An essential standard work for preaching, teaching, and catechesis. The first comprehensive interpretation since Jülicher and Knoch. New formal differentiation of parable forms. Inclusion of recent linguistic aspects. Consideration of English-language parable literature. Impulses for the practice of interpretation. The volume offers the interpretation of all known parable texts from the Gospel tradition, including the apocryphal gospels and Agrapha. An introductory section clarifies methodological and hermeneutical questions alongside a brief overview of the history of research. In the main part, each parable is examined in a uniform structure and exegetical guidelines. Narrative and metaphorical dimensions are considered, as well as socio-historical, tradition-historical, and reception-aesthetic aspects. One author.