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

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

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presented as love and forgiveness. Luke has a prom<strong>in</strong>ent emphasis on <strong>the</strong> need to love and<br />

forgive all people. Christians should love and forgive <strong>the</strong>ir neighbours, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g enemies and<br />

s<strong>in</strong>ners. It is <strong>the</strong> appropriate attitude that all <strong>the</strong> Christians should have towards <strong>the</strong>ir<br />

neighbours. One after <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r, it is emphasized that Christians should properly use <strong>the</strong>ir<br />

own material possessions which are entrusted to <strong>the</strong>m for service <strong>of</strong> God and <strong>the</strong> poor. The<br />

Lukan Jesus repeatedly warns <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> danger <strong>of</strong> attachment to riches as an obstacle to<br />

discipleship, and calls for <strong>the</strong> positive use <strong>of</strong> wealth, especially <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> form <strong>of</strong> giv<strong>in</strong>g alms to<br />

<strong>the</strong> poor. After all, it is <strong>the</strong> right use <strong>of</strong> wealth that Christians should pursue <strong>in</strong> relationship<br />

with material possessions. Lastly, it is especially faith and repentance that <strong>the</strong> Christians <strong>in</strong><br />

relationship with God must bear <strong>in</strong> m<strong>in</strong>d. Two prayer <strong>parables</strong> convey that prayer itself is an<br />

expression <strong>of</strong> faith towards God. Indeed, <strong>the</strong> evidence <strong>of</strong> faithfulness must be seen <strong>in</strong> prayer<br />

which presents itself as constant fellowship with God. As regards repentance, <strong>the</strong> <strong>parables</strong><br />

related to repentance call for urgent repentance with a warn<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> imm<strong>in</strong>ent judgment, and<br />

still more describe that repentance means honestly acknowledg<strong>in</strong>g that one has broken <strong>the</strong><br />

relationship between oneself and God, and fervently desir<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> restoration <strong>of</strong> that<br />

relationship. All th<strong>in</strong>gs considered, what Christians should pursue <strong>in</strong> relationship with God is<br />

faith and repentance. Given <strong>the</strong> fact that <strong>the</strong> Lukan <strong>parables</strong>’ <strong>the</strong>ological <strong>the</strong>mes converge <strong>in</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong> Christian life, I conclude that a unify<strong>in</strong>g motif for <strong>the</strong> Lukan <strong>parables</strong> is ‘Perspectives on<br />

<strong>the</strong> Christian life.’ Moreover, <strong>in</strong> view <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> fact that <strong>the</strong> Lukan <strong>parables</strong> are placed <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

travel narrative which <strong>in</strong>cludes <strong>the</strong> Christian life as one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> two pivotal <strong>the</strong>mes, it is fur<strong>the</strong>r<br />

evident that <strong>the</strong> Lukan <strong>parables</strong> function as <strong>parables</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Christian life. The Lukan <strong>parables</strong><br />

were evidently <strong>in</strong>tended by Luke to teach what it means to follow Jesus and how Christians<br />

should live <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> world. Accord<strong>in</strong>gly, a unify<strong>in</strong>g motif <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Lukan Parables, as shown<br />

above, is ‘perspectives on <strong>the</strong> Christian life.’<br />

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