In general, we should proceed with caution especially when dealing with the Rabbinic sources because of the over-tendency of many to draw parallels too quickly. Though components of Rabbinic literature have origins in the Second Temple Period, it is difficult to say with certainty what was already in the oral tradition during the first century. Nevertheless, I was recently reading through Barry Holtz’s Back to the Sources: Reading the Classical Jewish Texts and came across a midrashic parable which I found interesting:

What is the difference between the Written and the Oral Law? To what can it be compared? To a king of flesh and blood who had two servants and loved them both with a perfect love. He gave each of them a measure of wheat and each a bundle of flax. What did the wise servant do? He took the flax and spun a cloth. He took the wheat and made flour. He cleaned the flour and ground, kneaded and baked it, and set it on top of the table. Then he spread the cloth over it and left it until the king would come.

The foolish servant, however, did nothing at all. After some time, the king returned from a journey and came into his house. He said to his servants: my sons bring me what I gave you. One servant showed the wheat still in the box with the bundle of flax upon it. Alas for his shame, alas for his disgrace!

When the Holy One, blessed be He, gave the Torah to Israel, he gave it only in the form of wheat—for us to make flour from it, and flax—to make a garment from it. (Holtz, 28)

The parable comes from Seder Eliyahu Zuta (ch 2), and is very similar to the style and content of Jesus’ parables. I am reminded particularly of Jesus’ Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30), wherein the master entrusted his servants with monetary goods (talents). Two of the servants were productive but the third servant was not. While I am not claiming that one parable is derivative of the other (Seder Eliyahu Zuta’s final redaction is rather late), it is useful to see how the two parables have similar messages and storylines. Through such observations we have one more avenue of viewing Jesus through a Jewish eyes.