Exploring the Financial Parables of Jesus: The Economy of Grace and the Generosity of God by Keith Bodner is an accessible, witty, and helpful new volume on the oft misunderstood and terse financial parables of Jesus. The basic premise of the book is that the parables of Jesus operate fundamentally on “an economy of grace”. Using this premise, Bodner devotes seven chapters to exploring several of Jesus’ parables regarding money, and through extensive exegesis and sensitivity, Bodner persuasively provides readings of the parables that lead the audience to conclude that the kingdom of God is essentially built on grace and reciprocity, both in material and spiritual matters. Unlike many books on the parables of Christ, Bodner (excluding his first chapter in which he provides a few guidelines) does not lay out any type of hermeneutic model for reading parables, but rather simply allows his exegesis to operate as an example for the reader. For some readers (church groups and lay people) this will serve as a benefit so they are not swept away in technical language or the debates of hermeneutics. For other readers (college students and professional academics) this will most likely seem to come as a detriment to the book as it is not engaging the broader realm of parable study. The book also does not attempt any type of systematic development or logic building. Instead, it takes one idea and attempts to flesh it out (this approach is similar to Dane Ortlund’s in his well-received book on the heart of Christ, Gentle and Lowly).
Overall, the best feature of Exploring the Financial Parables of Jesus is Bodner’s acute attention to the Old Testament narratives that seem to either enlighten or even provide the inspiration for several of Jesus’ parables. Bodner is an expert on Old Testament narrative and the literary sources that inform the New Testament, and it shows in his ability to draw meaningful connections. Even as someone who teaches the OT and NT for a living, I was consistently surprised by Bodner’s thoughtful insights and OT connections that seamlessly weave their way in, illuminating his exegesis.
However, my large critique of the book remains that Bodner does not devote any true attention to teaching readers how to read the parables of Jesus. For this book to be able to find true pedagogical use (beyond devotional or Christian living material) it would need to better provide models for students and readers to emulate. However, regardless of this critique, Exploring the Financial Parables of Jesus is a refreshing, interesting, often witty, and ultimately satisfying small book that leaves the reader with a far better sense of the often enigmatic words of Christ.
I received a free copy of the book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, but all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Did not finish this one. It jumps around between parables so that I had a hard time following the logic of it. It felt unorganized. The writing style does it no favors either, not exciting in the least.