Luke the evangelist informed us that as a genre, Jesus’ parables are vehicles for communicating “secrets of the kingdom” (Luke 8:10).
Where Seed and Thistle Grow
For example, consider the Parable of the Sower (Matt. 13:3-8; Mark 4:3-8; Luke 8:5-8). … In all three versions of the parable’s explanation (Matt. 13:19-23; Mark 4:13-20; Luke 8:11-15), the word merimna (anxiety, worry) was used to explain the metaphorical choking of thistles.
Character Profile: A New Portrait of Salome
Salome’s image has been obscured and marred due to the personas created for her by writers of the past 150 years. Salome is famous for the part she played in the execution of John the Baptist.
Withered Fig Tree
Matt. 21:18-20; Mark 11:12-14, 20-21 (Huck 199, 201; Aland 272, 275; Crook 308, 310)For abbreviations and bibliographical references, see “Introduction to ‘The Life of Yeshua: A Suggested Reconstruction.'”
A New Two-source Solution to the Synoptic Problem
Despite the continuing debate between Matthean and Markan priorists, some form of the widely-accepted Two-Source Hypothesis seems necessary for a proper understanding of the synoptic relationships. The Two-Source Hypothesis as generally conceived, however, cannot cover the evidence of dependence and interdependence found in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke.
Enemies of the Harvest
Rieu’s rendering of Luke 8:7 is especially noteworthy: “Other seed fell in among the thistles, which came up at the same time and smothered it.”… And so it is with the word of God when overgrown by the cares, riches and pleasures of life, as Jesus explains his parable in Luke 8:14.
Mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven
Matt. 13:11-15; Mark 4:11-12; Luke 8:10 (Huck 91; Aland 123; Crook 145)For abbreviations and bibliographical references, see “Introduction to ‘The Life of Yeshua: A Suggested Reconstruction.'”… The differences between Luke 8:10 and Isa. 6:9 become clear when the two verses are presented in parallel columns:
The differences between Isa. 6:9 and the couplet in Luke 8:10 include:
- The order “hear→see” in Isaiah versus the order “see→hear” in Luke…. We would go even further and argue that the differences between Isa. 6:9 and the couplet about the inability to see or understand in Luke 8:10 are sufficient to cast doubt on whether an allusion to the Isaiah 6 passage in Mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven was originally intended at all. … Mark’s expansion also involved changing a denial that the people will see in Luke 8:10 into an affirmation that the people will indeed see (L22), and then adding the further remark that despite seeing they will not perceive (L23).
Gospel Postcard: Magdala
The Gospels do not mention Magdala except obliquely as the hometown of “Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out” (Luke 8:2; cf.
The Kingdom of Heaven Is Increasing
Matt. 11:12-15; Luke 16:16
(Huck 65, 176; Aland 107, 226; Crook 125, 272)For abbreviations and bibliographical references, see “Introduction to ‘The Life of Yeshua: A Suggested Reconstruction.'” Revised: 12 December 2022
מִימֵי יוֹחָנָן הַמַּטְבִּיל וְעַד עַכְשָׁיו מַלְכוּת שָׁמַיִם פּוֹרֶצֶת וּפוֹרְצִים פּוֹרְצִים בָּהּ שֶׁכָּל הַנְּבִיאִים וְאַף הַתּוֹרָה עַד יוֹחָנָן מִתְנַבְּאִים
“Since Yohanan the Immerser, and continuing into the present time, God’s redeeming reign has begun to increase, and the number of participants in his reign is on the rise.
“For all the prophets—and even the Torah—down to Yohanan tell of the coming redemption. But now the redemption is happening before your very eyes!”This translation is a dynamic rendition of our reconstruction of the conjectured Hebrew source that stands behind the Greek of the Synoptic Gospels.
“Four Types of Hearers” complex
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Darnel Among the Wheat Parable
Mark’s parables excursus (Mark 4:1-34) was based on Luke 8:1-18, a section focused on the Four Soils parable and the proper response to parables in general. The author of Mark expanded the Lukan core of his parables excursus by adding a few additional sayings found elsewhere in Luke (The One Having Ears to Hear ; Measure for Measure ).
Calamities in Yerushalayim
Luke 13:1-5 (Huck 162; Aland 207; Crook 244)For abbreviations and bibliographical references, see “Introduction to ‘The Life of Yeshua: A Suggested Reconstruction.'”
Sidebar: Response to Petuchowski’s “The Theological Significance of the Parable in Rabbinic Literature and the New Testament”
To the rest (the message comes) in parables so that seeing they shall not see and hearing they shall not understand” (Luke 8:10).
A Synoptic Approach to ‘Lord of the Sabbath’
And in it, we find Matthew 12:1-8, I believe it is; Mark 2:23, I believe it is, -28; and Luke 8:1-9 [sic.