George A. Buttrick, “Privilege and Duty,” The Parables of Jesus, p. 104-115
John Howard Yoder, “The Cost of Discipleship,” The Politics of Jesus, p. 43
1-2 John Shea, “Shame on Al,” The Spirit Master, p. 224
1 There were some present at that very time who told him of the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered thus? 3 I tell you, No; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. 4 Or those eighteen upon whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who dwelt in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, No; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.”
13:1 παρησαν δε τινες εν αυτω τω καιρω απαγγελλοντες αυτω περι των γαλιλαιων ων το αιμα πιλατος εμιξεν μετα των θυσιων αυτων 13:2 και αποκριθεις ο ιησους ειπεν αυτοις δοκειτε οτι οι γαλιλαιοι ουτοι αμαρτωλοι παρα παντας τους γαλιλαιους εγενοντο οτι τοιαυτα πεπονθασιν 13:3 ουχι λεγω υμιν αλλ εαν μη μετανοητε παντες ωσαυτως απολεισθε 13:4 η εκεινοι οι δεκα και οκτω εφ ους επεσεν ο πυργος εν τω σιλωαμ και απεκτεινεν αυτους δοκειτε οτι ουτοι οφειλεται εγενοντο παρα παντας ανθρωπους τους κατοικουντας εν ιερουσαλημ 13:5 ουχι λεγω υμιν αλλ εαν μη μετανοητε παντες ομοιως απολεισθε
George A. Buttrick, “Privilege and Duty,” The Parables of Jesus, p. 104-115
John Dominic Crossan, The Essential Jesus, p. 128, 167
Joachim Jeremias, “The Barren Fig Tree,” Rediscovering the Parables, p. 135 f.
J. Barrie Shepherd, “Fruit Bearing,” Seeing with the Soul, p. 108-113
John Howard Yoder, “The Cost of Discipleship,” The Politics of Jesus, p. 43
8-9 Francis Patrick Sullivan, “Skeletons,” A Time To Sow, p. 80
6 And he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. 7 And he said to the vinedresser, ‘Lo, these three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down; why should it use up the ground?’ 8 And he answered him, ‘Let it alone, sir, this year also, till I dig about it and put on manure. 9 And if it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’”
13:6 ελεγεν δε ταυτην την παραβολην συκην ειχεν τις εν τω αμπελωνι αυτου πεφυτευμενην και ηλθεν ζητων καρπον εν αυτη και ουχ ευρεν 13:7 ειπεν δε προς τον αμπελουργον ιδου τρια ετη ερχομαι ζητων καρπον εν τη συκη ταυτη και ουχ ευρισκω εκκοψον αυτην ινα τι και την γην καταργει 13:8 ο δε αποκριθεις λεγει αυτω κυριε αφες αυτην και τουτο το ετος εως οτου σκαψω περι αυτην και βαλω κοπρια 13:9 καν μεν ποιηση καρπον ει δε μηγε εις το μελλον εκκοψεις αυτην
John Dominic Crossan, The Essential Jesus, p. 96, 198
Geza Vermes, The Changing Faces of Jesus, p. 210
The Changing Faces of Jesus
Imaging the Word, Vol. 1, p. 158-161
10 Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. 11 And there was a woman who had had a spirit of infirmity for eighteen years; she was bent over and could not fully straighten herself. 12 And when Jesus saw her, he called her and said to her, “Woman, you are freed from your infirmity.” 13 And he laid his hands upon her, and immediately she was made straight, and she praised God. 14 But the ruler of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the sabbath, said to the people, “There are six days on which work ought to be done; come on those days and be healed, and not on the sabbath day.” 15 Then the Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the sabbath untie his ox or his ass from the manger, and lead it away to water it? 16 And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?” 17 As he said this, all his adversaries were put to shame; and all the people rejoiced at all the glorious things that were done by him.
