Parables

The purpose of parables is the same as the use of koan; that is, to jar one out of usual ways of thinking. I doubt very much that Jesus' intention was merely to better illustrate a point He wanted to make; He wanted to change how his auditors viewed reality. He wanted to punch them out of their complacency.

Both function as a meta-language to let us stand outside the everyday world. It is a hard place to get to.

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