Discipleship In The Parables In Luke -- By: Walter P. Olsen

Journal: Central Bible Quarterly
Volume: CENQ 11:3 (Fall 1968)
Article: Discipleship In The Parables In Luke
Author: Walter P. Olsen


Discipleship In The Parables In Luke

Walter P. Olsen

In the parables recorded in Luke there are many applications to personal discipleship. Whether the Lord was talking to the scribes and Pharisees or to the truly regenerate, He always made very clear what He expected of those truly regenerate. As the believer today reads the parables he should see many principles that apply directly to his life. This study seeks to identify the various areas of discipleship and then to apply the teachings in the parables to these respective areas, giving a concise idea of discipleship as taught in the parables in Luke.

It is helpful to see what the Lord really requires of His disciples, thereby to understand real discipleship. It is especially important to note the emphasis on the necessity of a proper heart attitude, whether the Lord was talking about repentance, forgiveness, humility or some other equally important matter.

Understanding Of Forgiveness

In the parables in Luke, Jesus makes the believer’s understanding of forgiveness very clear and easy for any truly regenerate person to understand. The unbeliever, as religious as he may be, only demonstrates that he really does not understand the matter of forgiveness at all.

For example, the harlot in Luke 7:37, though she had been a great sinner, understood perfectly what forgiveness really was. Having seen her sin in its true character, as something hateful to God, she repented. She expressed a true sorrow for her sin, without which no sinner could be saved. Then, her sins having been forgiven, she became preoccupied with Jesus Himself. She realized it was Jesus alone who could and did forgive her; so it spiritually followed that she would want to thank, love, and worship Him. This she did by being concerned with His person. She desired to be with Him. She washed His feet with tears,

she wiped them with the hairs of her head, she kissed His feet, and anointed them with ointment. Notice that she was not concerned with things related to Jesus, but with the person of Jesus Himself. All believers who have been truly forgiven should be concerned first of all and most of all with the Savior Himself.

It is true that this woman had been forgiven a great debt of sin. It would follow that she should love much because of all that Jesus forgave her. It is also true that all men alike are sinners. “There is none righteous, no, not one” (Rom. 3:10). Hence, every true believer should love much, realizing the debt he has been forgiven.

It also seems implied that a true believer will recognize true ...

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