Howard Thurman and the Parables: What Do Parables Want? (PART III, Chapters 5 & 6)

 

Part III: Two Sons and Their Father: A Parable about Us 

Chapter 5: Listening for the Whisper of God: “Thou Hast to Churn the Milk” 

Introduction 

The General Context in Luke 

The Departure (Luke 15:11–13a) 

Reading the Parable 

Insights from Howard Thurman’s Interpretations

 

Dissolute Living (Luke 15:13b–16) 

Reading the Parable 

Insights from Howard Thurman’s Interpretations 

The Prodigal “Comes to Himself” among the Swine (Luke 15:17–19) 

Reading the Parable 

Insights from Howard Thurman’s Interpretations 

• Thurman’s View of the Three “Lost” Parables: The Beginning of Community 
• The Prodigal Discovering Who He really is 
• The Prodigal Discovering Who He really is . . . that God is within Him 
• The Prodigal Son and “the Sound of the Genuine” 
• The Relationship between the “Inner” and the “Outer”
• There must be Community 

Chapter 6: A Father’s Love; A Brother’s Anger Return and Reception (Luke 15:20–24) 

Reading the Parable 

Insights from Howard Thurman’s Interpretations 

• The Prodigal Son and the Jewish Love-Ethic in the Religion of Jesus 
• The Prodigal Son and the Restoration of Community through Love 

The Older Brother, the Father, and the Prodigal (Luke 15:25–32) 

Reading the Parable 

Insights from Howard Thurman’s Interpretations 

• What is God Like? The Restoration of Community with God 
• What is God Like? The Restoration of Human Community 

Conclusion: (Love your enemy)