DP #15: Hearing the Parables of Jesus

Author Perkins shortly addresses Places at the Table in his book, Hearing the Parables of Jesus. He says that the parable is one of many which plays on "awkward situations of social etiquette with benign humor," declaring that such parables have the reader really consider what is going on in such situations and and themselves which elements of it is the most important (think: social norms v. challenging societal standards). Perkins also says that holding oneself to these standards may take away our attention to real issues such as social justice and fellowship with others in the "Christian community." He sums it up by saying that our superficial concerns of social/societal ranking are no concern of God's, which is Jesus' message through the parable.