THE EXCLUDED IN LUKE

                                         

Life in Israel was not easy at the time of Jesus. At least for women, children, shepherds, the poor and "sinners". These people were seen as worthless in first-century Jewish society. This fact is noted by the special attention that the evangelist Luke devotes to the way Jesus treated these human beings. The records of the third gospel show that Jews, though marked by strong religious expression, were in fact a sexist and discriminatory society.

Women were regarded as inferior beings, a property of men. They had no access to religious teaching. "The rabbis considered it a sin to teach a woman" [1]. Luke, however, shows Jesus teaching them with the same care with which he taught men. For him, women also had a part in God's plan. The evangelist recorded that not only did the apostles accompany Jesus "by the towns and villages proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom of God", but also some women "who helped to sustain them with their goods" (Lk 8: 1-3).

Two other marginalized classes were the children and the shepherds. These were discriminated against because their work prevented them from attending to the requirements of ceremonial purity. Their word had no value in the courts [2]. However, it was to people like these that angels appeared to announce the birth of the Son of God (Luke 2: 8-20). The children, who were educated with punishment and violence, Jesus treated them as a model to censor the disciples' pride (9: 46-48) and their contempt for them (18: 15-17).

The poor, who were despised by the authorities and religious, received from Jesus a special look. Inspired by them He said: "Blessed are you who are poor,for yours is the kingdom of God." (Luke6.20). When Jesus saw the widow of Nain, he had compassion on her and raised her son (Luke7: 11-17). As for the "sinners", a designation received by people of bad reputation (tax collectors, adulterers and robbers) and those who refused to follow the Mosaic law according to the "official" interpretation, Jesus had relations with them, since he did not come for the righteous, but for this kind of people (Luke5: 22-31). According to Mark, many of these "sinners" were followers of Jesus (2:15).

Why was there so much discrimination and lack of love in a society as religious as Israel at the time of Christ? Luke answers this question by recording the indignation of the leader of a synagogue when Jesus heals a crippled woman on the Sabbath. It was not right for this priest to heal on the Sabbath. Jesus called him a hypocrite (13: 10-17). Often religious put the form above the content. They are zealous in their customs, rituals and forget that the essence of the gospel of Christ is love. Many, worried about their positions, are always ready to judge and not welcome.

Antônio Maia – M.Div.

Copyright

[1] CARSON, MOO, MORRIS. Introdução ao Novo Testamento. Vida Nova, p.146

[2] TALMUD (rabbinical commentary on the law, ethics and customs of Judaism)