Kenneth Bailey has this to say –
“In His parables Jesus often adopts an Old Testament theme and develops it. The parable of the Good Shepherd in Luke 15 can best be understood as a retelling of Psalm 23. The parable of the prodigal son contains fifty-one points of similarity and contrast to the story of Jacob in Genesis 27 – 36. The parable of the Two Builders in Luke 6 is profoundly related to Isaiah 28:14-18. In like manner the parable of Pharisee and the Tax Collector can be seen as having its roots in Isaiah 66:1-6. . . . . Such comparisons allow us to see Jesus as an extremely intelligent, metaphorical theologian who was a master of the Hebrew Scriptures and who developed significant aspects of His theology from the roots of His own tradition.”
In similar fashion Paul, moved by the Holy Spirit, developed Hosea’s prophecy in which the words “Not my people” and “My people” widened their application from Israel to include the Gentiles.
These examples of “updating” older texts tell us about the fluid nature of prophecy, and warn us not to see prophecy as “set in stone”. Today we need inspired teachers to tell us how God is now applying His ancient words, that we may be ready for all He is currently doing in preparing us for His Kingdom.
(Without saying why, I tried to update the parable of the Pharisee and Tax Collector yesterday in PT47, “Two Prayers”.)
Kenneth E. Bailey. “Jesus through Middle Eastern eyes”. Quotation from pages 350-351
Hosea 1:9-10, Rom.9:25-26. “Even us, whom he has called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?” (Verse 24)
Luke 18:11. Parable.
