What do you think?
Rate this book
The Scandal of the Kingdom: How the Parables of Jesus Revolutionize Life with God
A major new work by Dallas Willard, the highly anticipated follow-up to his seminal work The Divine Conspiracy. In this groundbreaking book based on teachings he delivered to a church community, Willard delves into the transformative power of Jesus's parables, revealing how they show us how to live right now in the kingdom of God.
Drawing from his extensive teachings on spiritual formation, Willard illuminates the timeless wisdom contained within each parable, revealing their profound relevance to contemporary life. With clarity and depth, he guides readers through the subversive messages embedded within these seemingly simple stories, urging us to break free from the grip of worldly values and embrace the radical teachings of Jesus.
The Scandal of the Kingdom is not just a book--it's a call to action. Willard challenges readers to move beyond passive acceptance of comfortable dogmas and instead to actively engage with the values of the kingdom of God. He reminds us that the kingdom is not some distant future destination but a present reality, beckoning us, as the parables of Jesus did, to live with a new purpose and intentionality in the here and now.
Through insightful analysis and practical wisdom, Willard empowers readers to transform their lives and communities by embodying the radical love, compassion, and justice exemplified in Jesus's parables. This book is a beacon of hope for Christians seeking to deepen their faith and live more authentically in accordance with the teachings of Christ. Willard empowers us
Become more passionate about living the gospel in the full scope of Jesus's vision for usBetter share the faith of Jesus with those disillusioned with ChristianityUnlock the excitement of living in the upside-down kingdom of GodShare the gospel of Jesus in the way he did
A significant new resource for Christians worldwide, this book offers a road map for spiritual growth and renewal in an increasingly complex and challenging world. With its profound insights and transformative message, it is destined to leave a lasting impact on the hearts and minds of believers everywhere.
Drawing from his extensive teachings on spiritual formation, Willard illuminates the timeless wisdom contained within each parable, revealing their profound relevance to contemporary life. With clarity and depth, he guides readers through the subversive messages embedded within these seemingly simple stories, urging us to break free from the grip of worldly values and embrace the radical teachings of Jesus.
The Scandal of the Kingdom is not just a book--it's a call to action. Willard challenges readers to move beyond passive acceptance of comfortable dogmas and instead to actively engage with the values of the kingdom of God. He reminds us that the kingdom is not some distant future destination but a present reality, beckoning us, as the parables of Jesus did, to live with a new purpose and intentionality in the here and now.
Through insightful analysis and practical wisdom, Willard empowers readers to transform their lives and communities by embodying the radical love, compassion, and justice exemplified in Jesus's parables. This book is a beacon of hope for Christians seeking to deepen their faith and live more authentically in accordance with the teachings of Christ. Willard empowers us
Become more passionate about living the gospel in the full scope of Jesus's vision for usBetter share the faith of Jesus with those disillusioned with ChristianityUnlock the excitement of living in the upside-down kingdom of GodShare the gospel of Jesus in the way he did
A significant new resource for Christians worldwide, this book offers a road map for spiritual growth and renewal in an increasingly complex and challenging world. With its profound insights and transformative message, it is destined to leave a lasting impact on the hearts and minds of believers everywhere.
285 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 15, 2024
532 people are currently reading
5783 people want to read
About the author
Dallas Willard
120 books1,152 followersDallas Willard was a widely respected American philosopher and Christian thinker, best known for his work on spiritual formation and his expertise in phenomenology, particularly the philosophy of Edmund Husserl. He taught philosophy at the University of Southern California from 1965 until his death in 2013, where he also served as department chair in the early 1980s. Willard held degrees in psychology, philosophy, and religion, earning his PhD in philosophy from the University of Wisconsin–Madison with a focus on the history of science. He was recognized as a leading translator and interpreter of Husserl's thought, making foundational texts available in English and contributing significantly to the fields of epistemology, philosophy of mind, and logic.
Though a serious academic, Willard became even more widely known for his books on Christian living, including The Divine Conspiracy and Renovation of the Heart, both of which earned major awards and helped shape the modern spiritual formation movement. He believed that discipleship to Jesus was an intentional process involving not only belief but transformation through spiritual disciplines like prayer, study, solitude, and service. For Willard, spiritual growth was not about earning God’s favor but about participating in the divine life through active cooperation with grace.
His teachings emphasized the concept of apprenticeship to Jesus—being with him, learning to be like him—and his influence extended to ministries such as Renovaré, the Apprentice Institute, and the Dallas Willard Center for Spiritual Formation. He served on the boards of organizations like the C.S. Lewis Foundation and Biola University, and his intellectual and spiritual legacy continues through Dallas Willard Ministries and academic institutions inspired by his work.
Willard was also a deeply personal writer who shared candidly about the challenges of balancing academic life with family. Despite his own admitted shortcomings, those closest to him regarded him as a man of deep love, humility, and grace. His enduring impact can be seen in the lives and works of many contemporary Christian thinkers and writers, including Richard J. Foster, James Bryan Smith, and John Mark Comer. As both philosopher and pastor to the mind, Dallas Willard remains a towering figure in the dialogue between rigorous thought and transformative Christian practice.
Though a serious academic, Willard became even more widely known for his books on Christian living, including The Divine Conspiracy and Renovation of the Heart, both of which earned major awards and helped shape the modern spiritual formation movement. He believed that discipleship to Jesus was an intentional process involving not only belief but transformation through spiritual disciplines like prayer, study, solitude, and service. For Willard, spiritual growth was not about earning God’s favor but about participating in the divine life through active cooperation with grace.
His teachings emphasized the concept of apprenticeship to Jesus—being with him, learning to be like him—and his influence extended to ministries such as Renovaré, the Apprentice Institute, and the Dallas Willard Center for Spiritual Formation. He served on the boards of organizations like the C.S. Lewis Foundation and Biola University, and his intellectual and spiritual legacy continues through Dallas Willard Ministries and academic institutions inspired by his work.
Willard was also a deeply personal writer who shared candidly about the challenges of balancing academic life with family. Despite his own admitted shortcomings, those closest to him regarded him as a man of deep love, humility, and grace. His enduring impact can be seen in the lives and works of many contemporary Christian thinkers and writers, including Richard J. Foster, James Bryan Smith, and John Mark Comer. As both philosopher and pastor to the mind, Dallas Willard remains a towering figure in the dialogue between rigorous thought and transformative Christian practice.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews
January 17, 2025
I know I say this a lot- but I truly can’t recommend this book enough. A great read to start off 2025. Willard takes you on a journey through Jesus’s parables, reminding us what God’s kingdom is really about. It’s shocking, challenging, & encouraging all in one. Some of my favorite quotes…
On doing life with God, “There is a kingdom of God we’re all being invited to live in, and we can know it by experiencing it’s reality. We can come to know the presence of the King in our lives with such constancy and power that even when we are suffering great pain or lying down to die, we can know the presence of the kingdom and be blessed.”
