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Which parables appear only in the Gospel According to Luke?
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St. Luke
St. Luke, illuminated page from the Beatus Apocalypse, Mozarabic, 975; in the Gerona Cathedral, Spain.
The Gospel According to Luke is unique among the Synoptic Gospels for containing a significant amount of materialāoften referred to as "L"āthat is not found in the Gospels of Mark or Matthew. This material includes several parables that are exclusive to Lukeās narrative, which are noted for their themes of warmth, compassion, and tenderness.1
Notable parables found only in the Gospel According to Luke include:
- The Good Samaritan: A story illustrating the command to love one's neighbor, featuring a man from a group traditionally hostile to Jews who stops to aid a traveler left for dead.213
- The Prodigal Son: A parable emphasizing themes of forgiveness and reconciliation.21
- The Rich Fool: A teaching regarding the dangers of greed and the importance of being "rich toward God".1
- The Importunate Friend: A lesson on the persistence of prayer.1
- The Lost Coin: A parable highlighting the joy in heaven over a single sinner who repents.1
These parables reflect Luke's distinct theological emphasis on God's love for the poor, the despised, and the marginalized.1