Parables are (very broadly), “a fictitious narrative that would generally refer to something that might naturally occur, by which spiritual and moral matters might be conveyed.” There is no end to the speculation that centers on the parable that Jesus tells today. People get caught up in various theories, asking, “Is it really a parable or a true story? Is Jesus trying to tell us what the afterlife looks like? Is this a commentary about wealth and poverty being reversed in the future life?”
This is not a parable (primarily) about riches and poverty, though there are many things in Luke 16 that can relate to how we see our money and stuff. There is more going on and we must take a step back and look at the picture language and ultimately Jesus’ own work in the world.
The Jews called storytelling to illustrate a message AGGADAH; it was creating word pictures to bring a deeper understanding of God and the world. Aggadah, to the Hebrews, was known as parables to the Greeks. Parables didn’t have to be long stories; they could also be simple illustrations conveying deeper spiritual concepts. In Luke 12 when Jesus says, “Consider how the wildflowers grow,” that was still considered Aggadah. It was a way of conveying that even everyday things can speak to the nature of your life in the Kingdom of God. Ultimately, parables are/were all about living in the Kingdom of God today. Eternal life with God begins now. Jesus creates word pictures so we would understand more of God, the world He made, and how we are to live in it.
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