On using our talents, no matter what God gives us, “Think about yourself for a moment- your body, your intellect, your talents. Few people are satisfied with these traits about themselves, but our first question needs to be, ‘Can we be faithful with these basic gifts God has given us?’”
On the gap between our inner life and outer life, “The quality of leadership depends on the interior life of the individual. That is, what is in their heart or will, in their thoughts and emotions, in their body and soul, and in the automatic responses of their social interactions.”
On being a merciful person, ‘You may think “it’s alright for God to be merciful, but what’s going to happen if I’m merciful? Won’t they just do it again? God can afford mercy, but I don’t think I can.’ It’s only when we step into the path of mercy that we begin to live in the power of God. It is in the stream of mercy we begin to live without holding anything against anyone.”
On the parable of the Good Samaritan, “A foundational test of our spiritual life is how deeply we can feel with people who are different than us… We will have many occasions to invest in people, to be a neighbor to someone in need, to store up eternal treasures in heaven. We don’t control who comes into our lives; God does. He sends us the people to whom we can be a neighbor.”
On doing life with God, “There is a kingdom of God we’re all being invited to live in, and we can know it by experiencing it’s reality. We can come to know the presence of the King in our lives with such constancy and power that even when we are suffering great pain or lying down to die, we can know the presence of the kingdom and be blessed.”
On using our talents, no matter what God gives us, “Think about yourself for a moment- your body, your intellect, your talents. Few people are satisfied with these traits about themselves, but our first question needs to be, ‘Can we be faithful with these basic gifts God has given us?’”
On the gap between our inner life and outer life, “The quality of leadership depends on the interior life of the individual. That is, what is in their heart or will, in their thoughts and emotions, in their body and soul, and in the automatic responses of their social interactions.”
On being a merciful person, ‘You may think “it’s alright for God to be merciful, but what’s going to happen if I’m merciful? Won’t they just do it again? God can afford mercy, but I don’t think I can.’ It’s only when we step into the path of mercy that we begin to live in the power of God. It is in the stream of mercy we begin to live without holding anything against anyone.”
On the parable of the Good Samaritan, “A foundational test of our spiritual life is how deeply we can feel with people who are different than us… We will have many occasions to invest in people, to be a neighbor to someone in need, to store up eternal treasures in heaven. We don’t control who comes into our lives; God does. He sends us the people to whom we can be a neighbor.”
April 2, 2025
this book is 100% going on my reread list. It was so applicable to everyday life and was filled with sooo much wisdom and application! seriously recommend this to everyone!!
October 20, 2024
After Dallas’ death, I never imagined we would get another book from him. But Jane Willard and the rest of the family have blessed us with a stunning and powerful addition to an already magnificent legacy. More informal than most of his other works, this might be the best place for readers just getting to know him to begin. Highly recommended.
November 17, 2024
This is a very helpful overview of the parables, some of Jesus's most important yet most misunderstood teachings. Willard emphasizes the practical nature of the parables, demonstrating how Jesus was telling real-life stories in order to unveil the nature of the kingdom he was bringing to the world. This would be great book to study as a group. Highly recommend.
October 27, 2024
This is one of the more practical and accessible books by Dallas Willard. He is never an easy read, but always worth the work. This book introduces you to many of the concepts he writes about, at length, in other works while walking you through the parables of Jesus. Highly recommended for anyone trying to get their mind around what the kingdom of God means and looks like in our daily lives!
December 24, 2024
This book was an extraordinary read. I have read eight of Dallas Willard books and as I read it seems that the last one I read becomes the best. Perhaps it is because "The Scandal of the Kingdom" is primarily an exposition of the parables of Jesus Christ, that I take to this one so special. This reading talks about the actual way in which Jesus taught His disciples and us as His disciples today. Willard taught the Parables of Jesus in a series before his death in 2013 and his teachings from that series are recorded by his daughter in this book. She takes no credit for the writing; the author of the book is of course, Dallas Willard and him alone.
In reading this book, and for that matter, any of Dallas’ books I fully agree with John Mark Comer, who wrote the Forward: “I have rarely met someone who combined such peaceful presence with such passion for the disciplined pursuit of the with-God life.” I have found that I want to quote more from this book than any other I have read. It is amazing that I highlighted so many passages, jotted notes in the margins, and paper clipped pages for reference. What struck me was the way Dallas made so many observations in the words of the parables before the interpretation. I have learned so much by making observations of the scriptural passages from reading this book.
Dallas gives a great example of why Jesus taught in parables. “When Jesus said, ‘Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand’ (Matthew 13:13), he was probably thinking something like this: At this moment they don’t seem ready to hear or see. If I tell them a story about a woman who searched her entire house for one lost coin, they will be able to see and hear that kind of thing. It will be something they will remember for a while and the deeper meaning will reveal itself in time.” Further, Jesus’ stories “allowed people time and space to think, circumventing their pride or fear. A story invites reflection, not argument.”
So, in this book Dallas has taught me to meditate on the parables and apply the teaching of Jesus to reach the depth of my heart in relating to Him and others concerning the Kingdom of God.
There is so much to relate to you about this book but most interesting to me comes in the last chapter, that being about the parable of the good shepherd. Right away by observation Dallas notes that the Samaritan is not called “good” in the parable, he is a “certain” Samaritan. But the lesson essentially deals with, who is my neighbor. But as Dallas notes it is better expressed as “to whom will I be a neighbor.” This was eye-opening to me. Here is the point, like the Samaritan “the next person we come across—though we may have never seen them before and though they are very unlike us—may turn out to be someone to whom we will choose to be a neighbor.”
In closing the book Dallas’ hope in teaching “The Scandal of the Kingdom” touched me to agree with him for what I received by reading it that: “this study of what Jesus taught in his kingdom parables will deepen your understanding about the message of Christ and provide a compelling vision of life in the kingdom of God.” The parables have become sweet and clear in my mind!
Oh, that you to would be able to experience this for yourself in reading “The Scandal of the Kingdom,” one of Dallas Willard’s best writings. Perhaps comparable to his “Life Without Lack,” a close look at Psalm 23.
In reading this book, and for that matter, any of Dallas’ books I fully agree with John Mark Comer, who wrote the Forward: “I have rarely met someone who combined such peaceful presence with such passion for the disciplined pursuit of the with-God life.” I have found that I want to quote more from this book than any other I have read. It is amazing that I highlighted so many passages, jotted notes in the margins, and paper clipped pages for reference. What struck me was the way Dallas made so many observations in the words of the parables before the interpretation. I have learned so much by making observations of the scriptural passages from reading this book.
Dallas gives a great example of why Jesus taught in parables. “When Jesus said, ‘Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand’ (Matthew 13:13), he was probably thinking something like this: At this moment they don’t seem ready to hear or see. If I tell them a story about a woman who searched her entire house for one lost coin, they will be able to see and hear that kind of thing. It will be something they will remember for a while and the deeper meaning will reveal itself in time.” Further, Jesus’ stories “allowed people time and space to think, circumventing their pride or fear. A story invites reflection, not argument.”
