Fresh Eyes on Jesus’ Parables: Discovering New Insights in Familiar Passages

by Doug Newton

How does the parable of the good Samaritan redefine acts of social justice, not just acts of mercy? What does the story of the five talents teach us about daily spiritual life?
 
Fresh Eyes on Jesus’ Parables offers a new perspective on the stories Jesus told to His closest disciples. As in every book in this unique series, Pastor Doug Newton provides life-changing techniques for reading Scripture, such as skills in interpreting one passage using another. Readers will love discovering familiar parables again as if for the first time.
 

Genres: Christian, Christian Non Fiction, Nonfiction, Faith, Ebooks, Religion, Christianity

208 pages, Paperback

Published August 1, 2018

Reviews

[Debbie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I expected cultural background information, word studies, or something like that, but that's not really what this is. After readings three of his chapters, I realized I already knew the few bits of background information that he brought up and had heard his suggested interpretations before. One of his interpretations could never have been guessed by Jesus' audience at the time because that interpretation can only be "decoded" from a post-resurrection point of view. He apparently feels that parables were intended to have multiple interpretations and that, if the parable didn't provide certain information like the person's motive, that's because we're supposed to guess about it.

I believe that Jesus used parables to make a specific point to the people listening (often found in the context of the surrounding verses and sometimes even provided after the parable is told). Also, if the information wasn't provided in the parable, then it wasn't relevant to the point being made. Since we're coming at parables from different starting points, I don't think this a book I'm interested in finishing.

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting take on the Parables. He also has questions designed to make you think.

[Sandi Stover · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book explaining some of Jesus’ parables

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pastor Doug Newton's purpose in this series is to challenge Bible readers to discover new insights in familiar passages; I'd say he succeeds admirably. In nearly every chapter of this book, I found myself thinking: "Hmm -- I'd never thought about it quite that way before."

There were a few editing oversights in the Kindle text: Page 3, working with gold so long, I've forgotten it's value / working with gold so long, I've forgotten ITS value (literally, "the value of IT") ; 3, though I love God's Word, I've forgotten it's value / though I love God's Word, I've forgotten ITS value (see above note) ; 15, at writer's conferences / at WRITERS' conferences (multiple writers) ; 27, In a couple cases / In a couple OF cases ; 37, A couple years ago / A couple OF years ago ;

Page 45, For a couple years / For a couple OF years ; 87, a couple years younger / a couple OF years younger ; 89, with a couple other kids / with a couple OF other kids ; 90, owed him a couple bucks / owed him a couple OF bucks ; 91, over a couple bucks / over a couple OF bucks ; 95, A couple bucks is a couple bucks! / A couple OF bucks is a couple OF bucks! ; 113, these words mine / these words OF mine ; 133, Name a couple people / Name a couple OF people ;

Page 189, discover something you didn't known before / (there are two possibilities here, both acceptable: EITHER -- ) discover something you didn't KNOW before ( -- OR -- ) discover something you HADN'T known before .

[Terence Tan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Do you remember your first time hearing or reading the Parable of the Samaritan Man? Wow! Jesus exposes the hypocrisy of the religious elite. What a wise and powerful answer to the question, “Who is my neighbour?”

Do you remember how the weight of the parable came to bear on you? “Can I do that? What does this story mean to me? Will my life now be forever changed?”

Fast forward some years, and you have heard many sermons on the Good Samaritan, you have read many articles on the parable, you have explained the parable to others, perhaps even teaching it in Sunday school.

Now, when a preacher comes up to preach on the Parable of the Samaritan Man, or the Parable of the Sower, or the Parable of the Prodigal Son, or other familiar passages, before he has finished reading the passage, you have outlined his sermon and are now just tapping your watch waiting for him to finish. Unless, of course, the preacher offers new insights.

And if he does, those old passages spring back to life. You are gripped by the revelation of God speaking into your life again. Don’t you want a book that promises new insights on familiar passages? Doug Newton’s book “Fresh Eyes on Jesus’ Parables: Discovering New Insights in Familiar Passages” offers more than new insights. The keyword here is ‘discovering’. He gives you the tools for discovery.

Full 4314 word review at: https://readingandreaders.com/podcast...

[sam heaton · Rating 2 out of 5]

These don't really offer any fresh perspectives based off of the actual text & its proper exegesis, which is unfortunately what I was expecting. It's more of a "what if the parables were creative writing prompts?" book, which is, at best, massively unhelpful.

Two stars instead of one because even if the meaning he gives a parable has almost always nothing to do with the parable itself, none of it is heretical, and he does make the occasional good observation about the actual text, like with the celebrations in Luke 15.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

brings wonderful new thoughts on ten of Jesus' parables, and also offers techniques on how to view familiar passages with "fresh eyes". easy to read, simple, well structured, to the point, with plenty of examples. perhaps my favorite thing is that somehow, in every chapter, no matter the parable, the author brings out the beautiful goodness of the character of God :))

[Betty Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book with many "fresh eyes" examples. His words really made me think that I too had just listened to what others said about the parables in the Bible, without really thinking about them. I think he gives many good examples. Well worth anyone's time to read it.

[Jan Norton · Rating 4 out of 5]

The title fits the book

This really did give me some fresh eyes on the passages of Scripture that I have read many times. His thoughts and insights remind me of my pastor Cory Demmel.

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

Appreciation

I valued the insights and take on scripture and the model he presents to help us dive in again when it is easy to pass over the many areas in the bible that we have read over and over. Definitely worth the read.

[Mark and Adeline Flower · Rating 5 out of 5]

Refreshing

Refreshing. Great insight, different perspective. Challenged me to see the scripture in a new light. Easy yet thought provoking read. Would be a great book for small group conversations.

[Chad Saxton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an interesting read

This gave some really fresh takes on the parables. Made for some good conversation with my family. You should read this book to change the way you look at scripture.

[Rev Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't always agree with his interpretation of Jesus' parables. Sometimes the most likely and commonly understood interpretation is the best. Overall I do appreciate his goal to look at parables with the preconceptions of others.

[Matt Sauder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

Great new perspectives. Very insightful and helpful. Newton is an excellent down-to-earth writer and captures you with his stories and challenges.

[John Funnell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of helpful nuggets

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book to learn about new and creative ways to approach scripture biblically. The last chapter was probably the best!

[Frans Kempe · Rating 4 out of 5]

A look at some of Jesus parables. A well done study

[Regina · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of several books that I used to teach a small group on the parables of Jesus. Some unique perspectives in these pages.

[Karina Cortes · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the first chapters was really eye opening. The chapter about the man who found a pearl and sold everything to get it. The rest of the book was meh. It just didn’t live up to that chapter.

[Santy Kushwaha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Real life example from writers life experience on Jesus parables. Sometimes it provoke us to look into the passage of Bible to be used in modern world.

[Lee Murray · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was very interested in reading this book. The parables of Jesus are tough to comprehend. I was left with mixed feelings about this book.

Some chapters offered amazing clarity. Others I wondered if I was reading the right book. Many times they took the long way around the mountain.

There is an accompanying app—Fresh Eyes—that is a free download. My experience was either one or the other. The content was repetitive.

Recommended reading. Gaining more insight into the parables is always good.