It was an aside during a sermon at The Bridge Church this year, that highlighted Luke’s technique of including two characters in incidents and parables. Or, better, that Christ Himself did. We are drawn into the narrative, perhaps with our sympathies moving from one character to the other, and then perhaps back again. In our Hollywood-influenced world, we like our stories to have clear heroes and villains – Bible stories are sometimes not so tidy; since real life is not so tidy!
I found seven stories in Luke’s gospel.
7.36-50 – the sinful woman and the host Pharisee.
13.10-17 – the woman with the spirit and the ruler of the synagogue.
15.11-32 – The ‘Prodigal Son’ – with the younger and elder brother.
16.1-13 – the dishonest manager and the rich man.
16.19-31 – Lazarus and the rich man.
18.1-8 – the persistent widow and the judge.
18.9-14 – the tax collector and the Pharisee.
The latter characters are strong, with seniority in society, enjoying wealth and power.
The former characters are weak, with obvious sins; they are poor and dependent. The first includes the sinful woman, probably a prostitute; the final incident includes the tax collector, someone hated in first century Judea.
In all seven incidents, where the former character becomes the ‘hero,’ then they are all flawed heroes, which of course is the way of scripture.
Jesus never condones sin, but He seems not to be phazed by sin either. Jesus is looking for repentance and faith with obedience.
Jesus routinely challenges cultural norms and expectations. His listeners would be surprised by the stories, perhaps offended by them. ‘Surely he (she) would never behave in that way!’ He is telling stories, not giving lists of do’s and don’ts; He wants us to enter into these stories, with our own failings and weaknesses, and learn His ways, hear His voice, His heart-beat for us.