the role of the lukan parables in terms of the purpose of luke's gospel

7. The Parable of the Unjust Steward (16: 1-13)
7-1. The Literary Context of Luke 16
It is clear that Luke 15 and the parable are related in literary and thematic aspects. 1 Even
though there is a change of audience in 16:1, 2 the parable has the same scene as Luke 15. It
implies not only that the parable is told at the same time and under the same setting as ch. 15,
for want of a transition of the scene in ch. 16, but also that a relationship, at the very least,
exists between the two chapters. Moreover, there are a good deal of common motifs between
the parable and the Prodigal Son. Both begin with (“a certain man”) in Greek,
and both squander material possessions entrusted to them. Both abruptly face a crisis of
starvation and dismissal, and both use a monologue to express their inner feelings and plans.
Both in the end are given unexpected forgiveness and commandment from the father and the
master. Donahue, in addition to the above, provides five more similarities between two
parables. 3
R.A. Piper seeks for the similarities and relationship between the two chapters in a
thematic unity, the theme of the acceptance of sinners which is an issue of Lukan community
composed of a significant number of Jewish Christian and Gentile God-fearers. He claims
that with ch. 15 as a start, the theme of the acceptance of sinners in effect flows into ch. 18 in
which God accepts the tax-collector as a sinner, with a focus on acceptance rather than
1. Kilgallen, “Luke 15 and 16: A Connection,” 370-71; Austin, “The Hypocritical Son,” 307-315; Bailey, Poet
and Peasant, 108-109; Scott, Re-Imagine the World: An Introduction to the Parables of Jesus, 88; Forbes, The
God of Old: The Role of the Lukan Parables in the Purpose of Luke’s Gospel, 153; Nolland, Luke, 2:796;
Fitzmyer, The Gospel According to Luke, 1095; Marshall, Luke, 617; Stein, Luke, NAC, vol. 24 (Nashville: TN:
Broadman Press, 1992), 411. The most commentators recognize that the conjunction, in v. 1 generally
functions as a connector of the following parable with the previous one.
2. Michael R. Austin, following J.R.H. Moorman, contends that “it is a feature of Luke’s presentation that he
switches attention from one group of hearers to another, thus:”
15:3 “So he told them [the Pharisees] this parable …”
16:1 “He also said to the disciples …”
16:15 “But he said to them [the Pharisees] …”
17:1 “And he said to his disciples …”
17:20 “He answered them [the Pharisees] …”
17:22 “And he said to the disciples …”
18:9 “He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves and despised others [the Pharisees] …”
See Austin, “The Hypocritical Son,” 310-11; J.R.H. Moorman, The Path to Glory: Studies in the Gospel
according to Saint Luke (London, SPCK, 1963), 192.
3. The additional elements are as follows: the father and master as protagonist, self-serving motives, acceptance
into the house of hope, increasing tension by literary devices, open-ended, Donahue, The Gospel in Parable,
167-68.
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