So, in this book Dallas has taught me to meditate on the parables and apply the teaching of Jesus to reach the depth of my heart in relating to Him and others concerning the Kingdom of God.
There is so much to relate to you about this book but most interesting to me comes in the last chapter, that being about the parable of the good shepherd. Right away by observation Dallas notes that the Samaritan is not called “good” in the parable, he is a “certain” Samaritan. But the lesson essentially deals with, who is my neighbor. But as Dallas notes it is better expressed as “to whom will I be a neighbor.” This was eye-opening to me. Here is the point, like the Samaritan “the next person we come across—though we may have never seen them before and though they are very unlike us—may turn out to be someone to whom we will choose to be a neighbor.”
In closing the book Dallas’ hope in teaching “The Scandal of the Kingdom” touched me to agree with him for what I received by reading it that: “this study of what Jesus taught in his kingdom parables will deepen your understanding about the message of Christ and provide a compelling vision of life in the kingdom of God.” The parables have become sweet and clear in my mind!
Oh, that you to would be able to experience this for yourself in reading “The Scandal of the Kingdom,” one of Dallas Willard’s best writings. Perhaps comparable to his “Life Without Lack,” a close look at Psalm 23.
August 1, 2025
A very welcome addition to my shelves… this is a great entry for many to Willard, and honestly should be read by everyone in the church or even used as a devotional to go through the parables. There’s not like a punch of *bam* Scandal of the Kingdom (insert big idea) - rather it feels like a series of devotionals on different parables and aspects of the Christian life like mercy, forgiveness, faith, etc… which is still really good and like I said, makes it approachable.
“Those we live with and lead will forget almost everything we say, but they will always remember the kind of person we were.”
“Those we live with and lead will forget almost everything we say, but they will always remember the kind of person we were.”
November 5, 2024
Book Review Rating: 9/10
This Book Is:
- A great posthumous addition to Dallas Willard's body of work.
- Written in the same pastoral/conversational style as other Dallas Willard books (e.g. Life Without Lack).
- An application of Dallas Willard's theology to the parables of Jesus about the Kingdom of God.
- Written at a more accessible level than longer works by Dallas Willard (e.g. Divine Conspiracy).
This Book Is Not:
- A comprehensive study of the parables.
- A theology textbook.
- A repackaging of other books already published.
My Takeaways:
- Make the Most of the Small Things: Dallas Willard uses the parable of the Talents (Luke 19) to show how life in the kingdom of God means reigning with creativity alongside God for eternity. We are responsible for making the most out of the things God has given us, even the small things. It is a challenge to think about how I can make an impact in the spheres of influence that I have. We are often misled into thinking that we have very little and therefore very little to give. Dallas Willard points out how we need to take God seriously and believe that we are worth the investment that God has made in us. Believing that God has given me specific gifts to use to reach people for his kingdom gives me the courage and freedom to step out of my comfort zone and see where God leads me.
- Think Big: God is able to accomplish more than we can ask or imagine. I don't think I have ever set out to do something for God's glory that could only be possible with God's power. I tend to aim small and limit my aspirations to things that I can achieve with my own power, probably to avoid disappointment. It is also very easy for me to jump from wanting to do something significant to wanting to be recognized as having done something significant. It is helpful to think about what seeking a God-sized goal from a place of humility could look like in my life.
- Wealth In the Kingdom of God: Dallas Willard uses the parable of the rich fool (Luke 12) to teach about wealth in the kingdom of God. Wealth can take hold of our hearts and become an idol. God transforms our relationship with money and frees us from the pull of wealth by teaching us to be content with the gifts God has generously provided. Wealth in the kingdom of God is not based on money, possessions, or treasures. Wealth is based on our own character and the investment we make in the lives and character of others. It can be easily fall back into relying on my bank account balance for my security. It is easy to focus on spiritual growth and character formation from a place of privilege. I need to learn to be vulnerable and trust God for my security beyond what makes sense from my logical, human perspective.
- Persistence in the Kingdom of God: Dallas Willard uses several parables to show how persistence in forgiveness, service, prayer, and humility are prerequisites for growth. For me, the hardest of these four areas are prayer and humility. Prayer can sometimes feel more like a duty or chore than a conversation with a friend or father. I pray that God gives me a greater desire to seek him. Humility helps us trust in God and not in ourselves. I can easily view myself as superior to those around me, but this judgmental attitude comes from a place of insecurity and desire for meaning through recognition. I ask God to give me humility to see and value others as God does.
Click here to read the full review at Faithful Intellect.
This Book Is:
- A great posthumous addition to Dallas Willard's body of work.
- Written in the same pastoral/conversational style as other Dallas Willard books (e.g. Life Without Lack).
- An application of Dallas Willard's theology to the parables of Jesus about the Kingdom of God.
- Written at a more accessible level than longer works by Dallas Willard (e.g. Divine Conspiracy).
This Book Is Not:
- A comprehensive study of the parables.
- A theology textbook.
- A repackaging of other books already published.
My Takeaways:
- Make the Most of the Small Things: Dallas Willard uses the parable of the Talents (Luke 19) to show how life in the kingdom of God means reigning with creativity alongside God for eternity. We are responsible for making the most out of the things God has given us, even the small things. It is a challenge to think about how I can make an impact in the spheres of influence that I have. We are often misled into thinking that we have very little and therefore very little to give. Dallas Willard points out how we need to take God seriously and believe that we are worth the investment that God has made in us. Believing that God has given me specific gifts to use to reach people for his kingdom gives me the courage and freedom to step out of my comfort zone and see where God leads me.
- Think Big: God is able to accomplish more than we can ask or imagine. I don't think I have ever set out to do something for God's glory that could only be possible with God's power. I tend to aim small and limit my aspirations to things that I can achieve with my own power, probably to avoid disappointment. It is also very easy for me to jump from wanting to do something significant to wanting to be recognized as having done something significant. It is helpful to think about what seeking a God-sized goal from a place of humility could look like in my life.
- Wealth In the Kingdom of God: Dallas Willard uses the parable of the rich fool (Luke 12) to teach about wealth in the kingdom of God. Wealth can take hold of our hearts and become an idol. God transforms our relationship with money and frees us from the pull of wealth by teaching us to be content with the gifts God has generously provided. Wealth in the kingdom of God is not based on money, possessions, or treasures. Wealth is based on our own character and the investment we make in the lives and character of others. It can be easily fall back into relying on my bank account balance for my security. It is easy to focus on spiritual growth and character formation from a place of privilege. I need to learn to be vulnerable and trust God for my security beyond what makes sense from my logical, human perspective.
- Persistence in the Kingdom of God: Dallas Willard uses several parables to show how persistence in forgiveness, service, prayer, and humility are prerequisites for growth. For me, the hardest of these four areas are prayer and humility. Prayer can sometimes feel more like a duty or chore than a conversation with a friend or father. I pray that God gives me a greater desire to seek him. Humility helps us trust in God and not in ourselves. I can easily view myself as superior to those around me, but this judgmental attitude comes from a place of insecurity and desire for meaning through recognition. I ask God to give me humility to see and value others as God does.
