Jesus Remembered: Christianity in the Making, vol. 1

THE MISSION OF JESUS H2.5
In his seminal work on the theme Dodd focused not only on 'parables of crisis'
but also on 'parables of growth' ? 16 They are important for us, since three of the
'parables of growth' are specifically designated kingdom parables (the last two
also by Thomas) — the seed growing secretly (Mark 4.26-29), the wheat and the
tares (Matt. 13.24-30/G77z 57), and the mustard seed (Mark 4.30-32 pars./GTh
20). There is also the parable of the sower to be considered, which is reproduced
in all three Synoptics (Mark 4.2-9 pars.) and in GTh 9, with the same structure
and point (three unfruitful soils contrasted with fruitful soil) and only minor
storytelling variation. 377 And the parable of the leaven was also evidently reckoned
as cut from the same cloth and also designated as a kingdom parable (Matt.
13.33/Luke 13.20-21/GTh 96). 378 The tendency to group material of similar
theme is clearly evident, particularly in Mark and Matthew. The Thomas tradition
suggests that the individual parables were also recalled separately, but the
frequent repetition of the exhortation, 'Who has ears to hear, let him hear', attached
to the end of Thomas parables, is an indication of widespread usage in the
performance of Jesus' parables. 379 The memory of Jesus speaking on these
themes is evidently well rooted in the tradition.
1. Sower
2. Seed
3. Tares
4. Mustard Seed
5. Leaven
2. Mark 4.26-29
Matthew
13.3-9
13.24-30
13.31-32
13.33
26 The kingdom of God is as if someone would
scatter seed on the ground, 27 and would sleep
and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout
and grow, he does not know how. 28 The earth
produces of itself, first the stalk, then the head,
then the full grain in the head. 29 But when the
grain is ripe, at once he goes in with his sickle,
because the harvest has come.
Mark
4.2-9
4.26-29
4.30-32
GTh 21A
Luke
8.4b-8
13.18-19
13.20-21
GTh
9
21.4
57
20
96
May there be a man of understanding among you.
When the
grain has ripened, he came quickly with his sickle
in his hand (and) reaped it.
376. Dodd, Parables ch. 6.
377. See also Perrirt, Rediscovering 155-59; Wright also gives particular attention to the
parables of growth (Jesus 229-42).
378. On the details see Hultgren, Parables 406-407.
379. GTh 8.2; 21.5; 63.2; 65.2; 96.2 (also 24.2); cf. Mark 4.9 pars.; 4.23; Matt. 11.15;
13.43b; Luke 14.35b (also Rev. 13.9a).
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