Maybe a person gains a little instruction from these tales, maybe not.
You know who great with an instruction tale? JESUS. I’m reading books by Dr. Kenneth Bailey which analyze the Gospels from the perspective, as much as possible, of the original audience. The unwritten literary techniques employed by Jesus, just like those employed by Homer, boggle the mind.
The evangelists, such as Luke, employ traditional Middle Eastern poetic structures that encompass 8 or 10 chapters of a Gospel. Only the Holy Spirit could be behind this.
What is the title of the book by Bailey?