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The Forty Parables of Jesus
2022 Catholic Media Association first place award in academic studiesIn this book, which covers all of Jesus’ parables, award-winning author Gerhard Lohfink takes a closer look at the origins of each one—its shape, its realistic details, but most of all its original message and the situation into which it was once spoken. Jesus’ parables speak in bold images of the kingdom of God, making it present to us as they reveal something of the mystery of his own person.
Lohfink also offers a review of some of the scholarship in this area—as this topic has sustained research on Jesus since the first telling of these stories—but not for the purposes of debate. His reflections interpret the forty parables and show how they speak of the coming of the reign of God, lead us to Jesus, and reveal the mystery of Jesus himself.
Lohfink also offers a review of some of the scholarship in this area—as this topic has sustained research on Jesus since the first telling of these stories—but not for the purposes of debate. His reflections interpret the forty parables and show how they speak of the coming of the reign of God, lead us to Jesus, and reveal the mystery of Jesus himself.
334 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 15, 2021
39 people are currently reading
60 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
March 13, 2026
Gerhard Lohfink, theologian, has written one of the most scholarly and inviting books on Jesus in his discussion of the “forty parables”. Of course, Jesus is an important feature of the book given Father Lohfink’s faith and motivation. But this is also an excellent teacher telling us about the structure and power of story, even the very short parables in the four Gospels (mainly in the synoptic Gospels).
First, Fr. Lohfink has studied context. For example, he has studied the social and cultural framework of life in first century Palestine, from marriage practice to the development of an agricultural laboring class. Further, he has explored both the ancient and current agricultural practices of Palestine in order to shed light on vine-growing and on whether grain can inded increase 100-fold. In these studies he seems very open to every source he can reach. (For example, he writes about “tilling” or the ability of a grain seed to send up a plant with multiple stems each with its load of grain.)
Second, Fr. Lohfink is also a literary scholar. He discuses the arc of plot and tension, the unexpected sudden surprise, the open ending, and so forth, that have made the Gospel parables lasting stories on how to live and what Jesus’ purpose is. But, most of all, how the stories invite reconsideration over and over.
I won’t say that I always totally agree with Fr. Lohfink — because I do not or, rather, I wish I could have the opportunity to talk with him. For example, in the parable of the Prodigal Son, I think more should be said about the elder son and what the younger son’s debt to him or responsibility to him is. And, in the Parable of the Good Samaritan, why is it that the despised Samaritan is the example of the loving neighbor and not a Jew like the lawyer who asked “Who is my neigbor?” I suppose these thoughts are one of the powers of Fr. Lohfink’s ability to teach and to hear.
Indeed, among the very good teachers that I have had, I wish that I could number Fr. Lohfink. In the book’s beginning, he describes a class he taught or led, and it was delightful to see how he remembered and described the various students and how his attention fully accepted their comments. Now, that is a class for thinking people!
First, Fr. Lohfink has studied context. For example, he has studied the social and cultural framework of life in first century Palestine, from marriage practice to the development of an agricultural laboring class. Further, he has explored both the ancient and current agricultural practices of Palestine in order to shed light on vine-growing and on whether grain can inded increase 100-fold. In these studies he seems very open to every source he can reach. (For example, he writes about “tilling” or the ability of a grain seed to send up a plant with multiple stems each with its load of grain.)
Second, Fr. Lohfink is also a literary scholar. He discuses the arc of plot and tension, the unexpected sudden surprise, the open ending, and so forth, that have made the Gospel parables lasting stories on how to live and what Jesus’ purpose is. But, most of all, how the stories invite reconsideration over and over.
I won’t say that I always totally agree with Fr. Lohfink — because I do not or, rather, I wish I could have the opportunity to talk with him. For example, in the parable of the Prodigal Son, I think more should be said about the elder son and what the younger son’s debt to him or responsibility to him is. And, in the Parable of the Good Samaritan, why is it that the despised Samaritan is the example of the loving neighbor and not a Jew like the lawyer who asked “Who is my neigbor?” I suppose these thoughts are one of the powers of Fr. Lohfink’s ability to teach and to hear.
Indeed, among the very good teachers that I have had, I wish that I could number Fr. Lohfink. In the book’s beginning, he describes a class he taught or led, and it was delightful to see how he remembered and described the various students and how his attention fully accepted their comments. Now, that is a class for thinking people!
May 16, 2022
Lohfink has a heart for the parables. When he sticks to interpreting them, he has valuable insights and pleasant turns of phrase. He even spun some of them in directions I had not anticipated, particularly with the talents (the master is unscrupulous, as in Luke 16). He has a great feel for the “kingdom of God” idea and pushed me to think more deeply about the real point of some of the parables that stall out at the level of moralizing.
My major beef with the book was Lohfink’s insistence on the “real” or “original” parable. There are some unwritten ground rules here: he believes Jesus never spoke any parable more than once or in more than one context (which is, of course, preposterous) and the gospel writers, confused or threatened, added their own wrinkles and interpretations. These are unprovable, skeptical assumptions. He does not seem to realize that repeatedly suggesting that the parables are unreliable in their current form robs them of their power.
My major beef with the book was Lohfink’s insistence on the “real” or “original” parable. There are some unwritten ground rules here: he believes Jesus never spoke any parable more than once or in more than one context (which is, of course, preposterous) and the gospel writers, confused or threatened, added their own wrinkles and interpretations. These are unprovable, skeptical assumptions. He does not seem to realize that repeatedly suggesting that the parables are unreliable in their current form robs them of their power.
February 24, 2026
This is a marvelous book. The parable descriptions provide understanding that I lacked in many instances. The author shows the "kingdom of God" as a consistent theme and shows it to be here and now, not pie in the sky. He does not stop there; judgement is a feature of the parables as well. I will be reflecting on this book long after finishing it.
September 20, 2021
Always inciteful, Lohfink takes on the Parables of Jesus. While I have nothing to compare his scholarship with, his explanations of the stories ring with truth. These stories go very deep into what it means to seek the reign of God. Lohfink gives much to contemplate.
July 17, 2022
I really enjoyed reading this book. It is informative, inspiritual and very interesting. It brings bibical scholarship with familiar parables to increase knowledge in the scriptures.
April 20, 2024
Great insight into the parables and the backstory.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews