A Social-scientific and Socio-ethical evaluation of ὁ κύριος in Matthew 25:14–30
- Johannesburg South African Theological Seminary 2024
- 171 PDF A4 Abstract, TOC
Since scholarship traditionally identifies the master in the parable of the talents (Matt 25:14– 30) as Jesus, it is important to determine whether the characteristics and ethics of the master are consistent with those attributed to Jesus elsewhere in Matthew. There are voices in modern scholarship that question the contradiction between the harsh master who cruelly dismisses an errant slave and the humble, forgiving, compassionate behaviour evident in Jesus’s earlier ministry. To resolve the apparent conflict and to prevent an anachronistic interpretation of the parable, it is necessary to understand the social and ethical standards by which the author and original audience would evaluate the characters in the parable. Social-scientific criticism (SSC) and socio-ethical analytics facilitate this. They provide the modern audience with knowledge about social conventions that were originally intuitively understood. The appreciation of how a typical first-century Roman Palestinian household functioned and the understanding of the honour and shame code are necessary for a proper interpretation of the parable. The answer is to be found, in part, in understanding that δοῦλοι are slaves, not servants. The research concluded that the master in the parable exhibited attributes that were aligned with the ethical expectations of ancient society while simultaneously presenting him in an unusually magnanimous light when compared with typical slaveholders of the day. In line with the expectations of an honour-based society, the master prudently eliminated the third δοῦλος (slave) whose dishonour threatened the stability of the household. Conversely, in a society in which slaves were obliged to be obedient and productive, praise was rare, yet ὁ κύριος offered praise for the two individuals themselves, not their accomplishments. More exceptional was the invitation into a closer relationship with himself. Early audiences would be intrigued by, and drawn to this remarkable master. As a moral exemplar, ὁ κύριος sets the stage for change that could unsettle an entire social order. The parable is directed at Jesus’s disciples, both ancient and modern. It teaches that Jesus is the ultimate authority over the Church and his disciples. He is uncompromising in fulfilling the goal promised in both the Old and New Testament scriptures—his ultimate and complete reign over all the world. In the intervening period, disciples are to work diligently with all they have to grow the kingdom of heaven for there will come a time when second chances are no longer available. Jesus is and will be generous toward those who contribute to growing the kingdom, 5 but he will be unyielding toward those who claim to follow him yet do nothing to further the kingdom. The contradiction between the harsh master and the humble Jesus that concerns some scholars is easily reconciled when viewed from a kingdom perspective with an accurate understanding of the ethics and social conventions of first-century Jewish Palestine.
Christian ethics Social ethics Bible--Social scientific criticism Bible--Comparative studies Religion and the social sciences