Infuriating grace

Using cultural context, Kenneth E. Bailey gleans fresh wisdom from the truths embedded in five of Jesus’ parables | Marvin Olasky

We review Kenneth E. Bailey's Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes in this week's issue. Here are some of his insights into five parables of Jesus.

WORLD: In the parable of the great banquet, why are the excuses—just bought a field, just bought five yoke of oxen—so evidently insincere and insulting?

BAILEY: When guests in a traditional Middle Eastern village are invited to a banquet they are obliged to appear or offer face-saving excuses. The excuses must be believable. The guest can say, "My wife has just come down with a high fever, I must stay with her," or something of that kind. Such an excuse will preserve the personal honor of the host.