Great Banquet

Some think that this parable of a banquet in Matthew and Luke is not an authentic parable of Jesus. If Jesus told this parable, the point may be a countercultural banquet that powerless people are brought to the party eventually. This parable is shocking to Jesus’s audience because, given the ancient meal culture, no one can easily reject the host's invitation. More unusual is the host’s decision to bring in the poor, the lame, and the blind to this party. Does this parable challenge the usual meal culture in Jesus’s time? How is the reign of God related to the host in this parable?

Two Sons (Matt 21:28-31)

The parable of the two sons in Matthew 21 deals with "true faith" that requires "action" or "practice." The father has a vineyard that needs workers. The first son says first, no, but later he changed his mind and went to work. He is not perfect but did the will of the father. The second son: first, yes, but he never went to work. He did not obey his father. Word only does not help. The perfect son will be the one who says “yes” and goes to work immediately. Jesus points out the problem of hypocrites, who don’t do what they know or teach (Matt 23:3).

Unmerciful Servant

Jesus tells the parable of the unmerciful servant because of Peter’s question: "How many times should one forgive?" Jesus answers: “Seventy times seven.” 

Discuss the king’s act of forgiving a huge debt (10,000 talents) at once. However, his forgiveness did not work out well because his slave did not forgive his fellow slave, who owed him only 100 denarii, a peanut amount. Could the king deal with his slave differently from the beginning? Obviously, the problem does not lie in the king but in his slave, who did not forgive his fellow slave.

Think about the notion of “too easy or too fast forgiveness” in our life situation. Does it work?

Evaluate the claim that members in the community must forgive one another endlessly. How can this thing happen decently? What is the sufficient condition to make this possible?

Vineyard Laborers (parable)

When do we say something is fair?

Or when do we say something is justice?

In the parable of Vineyard Laborers, is the landlord fair to his workers?

Does the master do justice to them?

What kind of justice is dealt with in this parable?

Attributive justice or economic justice?

What challenges do we find from this parable?

Augustine, Luther, Western Christianity, and Diverse Aspects of Faith in the New Testament

We need to know the dominant form of Western Christianity that was influenced by Augustine and Luther. But we also need to point out the problems with these Christian theologians. The diverse aspects of faith in the New Testament do not support these thinkers. Their understanding of faith and salvation may be summarized as follows: 

1) Individual salvation or justification: imparted or imputed righteousness (forensic salvation); 

2) Introspective, inner faith out of guilt rather than public faith; 

3) Invading, exclusive gospel: colonialism and exclusivism. 

But the prevailing aspects of Christian faith have to do with “participatory faith,” as in the four Gospels and Paul’s 7 undisputed letters. There are also other minor aspects of faith: faith as knowledge, faith as works, and faith as a conviction.  

A talk with Indonesian graduate students in the US and audiences in Indonesia

I was live on YouTube to talk with Indonesian graduate students in the US and international audiences in Indonesia. It was a great experience that I presented about 20 mins and we had a Q and A time. The questions I received from them were remarkable and thoughtful. They were so enthusiastic about new insight and new knowledge about the New Testament.

Pearl

In the parable of the Pearl, a merchant sought fine pearls (as he does business as usual), but changed the course of his life upon finding one pearl of great value. He is not a businessperson anymore. He does not resell it either. For an ordinary merchant’s business practice, the rule is you buy many fine pearls for maximizing your profit. One pearl of great value to the merchant may be subjective! It may be a call of God or a new vocation! 

In what way is this parable of the pearl different from the parable of treasure? In what way is it similar? What is your “one pearl of great value” for which you will invest all and that you cannot live without it?

Treasure

The parable of the treasure teaches that God’s rule (love, peace, justice) is a precious gift. But it may not be seen or realized easily in one’s life. Once it is found, a radical action to obtain it is required. Otherwise, in this parable, ethical consideration is out of view.

Wheat and Weeds

How can we live in a world we must face "weeds," so to speak?
But the harsher reality is that we also have weeds in ourselves.
Is the separation of enemies the best policy?
This parable does not endorse that.

The parable of the Talents (or Pounds)

The parable of Talents or Pounds is found in Matthew and Luke.

Each person is given a valuable gift (grace) of God. Do your best (work ethic).
Just do it. Try it. The place to invest the talents is the world/people, not the ground.
Don’t worry about failure. If a slave with one talent or one mina tried to do something but failed, 

would he receive the same harsh judgment?