Interpretation Methodology

1. Read the parable with these questions in mind:
>Who's the main character?
This is the character that changes during the story.
Identifying the protaganist and antagonist will help do this.
>What was the message of the story?
>How is it significant to Jesus' audience?
Researching the time period will help to understand the message.\
2. After reading the parable, answer the above questions, re-read the parable if need be.
3. Try to unlock the deeper meaning of the parable by asking relevant, unusual questions that begged to be answered.
> Example "out of the box" questions: Why was the beaten man that the Samaritan
helped naked?
Why did the Samaritan help, while the \
priest and the Levite did not?
Why was the man beaten in the first place?