For our next class (Thursday), please read Chapter 13-24 of the Gospel of Luke. Look at the list of passages "special" to Luke, i.e., passages that occur in Luke's gospel only (Section VI of the outline I passed out in class). Choose one or two of these passages and speculate on why Luke chose to include this material while Matthew did not. If others have commented on this passage before you, say whether you agree with their suggestions or not.If you do not have the outline I passed out, see the online version here.
I chose the passage on the ministering women in Luke 8:1-3. I believe Luke included this passage on women because women were part of the group that Luke wanted to cover. In the beginning of the Gospel of Luke, he talks about the importance of Elizabeth and Mary. This is something that Matthew does not go into great detail on because women were not part of his target group. Matthew was more focused on a Jewish audience.
ReplyDeleteI found Luke 9:51-56 to be very interesting as I was reading. Jesus heads through a town in Samaria, and the people there aren’t open to receiving him because “his face was set towards Jerusalem”. I speculate that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem, and because of the animosity between Jews and Samaritans, the Samaritans had a pre-conceived notion that Jesus wouldn’t want to talk to them. As a result their hearts and minds weren’t open to listening to him teach. Jesus’ disciples asked if they can destroy the city… Jesus says no. Just because they aren’t open to seeing the truth now doesn’t mean they won’t later, as we see in Acts 8. I think Luke decided to include this because it was a little piece of history for his Gentile audience. Samaritans are half Jew and half Gentile (why the “real” Jews hated them so badly), so for Luke’s audience to think back and remember that they had rejected Jesus at one point too would be a sobering thought. It’s always good to look back and remember where you came from, and Luke was pointing that out to his readers.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the historical context of the people of Samaria. That is interesting to note and, if they took more time with Jesus, that would have been a huge turning point. The main point is that they eventually saw the truth after the Ascension.
DeleteThis was very well written. I agree that Luke was probably trying to show his Gentile audience that little piece of history. It would definitely make them look back and see that they weren't so different from the Jews.
DeleteI chose Luke 13:11-13. Jesus heals the woman on a Sabbath Day. The synagogue leader did not like this. Jesus said you can receive healing on the Sabbath Day. Heal people so they can worship. Luke included this to make a statement against the normal traditions of the church. He shows this is what you have been doing wrong. It also shows the Gentiles they can be healed too. Help everyone you can all the time is the message also.
ReplyDeleteI am also with Donavan in choosing the Luke 13 passage of healing of the woman. There is a twofold purpose why Jesus would do this: 1) The observation of the Sabbath Day was part of OT law on the idea "6 days everything was made and the 7th He rested". Jesus does this to show that He is/will be the fulfillment of the Law.
ReplyDelete2) Jesus is also doing this to show inclusivity, that the Word of God is not just for men or for the Jews, but for all people.
Obviously, both these reasons were also the same reasons why the Pharisees/synagogue leader did not like this. Shortly after this I believe plotting for Jesus' demise begins.
I have always been fascinated by Luke 15:11-32, the Prodigal son. In fact, as I re-read it I teared up a bit. This is another parable that Jesus uses to teach the people about God's love. Even though the younger son went out with his fortune, squandered it on the pleasures of life, and came back his father greeted him and had a celebration. His son was dead and now he has come back alive and well. This is Jesus telling the people, even if you are lost and don't think you have a chance at salvation, God will accept you back with open arms. All you have to do is ask.
ReplyDeleteThe older son was upset because his father never did anything this extravagant for him. His father says, 31 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”
This passage alone makes me feel 100% better than I did after reading Matthew.
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DeleteI agree this passage is a great one. Its a passage that anyone can read and understand that God does not require us to do anything special to receive his for forgiveness, all we have to do is ask. I personally feel that this is the reason that this parable is in Luke but not Matthew. Luke is writing to the gentiles who I'm willing to believe feel like they have done some unforgivable things, so they would need to hear this parable more then anyone. Matthew on the other hand was more focused on writing about the Pharisees and Sadducee and exposing what was wrong with there thinking.
DeleteI was going to talk about my favorite parable, The Parable of the Prodigal Son, but I see that Nate has beaten me to it. In reading his thoughts, I agree with all of them. There are times where I feel as if I am not deserving of God's love because I have sinned, but I do come back to God and ask for His forgiveness.
ReplyDeleteThis parable makes me think of the passage in the first part of Luke that I chose to look at in the previous blog. I discussed Luke 11:5-10, which talked about how one should keep asking and searching, and eventually you will find what you are looking for. Just like in the Parable of the Prodigal Son, the son tells his father that he is not worthy of being his son. All he needs to do is ask for forgiveness, and he will be forgiven.
I applaud Luke's use of the Road to Emmaus. Two believers are traveling from Jerusalem to Emmaus discussing what had happened in the past couple of days. Jesus, identity concealed, meets them and joins in their discussion as they all go towards Emmaus. Jesus seemed to continue on the journey but was persuaded by the two to stay with them since it was almost evening. While at supper, Jesus gave thanks and broke bread as He always did, and the eyes were opened and knew at once who it was. The two made there way back to Jerusalem to tell the disciples.
ReplyDeleteI believe it was important to use this passage because of the Jewish community at the time. They all imagined that the Messiah would come in glory and build a kingdom on Earth. They were also having trouble believing He had risen, since they didn't see Jesus there; "He said to them, 'How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?'" (Luke 24:25-26) They were more worried about earthy deeds than that of Heaven. Sadly that problem is still persistent to this day, but soon that problem will be no more...
Luke's Gospel was written more for the Gentiles and to those who are oppressed, depressed or beaten down through their sins while Matthew's Gospel was written more for the Jews. As Luke writes of the three parables of the lost and found, his writings show that it is God's will that no one perish. In the parable of the Lost Sheep, Jesus tells the story of a shepherd that loses one of its hundred sheep because it strayed from the flock. Jesus leaves the 99 sheep and searches for the one and brings it back on his shoulders (to emphasize the sheep is weak and must be carried) and then calls his neighbors and friends and joyously celebrates its return. He says, "I tell you in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent." Luke believes it is any sinner that can be saved while Matthew writes more to the Christian sinner. The Parable of the Prodigal Son differs from the previous parable in that instead of God searching out those who are lost and celebrating when they are found, the Prodigal Son shows that God will wait for the lost to choose to repent. It shows that God is willing to forgive and celebrate with those that wish to repent and the father's love for his sons represents the unconditional love of God who stands ready to accept all who come to their senses after going astray and to accept those who overcome their pride and jealousy.
ReplyDeleteThe passage I picked was Luke 13:11-17. (“There are six days on which work ought to be done,” the indignant synagogue ruler chides the crowd. “Come on those days and be cured and not on the Sabbath day” (Luke 13:14). Jesus’ reply begins with the law. If people water their animals on the Sabbath, as was lawful, “ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free from this bondage on the Sabbath day?”)Where Jesus is healing a crippled woman on the Sabbath. I believe that this was added to tell the gentiles that by putting human needs before the Sabbath even though its goes against the Ten Commandments is OK because by meeting those need of the people it should fulfill it not go against it. It kinds to me says that Satan is always working and that healing people should not go against the Sabbath.
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