Part of The Jesus Library series, this book is a non-technical explanation of all the parables of Jesus in their first century social and religious context. They are seen as pictures of the revolution of God or the Kingdom of God, to use a more familiar terminology. Jesus is seen as a revolutionary in the radical sense that challenged the ideas and ideologies of his own day and which still challenge us today. The book concludes with appendices on the authenticity, interpretation and purpose of parables. The author also wrote The Rediscovery of Jesus' Eschatological Discourse and Studies in the History of Gospel Traditions. This is his first book aimed at a general readership.