have a ‘top table’. But they’ll also have place cards and a seating plan; it would be unusual for someone to try to blag a top-table seat (people do know whether they’re the bride’s mother). And in Britain, culturally, swapping place cards is a social no-no. It’s not something that would enhance your status.

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Commentary: The Unforgiving Debtor-Matt. 18: 23-34

October 29, 2022 by P A Downs Leave a Comment

The Unforgiving Debtor is based on Matthew 18: 23-34

Retelling

A couple of blogs ago, I mentioned two parables that don’t need retelling. The Unforgiving Debtor is a parable that comes very close to ‘doesn’t need retelling’. After all, people still go into debt; they still rack up much more debt than they can ever repay.

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Parables That Don’t Need Retelling

October 15, 2022 by P A Downs Leave a Comment

Do All Parables Need Retelling?

Can we understand a parable – or at least, can people start to puzzle out its meaning – without any interpretation or ‘translation’ by a preacher? Even if they’ve never read the Bible in their lives, and may have no concept of ‘God’?

In this blog I’ve asked the question ‘Does this parable need retelling?’ a few times. But there are two parables where I’d give an answer of ‘Almost certainly not’.

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Commentary: The Lost Sons – Luke 15:11-32

September 17, 2022 by P A Downs Leave a Comment

The Lost Sons is based on Luke 15: 11-32

Problems in Retelling

This is one of the ‘big’, well-known parables. It’s also a pretty big parable in length, with three distinct sections: the younger boy goes away, he returns, the father celebrates, the older boy goes away. There is no final ending, it’s left open.

One problem in retelling is that the first two sections (The Prodigal Son) are very well known, to the extent that people frequently think they’re what the parable is about. The return of the younger son has been the subject of a lot of famous paintings; ‘prodigal’ now often means someone who repents and returns.

Another problem in retelling is that because we emphasise the first two parts, we tend to associate this parable with ‘everyone who repents is welcome’. Yes, it is saying that. But not just that.

And the final problem in retelling is that the older son just can’t catch a break. Either his part gets missed out entirely, or he’s cast as some kind of villain-of-the-piece. This is something increasingly noticed in the more modern commentaries; older commentaries tended to make the older son a ‘Pharisee’ allegory and then assume he had no good points whatsoever.

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