Luke’s Gospel has a wide appeal to many different groups, and takes on an inclusive approach. As Ralph notes on page 165, the journey structure of the gospel “reflects Luke’s theme that the coming of the kingdom of God is an all-inclusive process that takes place… one step at a time.” This approach appeals to Gentiles because it shows them that converting to the Christian faith is part of the spreading of Christianity and the journey started by Jesus Christ, which they are encouraged to join. The teachings of Jesus in the gospel could also be viewed as beneficial from a Gentile perspective. For example, the parable of the Good Samaritan extols the actions of an outsider simply because that outsider did the right thing, regardless of the segment of society he is a part of. In the same way Gentiles can look forward to grace in God’s eye if they also commit themselves to ethical actions in accordance with the teachings of Jesus.
The people on the margins of society can also find comfort and meaning within the Gospel of Luke. For instance, the parable of the rich man and Lazarus gives religious meaning to those who suffer. Lazarus suffered tremendously on Earth, but presumably was a man of decent morals, although this is not explicitly stated. His suffering is rewarded in heaven, and likewise the man who would not give him food is punished in the netherworld. Poor people and outcasts can use this teaching to provide themselves with hope that their suffering will be worth it in the end and they will have a reversal of fortunes in the afterlife. They can also use this story as a way to transfer any feelings of hatred towards the rich and well off that could have resulted in violence to feelings of pity, which would diminish the likelihood that the poor would commit sins against the rich. Sinners would likely rejoice at this Gospel too, since in the Parable of the lost sheep Jesus makes it clear that a saved sinner is a cause for divine rejoice. However, the distinction would have to be made that sinners can’t use this parable to justify their sins, but rather should view the parable as a wake up call that maybe if they turn themselves around and lead good lives their fate can be reversed.
evanwelsh45 
You’ve picked up on some really key things about the Gospel of Luke. I think it’s really important that you mentioned how Luke’s gospel tends to be more inclusive than the other gospels, and what benefits this has to the audience of Luke’s gospel.
Evan, I like the concepts of Luke’s Gospel that you you touched on and reflected on back to gentiles, the poor, and sinners. I agree with every point that you make about the Gospel. Though the reading is straightforward as we use it to answer the question posed to us, I’m curious to know what you think about how easily the Gospel can be interpreted by sinners, the poor, or gentiles. Do you think that it may be too easy for the poor to read and know that they will be okay at the end? Does it leave room for them to fight for the respect of their human dignity and human right for a better life, even as our societies push them into the lower end of consumerism? I’m trying to apply it to today’s U.S. situation regarding economic inequality and moral standing.
I like how you made the distinction at the end about how the parable of the lost sheep doesn’t justify sinning. It’s important to make this point because otherwise people could interpret it as a reason in which they can sin and still be justified for doing so.
You made a really interesting comparison here between the metaphor of journeying that is so central to the experience of Jesus in Luke’s Gospel (for a good chunk of it, he’s on a journey to Jerusalem, with various things happening along the way) and the journey of Christian life in the first century or our own. Re: the Good Samaritan parable, I heard about an interesting psychological study recently that noted that people were most likely to stop and help someone in need if they felt like they were not in a hurry; if they perceived themselves in a rush, they were more likely to just pass by. Luke’s is definitely a Gospel that encourages people to be compassionate and merciful-and to return to God (as many times as necessary!) when they fail.
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