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

The parable also conveys the idea of sufficiency of the Scripture, thereby demonstrating
the fact that Moses and the prophets have permanency and abiding validity in vv. 16-18. If
one does not listen to Moses and the prophets, even though a messenger from the dead is sent
to them, they at no point accept the advice from him, namely, even the spectacular vision
from the dead will not move them to repent and obey. 78 As a result, now that God reveals
himself and his will through Moses and the prophets, none of those who neglect it can
legitimately protest their subsequent fate, as the rich man in the parable. 79
They must listen
to Moses and the prophets which is sufficient to avoid the suffering in Hades.
Blomberg, Interpreting The Parables, 206; Forbers, The God of Old: The Role of the Lukan Parables in the
Purpose of Luke’s Gospel, 196-97; Snodgrass, Stories with Intent, 433; Kilgallen, The Twenty Parables of Jesus
in the Gospel of Luke, 131-32. On the other hand, Stein proposes the need for repentance and stewardship of
possessions as sub-themes in the first part of the parable, and the validity of the Old Testament as a sub-theme in
the second part of the parable. Stein, Luke, 422.
78. Talbert, Reading Luke: A Literary and Theological Commentary on the Third Gospel, 156-59; Kilgallen, The
Twenty Parables of Jesus in the Gospel of Luke, 131-32.
79. Thorwald Lorenzen, “A Biblical Meditation on Luke 16:19-31,” ExpTim 87 (1975), 39-43; Stein, Luke, 422;
Blomberg, Interpreting The Parables, 206.
129