Parable of the wicked tenants (aka the murder mystery)

I'm preaching on the parable of the wicked tenants this morning and presenting it as a murder mystery because of its connections to Adam's "grasping" (Philippians 2:6) in the Garden, "to be like God" (Genesis 3:5). This is a story that climaxes with the tenants desire to to kill the "beloved Son of God" and take "his inheritance." (Mark 12:7)

Anyway, the preparation reminded me of a chapter from Engaging with Keller, which John Dekker briefly reviewed here, but is still on my to read list. Apparently one of the criticisms of Keller is that his theological ideas rest too heavily on parables. Like any methodology, this approach has its dangers, but it seems to me like a useful & powerful pedagogical tool.

[Walled vineyard]