Breaths Quote by Frederick Buechner
“I suspect that Jesus spoke many of his parables as a kind of sad and holy joke and that that may be part of why he seemed reluctant to explain them because if you have to explain a joke, you might as well save your breath.”
About This Quote
Jesus may have used parables as layered jokes, implying that over‑explanation defeats their purpose.
In simple terms: Parables as sacred humor.
Key Takeaway
Jokes lose power when dissected.
Themes
religion
humor
communication
mystery
interpretation
Mood
playful
reflective
enigmatic
Type
theological
philosophical
When to use this quote
- theological study
- preaching
- literary analysis
- personal reflection
Key Concepts
parables
jokes
reluctance
explanation
Practical Applications
- sermon preparation
- faith education
Questions to Reflect On
- Why might a teacher avoid explaining a joke?
- What does this suggest about the nature of truth?
![“He [Jesus] speaks in parables, and though we have approached these parables reverentially all these many years and have heard them expounded as grave and reverent vehicles of holy truth, I suspect that many if not all of them were originally not grave at all but were antic, comic, often more than…” quote by Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/7be/frederick-buechner-883_antics_he-jesus-speaks-in-parables-and-though-w_1847001.jpg)