13:10 ην δε διδασκων εν μια των συναγωγων εν τοις σαββασιν 13:11 και ιδου γυνη ην πνευμα εχουσα ασθενειας ετη δεκα και οκτω και ην συγκυπτουσα και μη δυναμενη ανακυψαι εις το παντελες 13:12 ιδων δε αυτην ο ιησους προσεφωνησεν και ειπεν αυτη γυναι απολελυσαι της ασθενειας σου 13:13 και επεθηκεν αυτη τας χειρας και παραχρημα ανωρθωθη και εδοξαζεν τον θεον 13:14 αποκριθεις δε ο αρχισυναγωγος αγανακτων οτι τω σαββατω εθεραπευσεν ο ιησους ελεγεν τω οχλω εξ ημεραι εισιν εν αις δει εργαζεσθαι εν ταυταις ουν ερχομενοι θεραπευεσθε και μη τη ημερα του σαββατου 13:15 απεκριθη ουν αυτω ο κυριος και ειπεν υποκριται εκαστος υμων τω σαββατω ου λυει τον βουν αυτου η τον ονον απο της φατνης και απαγαγων ποτιζει 13:16 ταυτην δε θυγατερα αβρααμ ουσαν ην εδησεν ο σατανας ιδου δεκα και οκτω ετη ουκ εδει λυθηναι απο του δεσμου τουτου τη ημερα του σαββατου 13:17 και ταυτα λεγοντος αυτου κατησχυνοντο παντες οι αντικειμενοι αυτω και πας ο οχλος εχαιρεν επι πασιν τοις ενδοξοις τοις γινομενοις υπ αυτου
John Dominic Crossan, “The Mustard Seed,” The Historical Jesus, p. 276-279
“The Mustard Seed”
The point, in other words, is not just that the mustard plant starts as a proverbially small seed and grows into a shrub of three or four feet, or even higher, it is that it tends to take over where it is not wanted, that it tends to get out of control, and that it tends to attract birds within cultivated areas where they are not particularly desired. And that, said Jesus, was what the Kingdom was like: not like the mighty cedar of Lebanon and not quite like a common weed, like a pungent shrub with dangerous takeover properties. Something you would want only in small and carefully controlled doses—if you could control it. (p. 278 f.)
John Dominic Crossan, “Parables of Advent,” In Parables, p. 45-49
“Parables of Advent”
The mustard seed can grow only into a bush or shrub and, at its very best, is hardly competition for the Lebanese cedar. When one starts a parable with a mustard seed one cannot end it with a tree, much less the great apocalyptic tree, unless, of course, one plans to lampoon rather rudely the whole apocalyptic tradition. (p. 48)
David Rensberger, “The Folly of God in the Parables,” Weavings (January/February 1996), p. 19-21
“The Folly of God in the Parables”
The kingdom of God turns out to be utterly unpredictable, uncontrollable, beyond human expectation. We plant mustard, and get trees; and the trees attract all kinds of birds! (p. 19 f.)
In this parable, the gardener not only tolerates the weed, but actually plants it. What kind of fool would do that? Evidently one who is concerned not only for the productive cultivated plants, but for the weeds and starlings as well. …
Bums and parasites. Is that what God wants in the kingdom? Are they who the reign of God is meant for? We who are wise build up productive, stable institutions. We calculate results and return on investment. God, who is foolish, plants mustard in the garden, and not just any mustard, but a mustard tree, and invites the birds to nest there. At our best, we seem able only to watch helplessly when our wisdom crumbles beneath the weight of divine follies like these. Most of the time, we are more inclined to grab a hoe and lay about us. But Jesus invites us to be better than that, to join in, to grab a handful of mustard seed and throw it around, to whistle for the birds and be every bit the bum-coddling fools the God of folly would have us be. (p. 20 f.)
J. Barrie Shepherd, “Mustard Seed,” Seeing with the Soul, p. 114-118
18-19 Thomas 20
18 He said therefore, “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? 19 It is like a grain of mustard seed which a man took and sowed in his garden; and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches.”
13:18 ελεγεν δε τινι ομοια εστιν η βασιλεια του θεου και τινι ομοιωσω αυτην 13:19 ομοια εστιν κοκκω σιναπεως ον λαβων ανθρωπος εβαλεν εις κηπον εαυτου και ηυξησεν και εγενετο εις δενδρον μεγα και τα πετεινα του ουρανου κατεσκηνωσεν εν τοις κλαδοις αυτου
John Dominic Crossan, “The Leaven,” The Historical Jesus, p. 280 f.
“The Leaven”
Barbara E. Reid, O.P., “Beyond Petty Pursuits and Wearisome Widows,” Interpretation (July 2002), p. 285-287
“Beyond Petty Pursuits and Wearisome Widows”
The challenge of the parable for those who are on the fringes is to begin to see themselves as “leaven”—vital members of the believing community. For those who enjoy privilege, the parable issues a summons to change their attitude toward persons they consider “corrupt” and to see them as the very ones who provide the active ingredient necessary for the growth of the community of God’s people.
As Luke’s predominately Gentile community retold the story in their own day, they may have been thinking of how Gentile Christians, who began as a hidden minority mixed into the batch of Jewish-Christian communities, were now beginning to permeate the whole. (p. 286)
John Shea, “The Mother of Soda Bread,” The Spirit Master, p. 197
20 And again he said, “To what shall I compare the kingdom of God? 21 It is like leaven which a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened.”
