Continuing the teaching of Jesus on the use of material possessions, the gospel narrates the celebrated story of the rich man and Lazarus found only in Luke (16:19-31). The term πλούσιος (plousios) an adjective, used in around thirty contexts in NT and used also as a noun, literally means ‘rich or rich person, (cf Mt …
Somehow foreshadowed by the preceding parable of the Prodigal Son who squandered his possessions by dissolute living, the new theme on the use of material goods comes to the fore in the following parabolic narrative (Lk 16:1-8a) and its application (vv8b-13). In the conclusion of the parable, ‘the dishonest steward was commended by the master …
The three parables found in the gospel of St. Luke Chapter 15 – the lost sheep (vv4-7), the lost coin (vv8-10), and the lost or prodigal son (vv11-32) are so distinctive of Luke’s portrait of Jesus that this part of his account has been called “the Heart of the Third Gospel, artistically constructed unit with …
As Luke continues with the travel account, he proceeds, after the banquet etiquette talk of Jesus, showing Jesus’ progress on his journey to Jerusalem with the crowds following him, speaking now about the conditions of real discipleship (Lk 14:25-33). Three conditions were given (vv 26,27&33) and twin parables to emphasize the seriousness demanded by the …
St. Luke points to one of his most emphatic points in today’s gospel (14:1, 7-14). Jesus, visiting the house of a leader of the Pharisees to share a festive meal with him on a Sabbath where he cures a man with dropsy (a story found only in this gospel, vv1-4), uses the occasion to offer …
In today’s gospel (Lk 13:22-30) Jesus was asked how many will be saved (v22). He responded with a group of utterances about salvation and reception or non-reception into the kingdom, introducing and setting a tone for the entire second part of the travel account of Luke. Jesus’ response (v.24) used the verb ἀγωνίζομαι (agōnizomai). Only …
In the bible the word fire, אֵ֑ש (‘ēsh) in Hebrew, πῦρ (pyr) in Greek, is a common noun with the almost exclusive sense of fire used both literally and metaphorically. It is used as a vehicle for a divine theophany and revelation (Ex 3:2: the burning bush; Acts 7:30; Heb 12:18). But one of its …
