Parables

In "Literary Forms of the Bible" Kech and Tucker state that the point of a parable is not to convey one specific meaning, but instead it derives its meaning from an "interaction between the story and the setting in which it is told" (28). It is possible, therefore, to construe several meanings from one of Y’shua’s parables found in the Gospel of Mark 12.1-9. The parable’s meaning as it relates to the listeners at the temple in 37 C.E., the possible meaning to the early church and yet another meaning for readers of today. In the unique literary form of parables the observer is called upon to use insight to see beyond the surface of the story to an applied, deeper meaning.

In Mark 12.1-9, Y’shua tells a story that holds particular meaning for the audience in Jerusalem. The parable speaks of the owner of some land that plants a vineyard, protects it with a wall and provides a wine press and a watchtower. In short, the landowner created a perfect setting in which his endeavor could flourish. He provided the raw materials, the machinery and necessary means of protection for his enterprise. He allowed tenants or vine-growers to work the vines while he traveled. However, when the landowner’s servants came to collect his share, they were beaten and sent away. Eventually, one servant was even killed. The landowner finally had none left to send except his son. The tenants did not respect the son and killed him too. Now the landowner returns himself and has the tenants killed and the vineyards are given to others.

To the listeners in approximately 37 C.E., gathered in the temple courts, the idea that the tenants would hate the landowner was a familiar one. They lived in a society where few had wealth and the rural tenants felt exploited by the city dwelling landowners. These listeners perhaps felt a righteous indignation upon hearing of the tenant’s treatment of the landowner’s servants. Predictably, they might feel the landowner’s rage is justified against the tenants and that their death sentence is true justice. These city dwellers might interpret the parable as saying that peasants are violent, rural folk that don’t respect their social superiors. The parable, to them, might be an exoneration of the rough treatment of these country dwellers.

For the early church, the parable would most likely be interpreted in this way: The landowner is Yahweh, the tenants are the Jewish people and the Son is Messiah Y’shua. In this sense, the story upholds the view of the early church that the Father will punish those of the Jewish faith, especially the religious, which reject Messiah. In this scenario it is easy to see that the Creator gave his chosen people everything they need to flourish and be productive. He arranged for them to be cared for, have all the tools they needed and even a watchtower, which signifies protection. Instead of treasuring that fact, and giving back to the Father what is his due in worship, tithes, and obedience, they beat and kill his servants. These servants represent the prophets and possibly John the Baptist. Next, the landowner sends his son, representing Messiah Y’shua, and these religious Jews kill him. Finally, there is nothing left for those that reject God’s authority but a just death. And the vineyard, salvation, is given to those who will accept the Father and the Son.

Today’s Christian might view this parable a bit differently. While similar to the previous view held by the early church, this view has a twist. The early church was made up of Jews who accepted Messiah and proselytes to Judaism. Therefore, they would not say all Jews rejected the Father’s Messiah. Today the view commonly held by the church is that the Father chose the Jews, sent them prophets and the Messiah and they killed them and rejected their savior. Therefore, it was given to "others", Gentiles. Many interpret this parable to mean that the Gentile believers in Messiah have replaced God’s chosen people Israel. This has been used to justify persecution of the Jewish people as "Christ Killers", leading to crusades, forced conversions, and inquisitions. The church has become more Romanized, substituting many Greek and Roman traditions for those of the early believers that were mostly Jews. It has even led to the deliberate change of Sabbath to Sunday among other things. The Church today, interpreting this parable, would feel justified in supposing themselves superior to the Jewish people, who after all, had their chance and lost it.

It is clear that parables are a timeless way to communicate meaning. Yet it is also apparent that the listeners’ bias and "ear" certainly affects the resulting meaning that someone takes away with them. In this way, a parable could have as many meanings as there are listeners. The point of a parable is to provide a simple story that has an interpretation for all that hear it. In using parables, Messiah limited the audiences’ understanding. If their hearing was clouded with religious, self-righteous thought, they were sure to miss the deeper meaning. If they were earthy and carnally minded, they wouldn’t see the spiritual significance of the story. In this way, parables can mean different things to different people, and the meaning may change even as the person hearing changes over time.

Laurie Kuiper