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

sever relations with the preceding verses, Luke has, however, a thematic link between the
parable of the Good Samaritan and the preceding sections along the lines of the message of
the kingdom (especially 10:9, 11, 20, 21-24) and the question about eternal life in 10:25.
Given the fact that the central message of the Mary and Martha narrative (10:38-42) is
hearing Jesus’ word, the narrative is readily linked to the love commands in 10:27, as well as
to the whole parable. Martha, in contrast to Mary, is distracted with much serving. She then
goes to Jesus and says, “Do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone?” (v. 40). 7
At this point, readers might expect Jesus to urge Mary to help her sister. But what surprises
readers is that Jesus defends Mary’s inactivity, rebuking Martha’s anxiety: “Mary has chosen
the good portion, which shall not be taken away from her” (v. 42). Jesus supports Mary’s
enthusiasm about hearing the word. The Mary and Martha narrative illustrates, therefore, love
for God is shown by listening to the teaching of Jesus. While the parable focuses on the
command to love the neighbour, the command to love God is central to the narrative. The
parable and the narrative, in other words, show the necessity of both doing and hearing. 8
1-2. Analysis of the Parable
Although the lawyer questions Jesus with the respectful appellation, there is a trap in the
lawyer’s question about eternal life, as seen by the information that Luke gives us. The
lawyer’s motive was to test Jesus rather than seek an answer to his question about eternal life.
It is further confirmed by his persistent second question in v. 29. The question about eternal
life might be a strategic setup for the real test which comes in the second question, the limits
a. The failure of the mission of disciples (9:52-56)
(the rejection of the Samaritans to receiving Jesus)
b. The instruction of Jesus related to the above incident (9:57-62)
(the disciples’ resolution to follow Jesus)
a’ The success of the mission of disciples (10:1-20)
(the successful mission of the seventy to the towns of Israel)
b’ The instruction of Jesus related to the above incident (10:21-24)
(the joyfulness as to the privilege the disciples have in witnessing this revelation)
7. Biblical quotations, unless otherwise noted, are from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible.
8. For the view that The Mary and Martha narrative illustrates the love commands, see Nolland, Luke, 579-580;
D.M. Sweetland, “The Good Samaritan and Martha and Mary,” BibTod 21 (1983), 325-30; Herman Hendrickx,
The Parables of Jesus (San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1986), 75; Robert W. Wall, “Martha and Mary (Luke
10:38-42) in the Context of a Christian Deuteronomy,” JSNT 35 (1989), 19-35. Considering the preceding
context (9:52-10:24) and the succeeding context (10:38-42), the parable of the Good Samaritan is most likely to
be related to discipleship.
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