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.
I 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.
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