Includes bibliographical references (p. 771-815) and indexes.

Introduction to the parables of Jesus -- Necessary history -- What is a parable? -- How should parables be classified? -- What about allegory? -- Characteristics of Jesus' parables -- Distribution of the parables -- How should parables be interpreted? -- NT criticism--assumptions and hesitations, method and procedure -- Parables in the ancient world -- The Old Testament -- Early Jewish writings -- Greco-Roman writings -- The early church -- Later Jewish writings -- Grace and responsibility -- The unforgiving servant (Matt 18:23-35) -- The two debtors (Luke 7:41-43) -- Parables of lostness -- The arrangement of Luke 15 -- The lost sheep (Matt 18:12-14/Luke 15:4-7) -- The lost coin (Luke 15:8-10) -- The compassionate father and his two lost sons (Luke 15:11-32) -- The parable of the sower and the purpose of parables (Matt 13:3-23; Mark 4:3-20; Luke 8:5-15) -- Parables of the present kingdom in Matthew 13, Mark 4, and Luke 13 -- The growing seed (Mark 4:26-29) -- The wheat and the weeds (Matt 13:24-30, 36-43) -- The mustard seed (Matt 13:31-32; Mark 4:30-32; Luke 13:18-19) -- The leaven (Matt 13:33; Luke 13:20-21) -- The treasure (Matt 13:44) -- The pearl (Matt 13:45-46) -- Parables specifically about Israel -- The barren fig tree (Luke 13:6-9) -- The two sons (Matt 21:28-32) -- The wicked tenants (Matt 21:33-46; Mark 12:1-12; Luke 20:9-19 ; Gos. Thom. 65-66) -- The wedding banquet and the feast (Matt 22:1-14; Luke 14:15-24; Gos. Thom. 64) -- Parables about discipleship -- The two builders (Matt 7:24-27; Luke 6:47-49) -- The good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) -- The workers in the vineyard (Matt 20:1-16) -- The tower builder and the warring king (Luke 14:28-32) -- Parables about money -- The rich fool (Luke 12:16-21) -- The unjust steward (Luke 16:1-13) -- The richman and Larzarus (Luke 16:19-31) -- Parables concerning God and prayer -- The friend at midnight (Luke 11:5-8) -- The unjust judge (Luke 18:1-8) -- The Pharisee and the tax collector (Luke 18:9-14) -- Parables of future eschatology -- The net (Matt 13:47-50) -- The eschatological discourse -- The ten virgins (Matt 25:1-13) -- The talents and Theminas (Matt 25:14-30; Luke 19:11-27) -- The sheep and the goats (Matt 25:31-46) -- Epilogue.