tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12543231.post9104844286368093988..comments2023-06-15T09:41:19.355-05:00Comments on NT/History Blog: More on Hays v. Wright: Interpreting ParablesBill Heromanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05283809456471966882noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12543231.post-27981194450536179722010-05-25T09:27:43.002-05:002010-05-25T09:27:43.002-05:00Pushback? Is that what they call that :)
Seriousl...Pushback? Is that what they call that :)<br /><br />Seriously, thanks for your post. Anyone who cares about this kinda stuff is my kinda guy.<br /><br />I just sent you a friend request.<br /><br />Peace!Wyatt Robertshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15580611892079902563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12543231.post-13119885615848936452010-05-25T09:14:51.867-05:002010-05-25T09:14:51.867-05:00Excellent points, Wyatt.
When I say 'open end...Excellent points, Wyatt.<br /><br />When I say 'open ended', I don't mean completely open. I just mean I think Jesus intended a finite number of possible meanings, and on top of that there was one larger point to such parables in general (as I said in my first sentence).<br /><br />I guess I should have said "somewhat open ended". And maybe "partly" works better than "largely" in my last sentence.<br /><br />Hope that clarifies things.<br /><br />Thanks for the push back.Bill Heromanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05283809456471966882noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12543231.post-40101628098189427092010-05-25T06:42:48.349-05:002010-05-25T06:42:48.349-05:00It seems to me that when you say "So Jesus le...It seems to me that when you say "So Jesus left the parables open ended," you <i>are</i> making a factual statement about intent, namely that Jesus didn't have one particular message to convey, and that one can interpret the parables however one wishes as long as it has semblance of truth.<br /><br />This seems strange, given that Jesus ended not a few of the parables with "He who has ears better hear." To me, this suggests that he did, indeed, have a particular message he wanted to convey and the object of that message better pay attention, lest they miss his point.<br /><br />Moreover, the Gospels sometimes specifically mention that the antagonists in Jesus' stories clearly understood the meaning: "When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they realized that he was speaking about them. (Mat 21:45)."<br /><br />Finally, the Gospels also have Jesus <i>explaining</i> the meaning of parables to the disciples. "But Peter said to him, "Explain this parable to us. Jesus said, 'Even after all this, are you still so foolish?' (Mat 15:15-16)" Certainly, this would be a bizarre thing to say if Jesus had intended the parables to be "open ended" and subject to wide interpretation. You say you "don't understand how anyone can find <i>the</i> meaning of a particular parable." Well, in some cases Jesus did, in fact, explain <i>the</i> meaning of the parables, while in others, the hearers also seem to have clearly understood the meaning of them as well.<br /><br />I know that I have a tendency to come across as combative at times, so if I have here, I ask for your forgiveness. I do appreciate your wrestling with this question, and I think you've done a good job of putting forth your argument...I just happened to disagree with it :) <br /><br />Any feedback would be appreciated.<br /><br />(BTW, I am a fan of both Wright and Hays).Wyatt Robertshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15580611892079902563noreply@blogger.com