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

ut also teaches that it is our task too which we must all tenaciously pursue and combats
against. Even though loving our neighbour as oneself is difficult, there is no alternative for
followers of Jesus.
The purpose of the Parable of the Prodigal Son (15:11-32) lies in the father’s love and
compassion. At the heart of the parable is the father’s love towards his sons in which the
father deals impartially with his sons. His love not only enables repentance for the younger
son, but could also, demolish the elder son’s hostility and grievances, and enable his
participation in the celebration. “The story,” as J.R. Donahue mentions, “is really a story of
the ‘Prodigal father’-lavish in love-who shatters the servile self-understanding of both sons
and wants both to be free.” 1
Along this line of analogy, God, who Jesus represents in his
ministry is identified with the forgiving and merciful father presented in the parable.
Particularly in relation to the introduction of vv. 1-2, the parable functions as a defense of
Jesus’ association with sinners. Like the instruction of the parable, if Jesus’ receiving sinners
and eating with them reveal God’s mercy and forgiveness, then the Pharisees and the scribes’
grievances must cease. The point, in relation to the story between the elder son and his father,
lies in understanding grace rather than partiality and envy. If the elder son continuously clings
to self-righteousness and the mind of merit and reward, he will never understand his father’s
generous and unmerited actions. In the end, his obstinacy prevents him from feeling his
father’s love, even the fact that he has been living in the shade of his father all this time, “Son,
you are always with me.” But if, having discarded his own standpoint, he stands in his
father’s position with love and compassion towards the younger son, he will finally
understand the grace offered without any cost and unconditional forgiveness. In the case of
the preceding two parables, he is to treasure the mind of the shepherd and the woman who
place tremendous value on their lost one. Jesus’ aim is not to rebuke, but to persuade. That is
to say, according to the father’s love and forgiveness towards his sons, those who are
grumbling in 15:1-2 must be willing to accept as a token of forgiveness, and love the return
of sinner.
In addition, The Pharisee and The Tax-Collector (18:9-14) implicitly can be mentioned in
that the parable also provides an instruction about justification. That is to say, there is no
justification before God without love of neighbour, for example, the Pharisee in 18:9-14 who
despises one’s own neighbour, and at the same time, there is justification before God within
the humble admission of sins and the plea for forgiveness, whilst fully relying on God’s
1. J.R. Donahue, “The Parables of Luke,” BibTod 41 (2003), 283-288, here 285.
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