Click here to read the full review at Faithful Intellect.
January 20, 2026
This is a crucial commentary on the underestimated parables of history's wisest man.
Willard approached Jesus's parables with the proper reverence, knowing they are not archaic illustrations for audiences to discard or modernize; they capture the essence of life in the kingdom of God. When taken together, they build an architecture of life's most important truths. These parables are meant to be memorized and meditated upon, transforming the disciple's imagination altogether so that they think and act like Jesus.
While I can't say I agree with every minute conclusion of Willard, his seriousness and exploration model how we ought to engage with the teachings of Jesus. If we truly had "ears to hear" and expected God to work through these parables, we would be a fundamentally changed people.
5/5 Stars
Willard approached Jesus's parables with the proper reverence, knowing they are not archaic illustrations for audiences to discard or modernize; they capture the essence of life in the kingdom of God. When taken together, they build an architecture of life's most important truths. These parables are meant to be memorized and meditated upon, transforming the disciple's imagination altogether so that they think and act like Jesus.
While I can't say I agree with every minute conclusion of Willard, his seriousness and exploration model how we ought to engage with the teachings of Jesus. If we truly had "ears to hear" and expected God to work through these parables, we would be a fundamentally changed people.
5/5 Stars
February 7, 2025
A rich, deep dive into the parables. Willard unpacks the stories in an easily relatable way. He provides a thorough, contextual perspective into each parable.
He highlights the way that Jesus met people exactly where they were, with the message He knew they were capable of receiving, and gave them the freedom to internalizing it as they chose—He did not force His message, He simply shared it using situations and concepts people could deeply understand and He charges us, as his apprentices, to do the same.
This book challenges us (me) to view Christ’s stories as a personal message. When a particular parable feels especially pointed (toward me), perhaps that’s because I am due for a paradigm shift.
He highlights the way that Jesus met people exactly where they were, with the message He knew they were capable of receiving, and gave them the freedom to internalizing it as they chose—He did not force His message, He simply shared it using situations and concepts people could deeply understand and He charges us, as his apprentices, to do the same.
This book challenges us (me) to view Christ’s stories as a personal message. When a particular parable feels especially pointed (toward me), perhaps that’s because I am due for a paradigm shift.
February 19, 2025
Dallas Willard truly views Jesus as the smartest philosopher and teacher to ever live and approaches his teachings as such. This view on Jesus has been deeply formative for me over the past year, and I was so thankful for another description of Jesus' teachings from Willard.
This served as a nice companion guide to many of Jesus' Kingdom-centered parables, and the editors did a great job of capturing Willard's view and voice!
This served as a nice companion guide to many of Jesus' Kingdom-centered parables, and the editors did a great job of capturing Willard's view and voice!
August 2, 2025
Took a while with this one, but it was nice to read slowly as the book basically goes chapter by chapter through different sermons on Parables. Particularly loved Chapter 7–went through the parable of the talents. Some fav quotes: “Evidence of the presence of the Spirit of God is the incommensurability of the outcome with the effort” & “True humility is based on a high view of God and others, not on a low view of the self.”
December 25, 2024
I worked my way through this one slowly, taking it all in. Though I read the audio book, there was so much substance that I found myself constantly pausing to write quotes in my notes app. Will revisit in the future. Dallas Willard was such a treasure.
March 22, 2025
Consistent with all Dallas Willards work this is clear and challenging. How to understand and recognize the kingdom is something that every follower of Jesus needs to learn and this book will be a great help in doing that.
May 18, 2025
A comprehensive guide to all the parables. Strong, effective analogies. Perceptive side stories. A very good piece of writing. Unfortunately, I don't seem to remember enough of it after I read it, but that's also because April and May kind of wipe my memory out. The best part that he kept coming back to was investing in people. I've been trying to do that for many, years now and I'll continue to do so.
August 30, 2025
I’m very thankful for all those who labored to compile these teachings of Dallas on Jesus’ parables. It’s like he’s still with us helping us along in our apprenticeship to Jesus. The book is full of insights and practical wisdom for everyday life. As with other books by Dallas, I had to read it slowly, but I enjoyed it. I definitely recommend reading it. Cheers!
January 1, 2026
This book was a gift, to read Willard unpack the parables of Jesus with his classic depth and curiosity, unveiling the beauty and scandal of God’s kingdom.
It pushes us to deal with the life of God’s kingdom in our daily lives.
It pushes us to deal with the life of God’s kingdom in our daily lives.
February 10, 2026
I've learned that I'm not a huge fan of published works compiled from speeches of an author. However, this book was an exception! I really appreciated Willard's straightforward look at Jesus' parables and found challenging nuggets in every chapter.
January 14, 2025
This was one of the best and most accessible books written on Jesus’s parables.
June 21, 2025
Willard is an author all of my favorite authors reference. Felt it was time to jump in.
July 23, 2025
One of my favorite Dallas Willard books! He explains the parables in a gentle but wise way, with actionable suggestions for living.
December 17, 2025
Another phenomenal Willard book.
Typed quotes:
Parables turn out to be doorways leading into a beautiful and loving reality. They also disrupt our comfortable notions about God in heaven. They are a gentle guide with a revealing power.
Human government runs on force, deception, and brutality and the power of death. All human governments have the power of death, but they lack the power of life, this is what the kingdom of God has, the power of life! Its based on the new birth which is entry into the kingdom of God. We are invited to bring our lives into the eternal life of God in his everlasting kingdom. Be mindful that eternity is already in progress. John 17:3
The kingdom is available. Turn into it. People think they must live on their own, their resources and abilities. They are trying to survive, trying to get their own way, trying to secure themselves, advance themselves. . Tremendous unhappiness comes from people struggling to run their own kingdom. The things over which they have control, when they are not under God.
Parables creatively employ the power of logical insight to enable people to come to the truth about themselves and God through their hearts and minds.
Isaiah. (Even what they have will be taken away from them) It’s like not having a bucket, and try to hold the water with cupped hands. Jesus wasn’t willing to give his listeners more than they could handle because it wouldn’t help them.
Parables were 1, Culturally relevant. Jesus sought to challenge and radically change the culture of the world and prevailing assumptions of the day, things people believed and lived without thinking. 2 Easily remembered. Unusual, hard to forget. 3. In the context of ordinary life and objects. Familiar! Connect to the story. 4. Logical. Jesus used the power of reason, common sense, logical, to get at the heart of things and where people lived. 5. More meaningful as time passed.
In workplaces, families, schools, churches, people believe if they don’t get along with certain people they should simply have nothing to do with them. Thoughts like these are a way that feelings run our lives and we do things our own way that we can’t hear any messages of love, unity, forgiveness, acceptance.
