Team 1: Question 1

Published on: Author: cim Leave a comment

In the passages listed, the ones who receive care are the ones whom are oppressed yet vulnerable as well. The vulnerable are those whom are blessed and cared for. The characteristics of being vulnerable include being poor, being hungry, those whom weep and those whom are hated as indicated in Luke 6:20-23, but also those whom are persistent in prayer. We know that historically the greater majority of those being targeted would be the Jews since they were greatly oppressed but also “all peoples” which would include the rest in gentiles. However, the negative figures that are exempt from being cared for are the ones who are rich, boastful and worship the Gods of money and possessions. In the story of the rich man and Lazarus, its depicted for the rich man to be in hell and for Lazarus to be in heaven as the rich man wishes to go to heaven but cannot because of his choices on earth with his wealth. Lazarus is cared for. In the parable for the great banquet Jesus says to not invite your brothers, relatives or rich neighbors in the case that they invite in return themselves. But rather to invite the crippled, poor, lame and blind for they cannot repay. The poor and wealthy are cared for alike, the wealthy for doing a good will and being “repaid at the resurrection of the righteous”. Luke however takes away the fact that the servants sent out were murdered and that the king further sent troops to kill the murderers and burn their city to humble the parable. In the parable of the unjust judge, the widow is cared for not by God necessarily but rather the unjust judge for being persistent. This emphasizes the importance to pray always and not lose heart in regards to God for he will quickly grant justice to his people. The image of Jesus being more of a humble teacher that implements the importance of compassion and forgiveness emerges as he guides his people into living a righteous life by the means of God.

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