13:20 παλιν ειπεν τινι ομοιωσω την βασιλειαν του θεου 13:21 ομοια εστιν ζυμη ην λαβουσα γυνη ενεκρυψεν εις αλευρου σατα τρια εως ου εζυμωθη ολον
Thomas R. Haney, Today’s Spirituality, p. 127
Joachim Jeremias, “The Closed Door,” Rediscovering the Parables, p. 76
J. Barrie Shepherd, “The Narrow Door,” Seeing with the Soul, p. 119-123
27 Psalm 6:8
28-29 Matthew 8:11-12
28 Matthew 22:13, 25:30
30 Matthew 19:30, 20:16; Mark 10:31
24 Francis Patrick Sullivan, “The Man Who Wanted to Meet God,” A Time To Sow, p. 169
22 He went on his way through towns and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem. 23 And some one said to him, “Lord, will those who are saved be few?” And he said to them, 24 “Strive to enter by the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. 25 When once the householder has risen up and shut the door, you will begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us.’ He will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’ 26 Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ 27 But he will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from; depart from me, all you workers of iniquity!’ 28 There you will weep and gnash your teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God and you yourselves thrust out. 29 And men will come from east and west, and from north and south, and sit at table in the kingdom of God. 30 And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”
13:22 και διεπορευετο κατα πολεις και κωμας διδασκων και πορειαν ποιουμενος εις ιερουσαλημ 13:23 ειπεν δε τις αυτω κυριε ει ολιγοι οι σωζομενοι ο δε ειπεν προς αυτους 13:24 αγωνιζεσθε εισελθειν δια της στενης πυλης οτι πολλοι λεγω υμιν ζητησουσιν εισελθειν και ουκ ισχυσουσιν 13:25 αφ ου αν εγερθη ο οικοδεσποτης και αποκλειση την θυραν και αρξησθε εξω εσταναι και κρουειν την θυραν λεγοντες κυριε κυριε ανοιξον ημιν και αποκριθεις ερει υμιν ουκ οιδα υμας ποθεν εστε 13:26 τοτε αρξεσθε λεγειν εφαγομεν ενωπιον σου και επιομεν και εν ταις πλατειαις ημων εδιδαξας 13:27 και ερει λεγω υμιν ουκ οιδα υμας ποθεν εστε αποστητε απ εμου παντες οι εργαται της αδικιας 13:28 εκει εσται ο κλαυθμος και ο βρυγμος των οδοντων οταν οψησθε αβρααμ και ισαακ και ιακωβ και παντας τους προφητας εν τη βασιλεια του θεου υμας δε εκβαλλομενους εξω 13:29 και ηξουσιν απο ανατολων και δυσμων και βορρα και νοτου και ανακλιθησονται εν τη βασιλεια του θεου 13:30 και ιδου εισιν εσχατοι οι εσονται πρωτοι και εισιν πρωτοι οι εσονται εσχατοι
J. Barrie Shepherd, “The Mother Hen,” Seeing with the Soul, p. 124-129
Imaging the Word, Vol. 1, p. 154-157
31-35 Luke 19:41-44
35 Psalm 118:26
31 At that very hour some Pharisees came, and said to him, “Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.” 32 And he said to them, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I finish my course. 33 Nevertheless I must go on my way today and tomorrow and the day following; for it cannot be that a prophet should perish away from Jerusalem.’ 34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, killing the prophets and stoning those who are sent to you! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not! 35 Behold, your house is forsaken. And I tell you, you will not see me until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’”
13:31 εν αυτη τη ημερα προσηλθον τινες φαρισαιοι λεγοντες αυτω εξελθε και πορευου εντευθεν οτι ηρωδης θελει σε αποκτειναι 13:32 και ειπεν αυτοις πορευθεντες ειπατε τη αλωπεκι ταυτη ιδου εκβαλλω δαιμονια και ιασεις επιτελω σημερον και αυριον και τη τριτη τελειουμαι 13:33 πλην δει με σημερον και αυριον και τη εχομενη πορευεσθαι οτι ουκ ενδεχεται προφητην απολεσθαι εξω ιερουσαλημ 13:34 ιερουσαλημ ιερουσαλημ η αποκτενουσα τους προφητας και λιθοβολουσα τους απεσταλμενους προς αυτην ποσακις ηθελησα επισυναξαι τα τεκνα σου ον τροπον ορνις την εαυτης νοσσιαν υπο τας πτερυγας και ουκ ηθελησατε 13:35 ιδου αφιεται υμιν ο οικος υμων ερημος λεγω δε υμιν οτι ου μη με ιδητε εως αν ηξει οτε ειπητε ευλογημενος ο ερχομενος εν ονοματι κυριου