Emphasis Preaching Journal

Jesus seems to favor the poor in this parable. This lines up with the insights of the father of black liberation theology James Cone, who says that Jesus reveals "he is the God of and for those who labor and are heavy laden" (A Black Theology of Liberation, pp. 7-8). Most of us do not want to hear this. Harvard economist Edward Glaaeser has found that 60% of Americans believe that the poor are lazy (A World of Difference). Social analyst Alvin Toffler makes clear why we tend to bash the poor.