Introduction

• The Gospel of Luke is in the form of a letter to a man named Theophilus. 

• Luke wrote after having carefully investigated all the facts about Christ (1:1-4).

• Luke documents Christ's life from before his birth through his ministry, death, and resurrection. 

• Jesus carried out his ministry in the power of the Holy Spirit, announcing the good news of salvation. 

• He showed numerous times his compassion for the poor and the outcast. 

• He fulfilled prophecy and carried out his purpose: to seek and save the lost.

• Luke gives the fullest account of Christ's birth, and only Luke records the parables of the Good Samaritan and the Prodigal Son. 

• Luke, a physician and a colleague of Paul, probably wrote this account in the early 60s a.d. He also wrote Acts. 

Luke, Gospel According To:  was written by Luke. 

• He does not claim to have been an eye-witness of our Lord's ministry, but to have gone to the best sources of information within his reach, and to have written an orderly narrative of the facts (Luk 1:1-4). 

• The authors of the first three Gospels, the synoptics, wrote independently of each other. Each wrote his independent narrative under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

• Each writer has some things, both in matter and style, peculiar to himself, yet all the three have much in common. 

• Luke's Gospel has been called "the Gospel of the nations, full of mercy and hope, assured to the world by the love of a suffering Saviour;" "the Gospel of the saintly life;" "the Gospel for the Greeks; the Gospel of the future; the Gospel of progressive Christianity, of the universality and gratuitousness of the gospel; the historic Gospel; the Gospel of Jesus as the good Physician and the Saviour of mankind;" the "Gospel of the Fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man;" "the Gospel of womanhood;" "the Gospel of the outcast, of the Samaritan, the publican, the harlot, and the prodigal;" "the Gospel of tolerance." 

• The main characteristic of this Gospel, as Farrar (Cambridge Bible, Luke, Introd.) remarks, is fitly expressed in the motto, "Who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil" (Act 10:38; Luk 4:18). 

• Luke wrote for the "Hellenic world." This Gospel is indeed "rich and precious."

"Out of a total of 1151 verses, Luke has 389 in common with Matthew and Mark, 176 in common with Matthew alone, 41 in common with Mark alone, leaving 544 peculiar to himself. In many instances all three use identical language." (See MATTHEW; MARK; GOSPELS.)

• There are seventeen of our Lord's parables peculiar to this Gospel. (See List of Parables in Appendix.) 

• Luke also records seven of our Lord's miracles which are omitted by Matthew and Mark. (See List of Miracles in Appendix.) 

• The synoptical Gospels are related to each other after the following scheme. 

• If the contents of each Gospel be represented by 100, then when compared this result is obtained:

Mark has 7 peculiarities, 93 coincidences. Matthew 42 peculiarities, 58 coincidences. Luke 59 peculiarities, 41 coincidences.

• That is, thirteen-fourteenths of Mark, four-sevenths of Matthew, and two-fifths of Luke are taken up in describing the same things in very similar language.

• Luke's style is more finished and classical than that of Matthew and Mark. There is less in it of the Hebrew idiom. 

• He uses a few Latin words (Luk 12:6; 7:41; 8:30; 11:33; 19:20), but no Syriac or Hebrew words except sikera, an exciting drink of the nature of wine, but not made of grapes (Lev 10:9), probably palm wine.

• This Gospel contains twenty-eight distinct references to the Old Testament.

• The date of its composition is uncertain. 

• It must have been written before the Acts, the date of the composition of which is generally fixed at about 63 or 64 A.D. 

• This Gospel was written, therefore, probably about 60 or 63, when Luke may have been at Caesarea in attendance on Paul, who was then a prisoner.

• Others have conjectured that it was written at Rome during Paul's imprisonment there. 

• But on this point no positive certainty can be attained.

• It is commonly supposed that Luke wrote under the direction, if not at the dictation of Paul. 

• Many words and phrases are common to both; e.g., compare:

(Luk 4:22; with Col 4:6.) (Luk 4:32; with 1Cr 2:4.) (Luk 6:36; with 2Cr 1:3.) (Luk 6:39; with Rom 2:19.) (Luk 9:56; with 2Cr 10:8.) (Luk 10:8; with 1Cr 10:27.) (Luk 11:41; with Tts 1:15.) (Luk 18:1; with 2Th 1:11.) (Luk 21:36; with Eph 6:18.) (Luk 22:19,20; 1Cr 11:23-29.) (Luk 24:46; with Act 17:3.) (Luk 24:34; with 1Cr 15:5.)

• “An orderly account” written for Theophilus (Luke 1:1–4)

• Traditional author: Luke, the beloved physician and companion of Paul (Colossians 4:14; Philemon 1:24; 2 Timothy 4:11)

•   - Educated Greek writer; skilled historian and theologian

•   - Wrote Luke–Acts as a two-volume work (Luke 1:1–4; Acts 1:1–2)

• Luke was a physician according to Colossians 4:14 and was a missionary companion to Paul.

• Most Bible scholars believe that he was a Gentile birth.

