The Parables of Jesus

I purchased this book because I became interested in the parables of Jesus Christ and decided to take a "rabbit trail" while studying the book of Luke. Because I am familiar with the author's work, I decided to purchase this book as a reference. I loved, loved, loved, the way he grouped the parables into types, and it has been one of my favorite study companions since I purchased it. I've read it a couple of times and used it in my bible study classes to aid in understanding the texts.

Insight into the teachings.

While Boice is a popular author and many will enjoy his writing style, he offers little new. But if what you are looking for is homiletic gems, Boice is an exceptional choice on the parables. Boice is fairly easy for people to understand and keeps a reformed perspective. I certainly understand the many 4 and 5 star reviews, but in the remainder of this review I will attempt to explain my lower ranking.All pastors and theologians will have their own theological persuasions and those always color their interpretations. How could they not? Still, as many within Boice's own camp are now letting Scriptures speak more in their context, it leaves Boice's work feeling dated and not very helpful.As an example, I will use one of the parables in the book. Please note that I am not trying to dismiss a theology or an interpretation, but rather to give reason for my lower ranking. The reader can determine for himself/herself.The parable of the Sower is the first parable Boice explains. He does well seeing out the basic issues. I like that he brings out that the "kingdom of God" is about God's rule. He then presupposes that the parable is about getting into heaven. He focuses on the 4 soils as 4 would-be believers and says the first 3 soils are not believers and the fourth is a believer. But nowhere in the parable is this mentioned. .. Not in the original parable, nor in Jesus' own interp. And with that homiletic maneuver, he has relegated the parable as not very applicable to believers. Obviously, the point of the parable is number four response, that much everybody gets. That is the only soil with fruit. Boice sees this too. But it is important that the sower and his actions are brought out. The point isn't who is and isn't saved, the point is who responds to God's rule and what God does and the specific results to the kingdom. Boice steals the impact of this powerful parable, imo.Granted, Boice does come back and summarize what God does (he is not missing the whole picture, he is quite capable), but he doesn't connect it to this parable. Dissappointing, if your goal is to better understand the parables.Do the last four sentences of Chapter 1 seem a bit contradictory to anyone else? He rightly points to God's ability...He even says we can't come to God. Then, at the end he says we can. Oh well, perhaps I just need to give him homiletic license. ..His preface does admit he didn't have much time to write the book.If you are new to the parables, you may like his approach. Boice will give you answers. Are they correct, though?If you want to go a little deeper, then you need to get something else. David Wenham's Parables of Jesus certainly has some strong points and is easy to follow. Still, he barely supports some of his fanciful interpretations. Hard to get excited. Pentecost does another nice introduction.More academic and hard to follow is the recent:  Stories With Intent: A Comprehensive Guide to the Parables of Jesus  has come out... still has a Calvinistic flavor, though well researched, well presented, and complete. But this will not serve the same purpose as Boice. Some other good academic titles...  Interpreting the Parables  and  Jesus the Sage: The Pilgrimage of Wisdom . All three of these (the last is not merely a book on the parables) are more academic and complete, so you might investigate them a bit before you buy.For non-academic titles: One wonderful book on the Parables is by Kenneth Bailey and he has several books to choose from. One on Luke's Parables is outstanding:  Poet and Peasant and Through Peasant Eyes: A Literary-Cultural Approach to the Parables in Luke (Combined edition)  and is very readable. His new one is even more easily read and full of wonderful insights:  Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes: Cultural Studies in the Gospels . You will enjoy and be informed of some of the deep meanings behind the Parables.

Mmm! Delicious. Montgomery wrote, you read, you reason him, you question him, then he responds; then you clarify many doubts about his learnings from the Scriptures and the parables used by our Lord.It is a good entree for what the main dish of our daily meals should be, I talk about the Scripture, the Bible.Thanks

This is a wonderful book. My men's group is currently doing it together and I'll also be recommending it for our couples bible study group. Well written, informative, and keeps you looking forward to the next chapter.

For the serious believer wholly invested in his/her relationship with Christ, do yourself a favor and get this book. Very simple, yet eye-opening. Covers all the parables of Christ and somehow challenges you to examine your heart to assess your loyalty to Jesus. This is a great work and a great study companion to the Word of God. 🔥

Loved his point of view on the parables

This is great to walk young believers through. Sounding pious, it did not go where I was hoping to go.

I have been a Christian for many years and thought I knew all them all well. That is until I found they are not only for those who need to know the truth about eternity. This book has moved me spiritually and taught me so much about myself. I urge you to read it. It is written with such compassion, understanding and love. Thank you James so much.

I'm not somone who is highly educated. I do however seek to broaden/deepen my understanding. My main area of interest is religion, and more specifically, the Christian religion. Currently I'm studying the parables that our Lord spoke. There are lots of books on this subject; however not all these books are suitable for someone like myself. Too many are written in a learned and academic style. Not many are suitable for a general readership; J.M. Boice's Parables of Jesus is most definitely written for a general readership. Mr Boice gives to the layperson a book which is edifying and interesting. Mr Boice fascinates with his expositions on the parables. He brings out the meaning of each story beautifully and in such a way that everyone will appreciate. If you want a book about jesus' parables that isn't full of technical language and that actually opens your eyes to what our Lord wanted to teach then this is a good book.

The late JMB left the Christian community with a real gem. OK it is a bit of an upgrade of an earlier work by William Taylor but he did intersperse it with thoughts from many others, including (& most importantly ) his own. Warmly commended for devotional reading and as a "first" commentary for the preacher.

Great interpretations on the parables. plenty to think about here.

Good, informative and easy to read book, which arrived in good time and in very good condition.