An enemy is watching and in various ways he snatches the word out of the mind. It’s important to actively hold onto the word. We may think we don’t need to study the Bible or memorize scripture, but these practices are crucial. Satan finds many ways to keep the word out of our minds. We may simply think we have better things to do.
Receiving the word with an honest and good heart, means truly hearing it, but also holding onto it and acting in connection with it. We join our will with the word we’ve received.
We receive the word of the kingdom into our lives and live into that reality.
As disciples, we need to understand the parable of the sower (Matthew 13) applies to each of us all the time. Jesus is the sower and works with people speaking through them to sow the word of the kingdom.
If we don’t want God’s kingdom, the with-God-life, God will allow us to live the with-me-life the source of all our troubles.
When you put that little seed down in the earth, its packed with potent substances. tHT power cracks the seed and puts out a little root, it starts eating dirt and putting out a little leaf and then more leaves and then fruit. The seed has organized reality in a specific and defined way to make a watermelon out of dirt, water and sunlight.That’s why the logos is portrayed as a seed. It’s a spiritual power designed to organize reality.
Jesus Christ himself did not preach that historical reality (death, burial, resurrection) as the whole gospel. That is part, but not the whole. The gospel of our Lord is the present availability of the kingdom of God.
I sensed the lord saying, Never try to find a place to speak. Try to have something to say.
People have been made to feel guilty for not speaking more forcefully about what they believe. It’s not our business to make things happen; We are told to be witnesses. Saying what we have seen and experienced. We are told to make disciples. Our job is to witness to the word of truth, show the kingdom of God in our life and our prayers, and give an account of the hope within us with gentleness and respect. The seeds we sow will not be in vain.
The word of the kingdom is brimming with a power like seeds bursting with energy as they emerge from the soil.
The role of a disciple is to learn from Jesus who to live their life and share what they have experienced. When we share God’s kingdom to others we abandon the seed to the ground and let it work. Patience and confidence in God and his Word are helpful virtues.
To exalt ones’ self is actually to be demeaned. We often do this by blatantly or subtly letting our good qualities and deeds be made known. It can be a poisonous thing. The discipline of secrecy can be extremely helpful for us.
Here, Jesus is telling people to break free from the practice of quid pro quo. I do something for you so you do something for me. You don’t have to play that game. You can invite your family too, the point is about the practice. Invite to the feast people who can’t pay you back. Parable.
Do we love God and the kingdom of God? Do we love the kind of day to day interaction with God we see in the life of Jesus, in the early church, and perhaps have experienced in our own lives? Or perhaps something else? God will not force the kingdom down our throats.
Surrender is what enables a person to become a disciple of Jesus and receive the life of the kingdom. Without surrender Jesus says that person cannot be my disciple.
It doesn’t have to stay the same! Allowing the wheat and tares to grow together allows time and opportunity for the tares to become wheat through the power of God’s Word.
The church is not a building, but a people who are infiltrating the whole world. The solution to human problems is not a human solution, it is learning to live in the kingdom of God through apprenticeship to Jesus and increasingly becoming like him and of his kingdom.
They come to church and because they’re hardworking, intelligent, highly motivated, they soon carry the burdens of leading the church as they gradually start to take over and run the show, they forgot who’s in charge. Like Nebuchadnezzar. If God were to die, they might never know it, because they church is functioning on good organizational principles and effective means of socialization. That’s why churches get in trouble when they grow because they split and lose the spirit of Christ and refuse to forgive and get along with one another.
Money is a primary part of our responsibility of extending our rule and reign (God’s kingdom) It enables us to do things we can’t do without it. Jesus understood this and addressed it, he knew money was important and gives power (parable of dollar/talents) Luke 19.
God’s greatness is seen precisely in his lowliness. He is ready, wiling, able to deal with the smallest things. His care and love go out to every person no matter how insignificant people might say they are.
What have you been giving say over? You are in charge of your body, and you are here to use that body as the place of God’s glory, or honoring God and blessing others. Your work is not just your job. It’s your family, community as well. The total amount of good you will accomplish.
You may decide not to be in charge of some things. (e.g. your neighbors and the way they behave)
Authority: You create something or accomplish certain tasks. You author something when you produce it, bring ideas into reality, a plan or a book. Jesus was the author of teaching that rang so true, they said, Where does he get this? He could bring truth into reality, but also heal, cast out demons, raise the dead.
Living a life worth of the Lord. What do they do? They bring the life of the kingdom to other people by opening their lives to it themselves, this is the calling of every follower of Christ. That’s what Jesus said and did. Repent for the kingdom of the heavens is at hand. The kingdom that was in him. As people looked at him and listened. They realized it was available and as a result become his disciples. They exemplify eternal living and bring it to bear on everything around them. Their lives are caught up in God’s life as they steward his kingdom on earth, what Jesus is doing is a part of what they are doing, and what they are doing is a part of what He is doing.
No matter what our lostness looks like, the heart of God relentless pursues those who are lost and is always giving, forgiving, and reconciling, helps us find our way back to him, his heart is full of kindness and mercy and is never condemning. What is the attitude of our own hearts? Groups of people who have never seen themselves as lost, always succeeded, good home, life went well, never suffered, been at end of their rope. They are lost and need to be found. Then the group of people who say the right thing but don’t do it. Third kind is those who have failed and know it. Their own choices to turn away from God, don’t blame others, but confess, I was the one who was/is lost.
Sinful Woman who anointed Jesus story. A woman who knew she had been lost, and a man who thought he had never been lost. Put yourself in this story. Inviting Jesus was bold and risky. He ate with, slummed around with “those people” We see a profound truth that people who don’t love the Lord much, it’s often because they lack a sense of how much forgiveness they have needed.
The gangsters, prostitutes, and dishonest politicians will enter the kingdom of God before you do.
The Father was out there looking. He had probably looked down that way every day with a yearning broken heart. He didn’t sit in his living room, righteously judging his foolish son. He was hoping his son would come home!
Son, you’re always with me, all that I have is yours. The father begged the elder son to have mercy on his brother. The heart of the father is a reconciling heart. He forgives and also goes out to the one who doesn’t think he needs forgiveness and begs him to understand mercy. Blessed are the merciful.
Jesus taught about condemnation. Matthew 7:1. Judge not…He was dealing with people who believed they could control others by condemning them. That if they were to stop judging the offender would continue doing evil/bad things. People are convinced to keep the condemnation coming thick and fast so everyone will know what to do. Truth is, they will know what to do. Condemn us too!
What do we treasure, spend our time worrying about, thinking about, being concerned about, what do we pour our life into? That’s our treasure!
G Campbell Morgan. Faithful and unfaithful servant reveals our heart toward the church community. The parable of 10 virgins, reveals our heart toward individual responsibilities. Parable of talents, reveals our heart in the context of the world.
Since we cannot live in the past or future, we have to live today. Salvation is deliverance. A new order of life, much more than forgiveness of sin, but delivered from the power of darkness and transferred to the kingdom of God’s beloved Son. We are to have a different order of life, we are to live in and from a different world.
