An essay written as part of my Grad. Dip. Theology in 2014.
In the Gospel of Mark, the parable of the wicked tenants is positioned within a sequence of honour challenges to Jesus by Jewish leaders. The parable and the pericopes that surround it use allegory and rhetorical devices from both Jewish and Greek traditions in order to encourage the faith of a Roman Christian readership. The encouragement comes by way of shaming the Jewish leaders and proclaiming that God is building something afresh with Jesus as the capstone.