• Time and Setting

•   - Likely written after Mark, often dated late first century

•   - Context: expansion of the early church into the Gentile world (Acts)

•  Intended for Theophilus and a broader Gentile audience (Luke 1:3)

•   - Purpose: to give an accurate, orderly account grounded in eyewitness testimony (Luke 1:2–4)

•   - Emphasis on universal salvation and inclusion (Luke 2:10–11; 3:6; 24:47)

• Salvation for all; Jesus as compassionate Savior

•   - The Holy Ghost, prayer, joy, reversals (poor/exalted)

•   - Meals/table fellowship and ministry to the marginalized

• His sensitivity as a physician to people and their needs shows in his writing.

• He gives emphasis to the role of women played in the life and ministry of the Savior.

• Perhaps, because he is a physician, he alone of the gospel writers tells of Christ's bleeding during his agony in the Garden of Gethsemane.

• Luke was not an eyewitness to the Savior's ministry, rather learned from Paul and others about Jesus.

• It appears that he was writing to the Gentiles, especially the Greeks, to teach them of Jesus and His divine mission as our Savior and Redeemer.

• Twelve Things That Make Luke’s Gospel Unique

• - Addressed to Theophilus with a formal historiographic prologue Luke 1:1–4

•   The widest infancy narrative and songs/canticles

•   Magnificat (Luke 1:46–55), 

• Benedictus (Luke 1:68–79), 

• Gloria (Luke 2:14), 

• Nunc Dimittis (Luke 2:29–32)

• Extensive stories of Mary, Elizabeth, Zacharias, Simeon, Anna (Luke 1–2)

• Genealogy back to Adam (universal scope)

• Strong focus on the marginalized (poor, sinners, Samaritans, women)

• Examples: Luke 4:18–19; 7:36–50; 8:1–3; 10:25–37; 14:12–14; 19:1–10

• 
  

•  Emphasis on prayer

•   - Jesus praying at key moments; unique parables on prayer (Luke 3:21; 6:12; 9:18, 28–29; 11:1–13; 18:1–14)

• Emphasis on the Holy Ghost

•   - Luke 1:15, 35, 41, 67; 4:1, 14, 18; Acts as Volume 2 of the Spirit’s work

• The great “Travel Narrative” toward Jerusalem

•  Structural center of Luke’s theology (Luke 9:51–19:27)

• Table fellowship and meals as theological moments

•  Luke 5:29–32; 7:36–50; 10:38–42; 14; 19:5–10; 22; 24:30–35

• Parables unique to Luke (sampling)

• Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25–37)

• Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11–32)

• Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19–31)

• Pharisee and Publican (Luke 18:9–14)

• Friend at Midnight (Luke 11:5–8)

• Unjust Steward (Luke 16:1–9)

• Distinctive resurrection appearances and Emmaus

•   - Luke 24:13–35; 24:36–49; Ascension framed with temple/joy (Luke 24:50–53)

• 
  

•  Joy and reversal theme

•   - Luke 1:46–55; 2:10; 6:20–26; 10:20–21; 15; 19:37; 24:41, 52

• 
  

•  Temple inclusion and salvation history

•   Begins and ends at the temple (Luke 1:9; 24:53)

•   From Israel’s story to the nations (Luke 2:32; 24:47)

• 
  

•  An Outline of Luke

•  Prologue Luke 1:1–4

•  Infancy and Childhood of Jesus

•  Annunciations, births, songs, temple scenes (Luke 1:5–2:52)

• Preparation for Ministry

• John the Baptist; baptism; genealogy; temptation (Luke 3:1–4:13)

• 
  

• Galilean Ministry

•  Teaching, miracles, calling disciples (Luke 4:14–9:50)

• 
  

• Journey to Jerusalem (Travel Narrative)

•  Discipleship, parables, opposition, mercy (Luke 9:51–19:27)

• 
  

•  Ministry in Jerusalem

•  Triumphal Entry, temple cleansing, teachings (Luke 19:28–21:38)

• 
  

• Passion

• Last Supper, Gethsemane, trials, crucifixion (Luke 22–23)

• 
  

• Resurrection and Ascension

• Empty tomb, Emmaus, Upper Room, blessing, ascension (Luke 24)

• 
  

• Six Descriptors of Luke’s Gospel

• The Gospel of the Savior for All

•  Universal scope—outreach to Gentiles, sinners, and the marginalized (Luke 2:10–11; 3:6; 5:32; 24:47)

•  The Gospel of Prayer

•  Jesus models prayer and teaches persistence (Luke 6:12; 11:1–13; 18:1–14)

• 
  

•  The Gospel of the Holy Ghost

•   Conception to ministry; power and anointing (Luke 1–4; Acts 1–2)

• 
  

• - The Gospel of Great Joy

•   Joy as a hallmark of God’s work (Luke 2:10; 10:21; 15; 24:52)

• 
  

•  The Gospel of Table Fellowship

•   Meals as settings of mercy, teaching, and covenant (Luke 5:29–32; 7:36–50; 22; 24:30–35)

• The Gospel of Reversal and Mercy

•   Lifting the lowly, calling the humble, warning the proud (Luke 1:52–53; 6:20–26; 14:7–14; 18:9–14)

• Discussion Questions

•   - How does Luke portray Jesus’ mission to the marginalized?

•   - What do Luke’s prayer scenes teach about discipleship?

•   - How does table fellowship expand our view of ministry today?

• Application

•   - Identify one parable in Luke you will study closely this week and share in class.

•   - Choose one “prayer passage” and practice it daily; note insights in your scripture journal. 

< Mark Chapter 16    > Luke Chapter 1