Jesus may come to us in the form of a neighbor, a child, a pastor, teacher, friend, or even enemy. To watch means we encounter people with anticipating this may be an opportunity to serve the Lord, meet the Lord, work with the Lord.
You have to cultivate a forgiving heart. The way of human nature in its fallen condition is to be unforgiving. The way of life in the kingdom of God is to forgive routinely and easily. Parable of unmerciful servant.
You have to accept forgiveness as something that comes from God through you to others. Then because Christ is living in you you will be forgive to forgive those you thought you could never forgive. It’s not quick. It doesn’t mean the relationship can or should be restored. It means that it doesn’t consume you or preoccupy your mind. Fill your mind with Christ. Pray for the grace. It must come from God. It’s false to say, If you haven’t stopped hurting, you haven’t forgiven. Please don’t believe that. People who say forgive and forget. If you’re trying to stop hurting, this may be confusing. The mark of forgiveness is not that you no longer hurt, but that you’re no longer preoccupied with the hurt.
The nature of God’s kingdom is not based on recompense but giving to those in need. Such as dinner guests who are unable to pay you back.
All paid the same wages parable. Was it that they were not adequately paid, it’s how they were paid in comparison to others! It create envy. I’m really grateful for a job, and what’s provided for me. Jesus understood that comparison creates all kinds of problems.
The farmer in the parable wasn’t foolish because he was rich, but because his riches were his treasure. The issue is the deceitfulness of riches. Challenges our trust in riches, to bring us happiness, wellbeing, security.
Giving our wealth is not the issue, keeping our wealth is the issue, having it. God doesn’t need our money. This isn’t about giving, but about how having riches can be done wrongly or rightly. Do you have them, or do they have you?
How does one know they are laying up treasures for self or for God? One of the best ways is work on this question, What is your life? What occupies your time, energy, thoughts? What have you set your heart on? (Security, bank accounts, national security, human life is insecure apart from God).
We are all called to be priests and kings under God. The ideal situation is not have two or three powerful people doing the work, but to have a powerful community through which the work is done without any attention on who’s doing it other than God.
Matthew 25, parable. People are God’s treasure. What can we do for others, especially the least of these, aer the treasure we can send on to heaven!
Children excel at persistence and humility.
The story changed the question from Who is my neighbor (wrong question, debatable), to To whom will I be a neighbor? Often our family and those closest to us, those we come across are ways to choose active love.
The great commandment (Love God, love neighbor) is not two separate commands, but one with two aspects. Having mercy or compassion is one of the main elements of loving our neighbors. We must think, What must they be feeling as they face their challenging circumstances. That’s what being compassionate is all about. You can be compassionate when you know abundant compassion is being provided to you by God.
Good Samaritan context: When we’re too busy to help someone in need. When our religious practices blind us to the needs of people, those practices become a snare.
Understand that Jesus’ way is one of compassion, of tears, and one of smiles. Tears shed and joy experienced.
Ask yourself how much of your time really centers around the renewal and development of your life, doing little things you think you have to do instead. That’s failing to redeem the time.
Typed quotes:
Parables turn out to be doorways leading into a beautiful and loving reality. They also disrupt our comfortable notions about God in heaven. They are a gentle guide with a revealing power.
Human government runs on force, deception, and brutality and the power of death. All human governments have the power of death, but they lack the power of life, this is what the kingdom of God has, the power of life! Its based on the new birth which is entry into the kingdom of God. We are invited to bring our lives into the eternal life of God in his everlasting kingdom. Be mindful that eternity is already in progress. John 17:3
The kingdom is available. Turn into it. People think they must live on their own, their resources and abilities. They are trying to survive, trying to get their own way, trying to secure themselves, advance themselves. . Tremendous unhappiness comes from people struggling to run their own kingdom. The things over which they have control, when they are not under God.
Parables creatively employ the power of logical insight to enable people to come to the truth about themselves and God through their hearts and minds.
Isaiah. (Even what they have will be taken away from them) It’s like not having a bucket, and try to hold the water with cupped hands. Jesus wasn’t willing to give his listeners more than they could handle because it wouldn’t help them.
Parables were 1, Culturally relevant. Jesus sought to challenge and radically change the culture of the world and prevailing assumptions of the day, things people believed and lived without thinking. 2 Easily remembered. Unusual, hard to forget. 3. In the context of ordinary life and objects. Familiar! Connect to the story. 4. Logical. Jesus used the power of reason, common sense, logical, to get at the heart of things and where people lived. 5. More meaningful as time passed.
In workplaces, families, schools, churches, people believe if they don’t get along with certain people they should simply have nothing to do with them. Thoughts like these are a way that feelings run our lives and we do things our own way that we can’t hear any messages of love, unity, forgiveness, acceptance.
An enemy is watching and in various ways he snatches the word out of the mind. It’s important to actively hold onto the word. We may think we don’t need to study the Bible or memorize scripture, but these practices are crucial. Satan finds many ways to keep the word out of our minds. We may simply think we have better things to do.
Receiving the word with an honest and good heart, means truly hearing it, but also holding onto it and acting in connection with it. We join our will with the word we’ve received.
We receive the word of the kingdom into our lives and live into that reality.
As disciples, we need to understand the parable of the sower (Matthew 13) applies to each of us all the time. Jesus is the sower and works with people speaking through them to sow the word of the kingdom.
If we don’t want God’s kingdom, the with-God-life, God will allow us to live the with-me-life the source of all our troubles.
When you put that little seed down in the earth, its packed with potent substances. tHT power cracks the seed and puts out a little root, it starts eating dirt and putting out a little leaf and then more leaves and then fruit. The seed has organized reality in a specific and defined way to make a watermelon out of dirt, water and sunlight.That’s why the logos is portrayed as a seed. It’s a spiritual power designed to organize reality.
Jesus Christ himself did not preach that historical reality (death, burial, resurrection) as the whole gospel. That is part, but not the whole. The gospel of our Lord is the present availability of the kingdom of God.
I sensed the lord saying, Never try to find a place to speak. Try to have something to say.
People have been made to feel guilty for not speaking more forcefully about what they believe. It’s not our business to make things happen; We are told to be witnesses. Saying what we have seen and experienced. We are told to make disciples. Our job is to witness to the word of truth, show the kingdom of God in our life and our prayers, and give an account of the hope within us with gentleness and respect. The seeds we sow will not be in vain.
The word of the kingdom is brimming with a power like seeds bursting with energy as they emerge from the soil.
The role of a disciple is to learn from Jesus who to live their life and share what they have experienced. When we share God’s kingdom to others we abandon the seed to the ground and let it work. Patience and confidence in God and his Word are helpful virtues.
To exalt ones’ self is actually to be demeaned. We often do this by blatantly or subtly letting our good qualities and deeds be made known. It can be a poisonous thing. The discipline of secrecy can be extremely helpful for us.
