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

Moreover, it is untenable that the steward has the restoration of his master’s honour in view
in reducing the debts of the debtors. That is why in his monologue we learn that the steward
is reducing the debts for the safety of his future. In a similar vein, if so, why does vv. 8b-13
not understand the parable in the honour-shame background? The emphasis of vv. 8b-13 is on
prudence, faithfulness and loyalty, not on the honour-shame motif. 103
It seems to focus
presumably on the potential thing more than the explicit references in the parable on the
whole.
Another thing to explore is the attempt to view the rich man in the parable as God. For
Bailey, the God of mercy is linked to the mercy of the master that treated the accusation for
his steward’s initial wastefulness with a gracious disposition. The steward depends on the
mercy of his master to settle his crisis and is praised by his master for his wisdom in acting to
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preserve himself in vv. 5-7 with confidence to the master’s generosity and mercy.
However, as noted above, it is doubtful whether the dismissal is a gracious disposition
because it put him at risk of his life. From a slightly different angle, Loader claims that the
master typifies God who advocates Jesus’ authority to forgive sins, 105 whereas Donahue
argues that the master represents the response of God who grants time for response as an
opportunity, by not punishing instantly. 106
These suggestions are untenable in view of the
fact that the master immediately dismissed his steward.
107
The parable is a crisis parable and a “how much more” parable. The audience is faced
with the radical demands of the kingdom that is begun by Jesus’ preaching and ministry. The
concerns between a proper attitude to wealth and eschatological crisis indeed should not be
separated, since the eschatological awareness influences how one sees material possessions.
Just as the steward acted in the worldly crisis for his safety, how much more in eschatological
crisis should Jesus’ followers act for their safety? Prudence means both preparedness for
one’s safe future, with right awareness of a crisis and the proper use of wealth in view of the
presence of the kingdom and of coming judgment, just as steward did in his crisis. Despite
listening, engaging, debating and complaining about Jesus, the Pharisees as the rich man in
the next parable do not realize the eschatological crisis has arisen from Jesus’ preaching and
103. M. Dwaine Greene, “The Parable of the Unjust Steward As Question and Challenge,” ExpTim 112 (2000),
82-87, here 84.
104. Bailey, Poet and Peasant, 105-107.
105. Loader, “Unjust Steward,” 528-32.
106. Donahue, The Gospel in Parable, 168-69.
107. Forbes, The God of Old: The Role of the Lukan Parables in the Purpose of Luke’s Gospel, 177-178;
Snodgrass, Stories with Intent, 416; Metzger, Consumption and Wealth in Luke’s Travel Narrative,131.
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