| Although this may not be a ground breaking text with new and exciting theories, it is an excellent resource for anyone who wants to understand the parables of the Bible better. The book discusses parables in both the Old and New Testaments. You can look up the parable by the chapter and book that it appears in, and there is also a way to reference them by topic/subject. I've used this commentary a lot in my Bible studies because it is very thorough and even handed. Lockyer breaks the parables down item-by-item, point-by-point, then summarizes the dominant critical interpretations of each one. Because his treatment is extensive, the commentary for a single parable will often run for several pages. I appreciate the clarity that his summaries bring to the text. Also, he is careful to admit that we can over interpret things and for the most part, manages to avoid this tendency. He asserts his own interpretation for each parable, but not in a know-it-all fashion. This book challenges me to think about what God wants us to learn through these stories. They are like little puzzles, and I am fascinated to think about all the different ways they can be interpreted. Also, this book has cleared up some parables that were downright confusing. |