Here, Jesus is telling people to break free from the practice of quid pro quo. I do something for you so you do something for me. You don’t have to play that game. You can invite your family too, the point is about the practice. Invite to the feast people who can’t pay you back. Parable.
Do we love God and the kingdom of God? Do we love the kind of day to day interaction with God we see in the life of Jesus, in the early church, and perhaps have experienced in our own lives? Or perhaps something else? God will not force the kingdom down our throats.
Surrender is what enables a person to become a disciple of Jesus and receive the life of the kingdom. Without surrender Jesus says that person cannot be my disciple.
It doesn’t have to stay the same! Allowing the wheat and tares to grow together allows time and opportunity for the tares to become wheat through the power of God’s Word.
The church is not a building, but a people who are infiltrating the whole world. The solution to human problems is not a human solution, it is learning to live in the kingdom of God through apprenticeship to Jesus and increasingly becoming like him and of his kingdom.
They come to church and because they’re hardworking, intelligent, highly motivated, they soon carry the burdens of leading the church as they gradually start to take over and run the show, they forgot who’s in charge. Like Nebuchadnezzar. If God were to die, they might never know it, because they church is functioning on good organizational principles and effective means of socialization. That’s why churches get in trouble when they grow because they split and lose the spirit of Christ and refuse to forgive and get along with one another.
Money is a primary part of our responsibility of extending our rule and reign (God’s kingdom) It enables us to do things we can’t do without it. Jesus understood this and addressed it, he knew money was important and gives power (parable of dollar/talents) Luke 19.
God’s greatness is seen precisely in his lowliness. He is ready, wiling, able to deal with the smallest things. His care and love go out to every person no matter how insignificant people might say they are.
What have you been giving say over? You are in charge of your body, and you are here to use that body as the place of God’s glory, or honoring God and blessing others. Your work is not just your job. It’s your family, community as well. The total amount of good you will accomplish.
You may decide not to be in charge of some things. (e.g. your neighbors and the way they behave)
Authority: You create something or accomplish certain tasks. You author something when you produce it, bring ideas into reality, a plan or a book. Jesus was the author of teaching that rang so true, they said, Where does he get this? He could bring truth into reality, but also heal, cast out demons, raise the dead.
Living a life worth of the Lord. What do they do? They bring the life of the kingdom to other people by opening their lives to it themselves, this is the calling of every follower of Christ. That’s what Jesus said and did. Repent for the kingdom of the heavens is at hand. The kingdom that was in him. As people looked at him and listened. They realized it was available and as a result become his disciples. They exemplify eternal living and bring it to bear on everything around them. Their lives are caught up in God’s life as they steward his kingdom on earth, what Jesus is doing is a part of what they are doing, and what they are doing is a part of what He is doing.
No matter what our lostness looks like, the heart of God relentless pursues those who are lost and is always giving, forgiving, and reconciling, helps us find our way back to him, his heart is full of kindness and mercy and is never condemning. What is the attitude of our own hearts? Groups of people who have never seen themselves as lost, always succeeded, good home, life went well, never suffered, been at end of their rope. They are lost and need to be found. Then the group of people who say the right thing but don’t do it. Third kind is those who have failed and know it. Their own choices to turn away from God, don’t blame others, but confess, I was the one who was/is lost.
Sinful Woman who anointed Jesus story. A woman who knew she had been lost, and a man who thought he had never been lost. Put yourself in this story. Inviting Jesus was bold and risky. He ate with, slummed around with “those people” We see a profound truth that people who don’t love the Lord much, it’s often because they lack a sense of how much forgiveness they have needed.
The gangsters, prostitutes, and dishonest politicians will enter the kingdom of God before you do.
The Father was out there looking. He had probably looked down that way every day with a yearning broken heart. He didn’t sit in his living room, righteously judging his foolish son. He was hoping his son would come home!
Son, you’re always with me, all that I have is yours. The father begged the elder son to have mercy on his brother. The heart of the father is a reconciling heart. He forgives and also goes out to the one who doesn’t think he needs forgiveness and begs him to understand mercy. Blessed are the merciful.
Jesus taught about condemnation. Matthew 7:1. Judge not…He was dealing with people who believed they could control others by condemning them. That if they were to stop judging the offender would continue doing evil/bad things. People are convinced to keep the condemnation coming thick and fast so everyone will know what to do. Truth is, they will know what to do. Condemn us too!
What do we treasure, spend our time worrying about, thinking about, being concerned about, what do we pour our life into? That’s our treasure!
G Campbell Morgan. Faithful and unfaithful servant reveals our heart toward the church community. The parable of 10 virgins, reveals our heart toward individual responsibilities. Parable of talents, reveals our heart in the context of the world.
Since we cannot live in the past or future, we have to live today. Salvation is deliverance. A new order of life, much more than forgiveness of sin, but delivered from the power of darkness and transferred to the kingdom of God’s beloved Son. We are to have a different order of life, we are to live in and from a different world.
Jesus may come to us in the form of a neighbor, a child, a pastor, teacher, friend, or even enemy. To watch means we encounter people with anticipating this may be an opportunity to serve the Lord, meet the Lord, work with the Lord.
You have to cultivate a forgiving heart. The way of human nature in its fallen condition is to be unforgiving. The way of life in the kingdom of God is to forgive routinely and easily. Parable of unmerciful servant.
You have to accept forgiveness as something that comes from God through you to others. Then because Christ is living in you you will be forgive to forgive those you thought you could never forgive. It’s not quick. It doesn’t mean the relationship can or should be restored. It means that it doesn’t consume you or preoccupy your mind. Fill your mind with Christ. Pray for the grace. It must come from God. It’s false to say, If you haven’t stopped hurting, you haven’t forgiven. Please don’t believe that. People who say forgive and forget. If you’re trying to stop hurting, this may be confusing. The mark of forgiveness is not that you no longer hurt, but that you’re no longer preoccupied with the hurt.
The nature of God’s kingdom is not based on recompense but giving to those in need. Such as dinner guests who are unable to pay you back.
All paid the same wages parable. Was it that they were not adequately paid, it’s how they were paid in comparison to others! It create envy. I’m really grateful for a job, and what’s provided for me. Jesus understood that comparison creates all kinds of problems.
The farmer in the parable wasn’t foolish because he was rich, but because his riches were his treasure. The issue is the deceitfulness of riches. Challenges our trust in riches, to bring us happiness, wellbeing, security.
Giving our wealth is not the issue, keeping our wealth is the issue, having it. God doesn’t need our money. This isn’t about giving, but about how having riches can be done wrongly or rightly. Do you have them, or do they have you?
How does one know they are laying up treasures for self or for God? One of the best ways is work on this question, What is your life? What occupies your time, energy, thoughts? What have you set your heart on? (Security, bank accounts, national security, human life is insecure apart from God).
We are all called to be priests and kings under God. The ideal situation is not have two or three powerful people doing the work, but to have a powerful community through which the work is done without any attention on who’s doing it other than God.
