Art Analysis:
Social Justice Issues
By Rachel Omiliak
Poor and Marginalized
• Luke deals with many social justice issues
• Categories of "poor" or marginalized people
in his Gospel:
– Sick People
– Outcasts, esp. Lepers
– Women, esp. Widows
– Tax Collectors
– Samaritans
– Children, esp. Orphans
Leprosy
• Not merely sickness, but a social condition
– Sign of Impurity
• Lepers were considered unclean
– Society did not accept them
– Forced to live on outskirts of society
Luke 17:11-19
“Jesus Heals Ten Lepers”
~ Caspar Luiken
•Jesus heals all ten lepers
•They go to show themselves to the priests, to
certify that they are
"clean" again
•Samaritan is the only one
who comes back to thank
Jesus
•“Stand up and go; your
faith has saved you.”
Women in Society
• Inferior to men
– Not respected by men in society overall
– Lacked political rights
– Lacked credibility in public
• Luke has a great emphasis on women
– Jesus talks to them and helps them
– Widows are especially helpless / vulnerable
Luke 18:1-8
“The Unjust Judge and the
Importunate Widow”
~ Sir John Everett Millais
“Pay attention to what the
dishonest judge says. Will
not God then secure the
rights of his chosen ones who
call out to him day and night?
Will he be slow to answer
them? I tell you, he will see to
it that justice is done for them
speedily. But when the Son
of Man comes, will he find
faith on earth?” (Luke 18:6-8)
Tax Collectors
• Most people did not like them
– Collected taxes on behalf of Romans
• Seen by most Jews as traitors and thieves
– Made fraudulent charges as much as possible
– No way to get out of these taxes
• Because Pharisees hated tax collectors,
they thought Jesus should too
• In next parable, we see how the humility of
a tax collector gains him favor with God
Luke 18:9-14
“The Pharisee and
the Publican”
~ Gustave Doré
“The Pharisee stood
and prayed thus…
God, I thank thee,
that I am not as other
men are…
And the publican…
smote upon his breast,
saying, God be merciful
to me a sinner…”
(Luke 18:11,13)
Children in the Time of Jesus
• Considered a Burden
– Many died young, before they could give back
to their family
– While young, they cannot help provide for the
rest of the group
• Considered Unclean, acc. to Jewish laws
and customs
– Did not know right from wrong when it came
to Jewish rules
Luke 18:15-17
Jesus Blessing Little Children ~ Sir Charles Locke Eastlake
Zacchaeus
• The placement of this story is interesting
– Luke: Last story before they enter Jerusalem
• About forgiveness and salvation
– Mark: Last story before Jesus enters Jerusalem is the
Healing of the Blind Man Bartimaeus (Mark 10:46-52)
• About faith in Jesus
• Only Luke's Gospel has the story of Zacchaeus
– Exemplifies proper attitude toward wealth:
– gives half his possessions to the poor
– results in achievement of salvation
Luke 19:1-10
“Zacchaeus” ~ Nicolas Fontaine
“When he reached
the place, Jesus
looked up and
said to him,
“Zacchaeus, come
down quickly, for
today I must stay
at your house.”
And he came
down quickly and
received him with
joy.”
(Luke 19:5-6)