Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes: Cultural Studies in the Gospels »

Beginning with Jesus' birth, Ken Bailey leads readers on a kaleidoscopic study of Jesus throughout the four Gospels. Bailey examines the life and ministry of Jesus with attention to the Lord's Prayer, the Beatitudes, Jesus' relationship to women and especially Jesus' parables. Through it all, Bailey employs his trademark expertise as a master of Middle Eastern culture to lead us into a deeper understanding of the person and significance of Jesus within his own cultural context. With a sure but gentle hand, Bailey lifts away the obscuring layers of modern Western interpretation to reveal Jesus in the light of his actual historical and cultural setting.

About the Author:
Kenneth E. Bailey (Th.D., Concordia Seminary, St. Louis) is an author, lecturer and emeritus research professor of Middle Eastern New Testament studies for the Tantur Ecumenical Institute in Jerusalem

Preface     9
Introduction     11
The Birth of Jesus
The Story of Jesus' Birth: Luke 2:1-20     25
The Genealogy and Joseph the Just: Matthew 1:1-21     38
The Savior, the Wise Men and the Vision of Isaiah: Matthew 2:1-12; Isaiah 60:1-7     48
Herod's Atrocities, Simeon and Anna: Matthew 2:13-18; Luke 2:22-36     56
The Beatitudes
The Beatitudes 1: Matthew 5:1-5     65
The Beatitudes 2: Matthew 5:6-12     76
The Lord's Prayer
The Lord's Prayer: God Our Father: Matthew 6:5-9     91
The Lord's Prayer: God's Holiness: Matthew 6:9     104
The Lord's Prayer: God's Kingdom and Our Bread: Matthew 6:10-11     113
The Lord's Prayer: Our Sins and Evil: Matthew 6:12-13     124
Dramatic Actions of Jesus
The Call of Peter: Luke 5:1-11     135
The Inauguration of Jesus' Ministry: Luke 4:16-31     147
The Blind Man and Zacchaeus: Luke 18:35-19:11     170
Jesus and Women
Jesus and Women: An Introduction     189
The Woman at the Well: John 4:1-42     200
The Syro-Phoenician Woman: Matthew 15:21-28     217
The Lady Is Not for Stoning: John7:53-8:11     227
The Woman in the House of Simon the Pharisee: Luke 7:36-50     239
The Parable of the Widow and the Judge: Luke 18:1-8     261
The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Young Women: Matthew 25:1-13     269
Parables of Jesus
Introduction to the Parables     279
The Parable of the Good Samaritan: Luke 10:25-37     284
The Parable of the Rich Fool: Luke 12:13-21     298
The Parable of the Great Banquet: Luke 14:15-24     309
The Parable of the Two Builders: Luke 6:46-49     321
The Parable of the Unjust Steward: Luke 16:1-8     332
The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector: Luke 18:9-14     343
The Parable of the Compassionate Employer: Matthew 20:1-16     355
The Parable of the Serving Master: Luke 12:35-38     365
The Parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man: Luke 16:19-30     378
The Parable of the Pounds: Luke 19:11-27     397
The Parable of the Noble Vineyard Owner and His Son: Luke 20:9-18     410
Bibliography     427
Indexes     437