Matthew 25, parable. People are God’s treasure. What can we do for others, especially the least of these, aer the treasure we can send on to heaven!
Children excel at persistence and humility.
The story changed the question from Who is my neighbor (wrong question, debatable), to To whom will I be a neighbor? Often our family and those closest to us, those we come across are ways to choose active love.
The great commandment (Love God, love neighbor) is not two separate commands, but one with two aspects. Having mercy or compassion is one of the main elements of loving our neighbors. We must think, What must they be feeling as they face their challenging circumstances. That’s what being compassionate is all about. You can be compassionate when you know abundant compassion is being provided to you by God.
Good Samaritan context: When we’re too busy to help someone in need. When our religious practices blind us to the needs of people, those practices become a snare.
Understand that Jesus’ way is one of compassion, of tears, and one of smiles. Tears shed and joy experienced.
Ask yourself how much of your time really centers around the renewal and development of your life, doing little things you think you have to do instead. That’s failing to redeem the time.
September 6, 2025
Good introduction to several of the parables of Jesus. Willard helps demystify what it means that the kingdom of God is near, and what life in God’s kingdom looks like.
January 20, 2025
This book gave me the ability to clearly see life and what’s important. One of the most defining books I’ve read. Excellent.
January 1, 2026
If you haven't read Dallas Willard before, this book would be a great one to start with. Its readable while being profoundly helpful.
February 7, 2025
Sigh...this book was disappointing. I have read two Dallas Willard books and I thoroughly enjoyed both of them (Divine Conspiracy and The Great Omission), and I had high hopes for this one, but it just came across far too basic. I'm not sure I believe it was actually written by Willard, it didn't have the same 'oomph' that his others have had. On the one hand I believe the parables of Jesus have a sort of simplicity to them. There are some obvious lessons that I think most people understood, and I think even some of these 'simple' teachings of Jesus were profound for His day, but I also think there is certain complexity to the parables that we miss. I don't think the people struggled with the parables just because of their simple message, I think they struggled to look beyond the simplicity to all that Jesus was trying to express in them. I read Willard's explanation of the parables like a 'no-duh, obviously that's what they meant, tell me something not so obvious'. I read the book and thought, maybe I'm overthinking the parables; maybe they really are just these sort of basic and simple understandings and the people of Jesus' day were just really dense, but I then felt like the Holy Spirit nudged me and said, "maybe you're just dense as well. C'mon man!" There's gotta be more going on here in the parables, I just can't shake that feeling, but this book didn't scratch that itch.
March 18, 2025
This has very little to do with the Kingdom as such. It is a very legalistic and dry reading of the parables: little subtlety, no nuance, and nothing new. Frankly, it's a very weak reading of the stories Jesus told. I didn't like this book, but then again, I don't know why I try reading Willard's work. I have never appreciated it, and I've found his exegetical work to be rather dull and unsophisticated. This might be a helpful book for someone, but it wasn't for me. For all the praise John Mark Comer heaped upon Willard in the forward, I was left thoroughly underwhelmed by the content of this book.
September 9, 2025
Brilliant book. I feel like I only took a morsel away of what this book offered and I will certainly be reading it many times in my life. Like most of his work, the book talks about the Kingdom life, something that’s for today and not for some far off day in heaven. The message Jesus communicated in his parables were scandalous to those who heard it. However, it’s incredible news for us today and decide to trust in and live in them.
September 20, 2025
Willard notes that many people have substituted the message of Christ with a message about Christ. You have faith in Christ, but do you have the faith of Christ? We desperately need to be integrated into the will and nature of God, as well as God’s rule over His world in the way Jesus was.
Let’s talk about Jesus.
The way Jesus taught was to take whatever cultural balloon was floating by and let the air out of it. Jesus designed His teachings to point out common misunderstandings and errant cultural assumptions in order to realign them with the nature of the Kingdom of God. He gave His audience time and space to think, which led to the truth of His messages naturally circumventing their pride and fear. Stories invite reflection, not argument.
The parables of Jesus were culturally relevant, easily remembered, in the context of ordinary life, logical, and more meaningful as time passed. What am I choosing to do with the thoughts that are coming to my mind? Are there any thoughts that you should not think? What we seriously think about is one of the strongest indications of how our character has grown. The manner in which we direct our thoughts is super important to reflect on! The thoughts that are “uppermost in your mind” run your life. What is your life? Your life is what occupies your time, energy, and thoughts. What is your heart set on?
Character is not about what we do, but rather what we would or could do, given the opportunity. One of the great spiritual practices is not having the last word in an argument. We must no longer be preoccupied with the hurt. We must walk down the path of mercy so that we can begin to live in the power of God.
Let’s talk about Jesus.
The way Jesus taught was to take whatever cultural balloon was floating by and let the air out of it. Jesus designed His teachings to point out common misunderstandings and errant cultural assumptions in order to realign them with the nature of the Kingdom of God. He gave His audience time and space to think, which led to the truth of His messages naturally circumventing their pride and fear. Stories invite reflection, not argument.
The parables of Jesus were culturally relevant, easily remembered, in the context of ordinary life, logical, and more meaningful as time passed. What am I choosing to do with the thoughts that are coming to my mind? Are there any thoughts that you should not think? What we seriously think about is one of the strongest indications of how our character has grown. The manner in which we direct our thoughts is super important to reflect on! The thoughts that are “uppermost in your mind” run your life. What is your life? Your life is what occupies your time, energy, and thoughts. What is your heart set on?
Character is not about what we do, but rather what we would or could do, given the opportunity. One of the great spiritual practices is not having the last word in an argument. We must no longer be preoccupied with the hurt. We must walk down the path of mercy so that we can begin to live in the power of God.
October 23, 2024
In “The Scandal of the Kingdom”, Dallas Willard shines great light not only on the parables of Jesus, but Jesus himself, as He ‘came up with’ these ancient stories for the very first time. Why did He say things the way He did? What was His strategy, in conveying to us the reality of the Kingdom of God? What were the things He valued the most, the things He most longed to impart?
Willard has such high regard for Jesus, in the most practical kind of way. He understood Him as someone who teaches us eagerly, creatively, with all of his love and care, and all the resources of his own mind. In “the Scandal of the Kingdom”, Dallas emphasizes Jesus’ role as teacher, yet never at the expense of everything else that He is to us. Jesus is always exalted in his place within the Trinity, always the One who reigns as our Way, Truth, and Life. The reader comes away with in awe of Him, with a changed expectation of what He wants to show them and how He is ready to work in their life.
As for me, I have always found that the books that were written more ‘indirectly’ (such As Life without Lack, or Allure of Gentleness) have never felt like ‘less’ than his other books. The characteristic clarity, directness, warmth, and original pattern of thought are immediately present.
The family and friends of DW have done a beautiful job.
“The Scandal of the Kingdom” is a wonderful, wonderful gift to us. Not Dallas Willard leftovers! But choice gold!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews