STUDYING THE BOOK

Introduction and summary of
Luke

Luke, the third Gospel, reports the news of Jesus Christ more like Matthew and Mark, less like John. Its writer was Paul's missionary companion and a beloved physician, Luke - not among the twelve apostles. After careful research, he wrote this Gospel and Acts primarily to one person, Theophilus (1:1-4; Acts 1:1; Col. 4:14). Luke's 24 chapters make the New Testament's longest book, though both Matthew and Acts have more chapters (28). Comparing the Gospels, Matthew reveals the Hebrew Messiah and appeals to Jewish readers; Mark tells of a kingly Christ and appeals to Romans; Luke, of an ideal human Jesus, appealing to Greeks; and John, of the divine Son of God, appealing to Christians.

Characteristics of the third Gospel

• It reveals the vocabulary (266 words are not found elsewhere in the New Testament) and the concerns (physical and medical terms) of a trained author.
• It shows the universal and human Jesus, whose salvation message is not for Jews alone but for Samaritans and other Gentiles - all the sons (and daughters!) of Adam.
• Despite its broad appeal, there is a Jewish-ness about Luke. It begins and ends in the temple (1:8, 9; 24:52, 53), and 31 references are made to Jerusalem - nearly as many as the other Gospels combined (9:51, 53; 13:22, 33, 34; 17:11; 18:31; 19:28, etc.).
• It scatters major sayings of Christ through the text. Luke 6:20-49, for example, continues in chapters 11, 12 to approximate Matthew's fuller Sermon on the Mount.
• It records more parables than any other Gospel.
• It focuses on women: John's mother, Elizabeth, and Jesus' mother, Mary (chs. 1, 2); aged Anna in the temple (2:36-38); widow of Nain (7:11-17); sinful woman in Simon's house (7:37-50); Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Susanna, etc. (8:2, 3); Mary and Martha (10:38-42); 18-year bowed lady (13:11-17); women in parables (15:8-10; 18:1-8); poor, generous widow (21:1-4); weeping women (23:27ff); and women at the tomb (23:55-24:10, 22).
• It offers help for the poor, warnings for the rich (1:53; 4:18; 6:20, 24, 30; 7:22; 12:13-21; 14:11-13, 21; 16:19ff).
• It declares hope for the outcast and sinner (5:30; 7:37-50; 12:13-21; 15:1; 16:1-12; 18:1-14).
• It emphasizes the Holy Spirit right from the start (1:15, 35, 41, 67; 2:25-27; 3:16, 22; 4:1, 14, 18; 10:21; 11:13; 12:10, 12; 24:49).
• It gives prominence to praise and prayer (1:46-55, 67-79; 2:13, 14, 29-32; 3:21; 5:16; 6:12, 13; 9:18; 11:1-13).
• It underscores the suffering and death of Christ (9:31, 51; 12:50; 13:32; 17:25; 18:31-33; chs. 22, 23; 24:7, 26, 46).

Gospel facts recorded only in Luke

• announcement, conception, and birth of John the Baptist to the priest Zacharias and his wife, Elizabeth; the hill country visit of the two expectant women, Mary and Elizabeth (1:5-80)
• Christ's birth in the manger, His visit by the shepherds and temple presentation; at age 12, the boy Jesus choosing His Father's business (2:1-52)
• a lineage of Jesus (3:23-38) that varies from Matthew's account
• Jesus' inaugural sermon and near-death in Nazareth (4:16-30)
• Jesus' last journey toward Jerusalem and the fate that awaited Him there, more prominent (starting with 9:51); Jesus wept over Jerusalem (19:41-44).
• several of Jesus' parables, including two of the Bible's best-known: the good Samaritan (10:25-37) and the prodigal son (15:11-32). Also, the rich fool (12:16-21); invitations and excuses (14:7-24); unjust steward (16:1-13); rich man and Lazarus (16:19-31); unjust judge (18:1-8); Pharisee and publican (18:9-14)
• healing of ten lepers (17:11-19)
• an Olivet discourse in which Jesus' prophetic words about the abomination of desolation clearly anticipate the Roman conquest ( A.D. 70) and the scattering of the Jewish people (21:5-36)
• Jesus' trial appearance before King Herod (23:6-11)
• Jesus' resurrection appearance on the Emmaus road (24:13-33)
• the ascension of Christ (24:50, 51), also found in Acts 1

Luke in a sentence: Jesus the Christ was born of the Virgin Mary in Bethlehem, baptized by John in the Jordan, and tempted in the desert; began His ministry with opposition in Nazareth, ministered to multitudes across Galilee, then set His face toward Jerusalem where He suffered, died, rose again, and ascended back to heaven.