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

Chapter 7
A Unifying Motif of the Lukan Parables: Perspective on the Christian Life
From the results of chapter 5 and 6, we now need to group the theological themes and build a
topic which unites all of the themes. I propose here ‘Perspectives on the Christian life’ as the
overarching theme, grouping the theological themes of the Lukan Parables that have been
presented above. This is just because all of them are intimately related to instruction on the
Christian life. Moreover, given the fact that the Lukan parables are placed in the travel
narrative, which includes the Christian life as one of two pivotal themes of the travel
narrative as a whole, it further supports the argument that the Lukan parables function as
parables of the Christian life. In what follows, I will outline the ‘Perspective on the Christian
Life’ by examining how Christians should live in the world according to Jesus’ instruction
which emerges from the Lukan parables. I have divided ‘Perspective on the Christian life’
into three categories, describing them in terms of relationships: The relationship with
neighbours; The relationship with material possessions; and the relationship with God.
1. The Relationship with Neighbours: Love and Forgiveness
In the Lukan parables, the relationship of the Christians with neighbours is presented as love
and forgiveness. First of all, it is obvious that the Parable of the Good Samaritan (10:25-37)
teaches us to love our neighbour, and that this love is to be unconditional and unqualified,
emphasizing that we must put love of neighbour into action. Regardless of ethnic or social
ties, the people of God must show mercy to all, even one’s enemies. None of us must limit
boundaries of care and obligation. The parable firmly rejects all prejudice and discrimination,
namely, racial, intellectual, financial, religious and nationalistic prejudice, or anything else
that would restrict doing acts of love. The teaching of the parable harmonizes well not only
with Jesus’ concern of the outcasts of the society, but also with Jesus’ emphasis on loving
one’s enemies. The parable reminds us of the sermon on the plain where the love command is
so central (6:27-36). In this respect, the Samaritan is indeed a practical example of the
teaching of Jesus. Just as Jesus sees and has compassion on the widow at Nain (7:13), so the
Samaritan sees and has compassion on the injured man. Compassion with divine quality
enables one to feel deeply the suffering of others, and still more to move from the world of
observer to the world of helper. The commandment of practice, “Go and do likewise” not
only seeks to turn a man with a mania for creeds and anemia for deeds into a man of practice,
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