Book Review: Short Stories by Jesus, Amy-Jill Levine

Short Stories by Jesus: The Enigmatic Parables of a Controversial Rabbi, by Amy-Jill Levine

Author background

I was introduced to Levine through a YouTube video that I somehow stumbled across. She appeared stern with her dark, grey-streaked hair pulled back in a low bun but spoke with such interest and added a bit of humor to temper her words. I don’t recall what the topic was, but I knew I needed to get my hands on what she had to say.

Amy-Jill Levine is a renowned New Testament scholar and professor of NT and Early Christianity. She is also Jewish. I continue to be as struck by her written teachings as I was by her video.

Structure of ‘Short Stories by jesus’

Short Stories by Jesus analyzes parables of the kingdom of heaven, first Levine’s translation of the the parable is presented, then common erroneous interpretations are addressed and finally Levine presents her own interpretation. Some of the erroneous understandings of the parables were so far fetched I wondered where they came from! I was quite glad that I had not heard them – many were anti-Jewish. As Levine points out, Jesus was a Jew, he would not have likely put down his own race. Others were allegories, and Levine points out that parables are their own literary form and different from allegory; this too we should set aside.

Levine’s presentation of misunderstood parables and her own interpretations are well researched. Footnotes abound in the material. I must say that I was so caught up in reading each chapter that I hardly noticed but cannot question the academic study behind what she presented.

Thoughts on Jesus’s Parables

Having written extensively of the Prodigal Son, I was hesitant to see what Prof. Levin had to say. In the end I had no need to worry – I don’t think I would have offended this fine New Testament scholar with what I have to say about the parable.

I most enjoyed how Levine striped away all that was not in the parable. Often, we seem to add to the parables many uninvited details. It is when we read the parable for what it actually says that we can appreciate the lesson that Jesus presented. The author also challenges us to identify with all of the key players in the parables. Often, we limit our view to the son, for example, in The Prodigal Son or to the injured man in The Good Samaritan. Why not consider ourselves the older brother or father? Why not consider how like we are to the Samaritan?

I had not heard The Laborers in the Vineyard presented as a study in economics. But why have I not? I would guess I have not heard it because we are very uncomfortable with the thought that Jesus might want us to pay our workers a fair wage. We don’t want to consider that Jesus was calling on the community to take care of the community. Perhaps we lose something by not knowing about the patron-client system of Rome, but that does not change what the basic facts of the parable are. It challenges me. It challenges me in the best way.

A challenge for believers 5/5 stars

I find myself quite uncomfortable with the interpretations that the author presented about some of the parables, even now. I have been uncomfortable because they were challenging me to understand and do as Jesus said. They were challenging me to look at myself and my attitudes and beliefs and ask if I was doing as Jesus illustrated. For this reason, it took me a while to complete my reading of this book. After each chapter, I was compelled to let it marinade or percolate. I hope that it will turn into something delightful in me. This is a book I will return to again and take copious notes to remind myself of what Jesus said to his followers. 5/5 stars