THE GOSPEL OF LUKE
Luke is the writer of the third gospel. In Colossians 4:14, he is referred to by
Paul as Luke, the beloved physician. He was of Jewish ancestry but as someone
has said, his correct Greek marks him as a Jew of the dispersion. Tradition says
he was born in Antioch.The date of the Gospel of Luke falls between A.D. 63 and
68.The key-phrase of Luke is Son of Man and the key-verse is Ch. 19:10, “For the
Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke’s genealogy of
Christ is traced to Adam through His mother Mary, who was also a descendant of
the house of David through his son Nathan, Ch. 3:31. In v. 23, we read that
Joseph was the son of Hili, but in reality he was his son-in-law. Such usage was
not uncommon among the Hebrew people, see I Sam. 24:16. The human side of the
ministry of Christ is more noticeable in Luke’s Gospel, but he was also careful
to guard His Deity and Kingship, see Ch. 1:32-35.
The events recorded in this Gospel cover a period of some 39 years.
There are seven divisions to the Gospel of Luke:
1. Ch. 1:1-4. The Evangelists introduction.
2. Ch. 1:5 to Ch. 2. The birth and boyhood of Jesus.
3. Ch. 3:1 to 4:13. The baptism, ancestry, and testing of Jesus.
4. Ch. 4:14 to 9:50. The ministry of the Son of man in Galilee.
5. Chs. 9:51 to 19:27. The journey of the Son of man from Galilee to Jerusalem.
6. Chs. 19:28 to 23:56. The final offer of the Son of man as King to Israel, His
rejection and sacrifice.
7. Chapter 24. The resurrection, resurrection ministry, and ascension of the Son
of man.
THE EVANGELISTS INTRODUCTION.
Theophilis, to whom Luke addressed his Gospel, is thought to be one of Paul’s
converts from paganism. He was evidently a person of rank because of the title,
most excellent, which was used in addressing him. While Luke was well informed
by those who had companied with Jesus, he was made doubly certain of the things
of which he wrote because of the revelation God had given him. In Ch. 1:3 when
he says he had perfect understanding from the very first, in the original it
means from above, therefore, he was well qualified to write.
THE BIRTH AND BOYHOOD OF JESUS.
The circumstances surrounding the birth of Jesus are somewhat interwoven with
those relating to the birth of John the Baptist. A certain priest named
Zacharias was one day ministering in the temple when an angel of the Lord
appeared to him. The message he brought was that a son would be born to his wife
Elizabeth whose name should be called John. As the couple were well advanced in
years, it was difficult for Zacharias to credit the statement. For his unbelief
he was made dumb until the eighth day after the child was born, and the time
came for him to be circumcised. The neighbors wanted to name him, and when his
mother insisted his name should be called John they raised an objection. Then
Zacharias wrote the name on a tablet and immediately his tongue was loosed and
he broke forth in prophecy.
It was the angel Gabriel who visited the father of John. A little later he was
sent forth to speak to a virgin, whose name was Mary, to tell her that she was
chosen of God to become the mother of His only begotten Son. Mary did not doubt
the possibility of such a miracle, and gave praise to God for the honor
conferred upon her, Ch. 1:37-38, and 46-55.
The circumstances immediately surrounding the birth of Jesus are as follows: due
to an order by Caesar Augustus, all the world, (the known world ruled by Rome),
must be taxed. Every man journeyed to his place of birth for that purpose.
Joseph, to whom Mary was espoused, went to Bethlehem of Judea and took her with
him. During their stay, Jesus was born. It took place in a stable, for due to an
overcrowded condition there was no room in the inn, Ch. 2:1-7.
Some shepherds of those parts were startled one night about that time by a visit
from an angel who brought them the strange good news of the birth of Jesus. He
call Him a Savior, which is Christ the Lord, v.8-11. The shepherds started off
to Bethlehem to find the child. It is quite significant how these men showed
their faith. They said,” Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing,
which is come to pass.” Had they said, “to see if” they would have been
unbelieving as was Zacharias.
Eight days after the birth of Christ, He was circumcised and named Jesus as was
commanded by the angel, Ch. 1:31. Some weeks later an old man named Simeon was
led of the Spirit to go to the temple when the child Jesus was being presented
to the Lord. God had promised him that he should not die until he had seen the
Lord’s Christ.
Taking the babe in his arms he spoke forth in prophecy, thanking God first of
all because such a privilege had been granted him. Then turning to Mary, he told
her that her child would be for a sign spoken against, and that a sword would
pierce her own soul also, referring no doubt to the coming crucifixion of the
Lord Jesus. While Simeon was speaking an aged woman named Anna, who had been a
widow many years, also came into the temple. She gave thanks to the Lord and
told all of like mind of the wonderful visitation which had come from God. Thus
a number of remarkable evidences were given from above to attest the facts
connected with His first coming as the only begotten Son of God.
A reference to the childhood of Jesus is also contained in Ch.2. When He was
twelve years of age He was left in Jerusalem in a mistake by His parents. As
they journeyed homeward from the feast of the Passover, they thought the boy was
along, probably traveling with other boys of his own age, as could have easily
been expected. When night came He could not be found. The parents hurried back
to Jerusalem, and after three days search found Him in the temple engaged in
deep discussion with the doctors of the law, who were astonished at His
understanding and answers. While Jesus expressed surprise at His parents that
they should misunderstand His devotion to His Fathers business, He nevertheless
went quietly with them, and led a life of sweet submission in His home in
Nazareth, vs.41-52.
THE BAPTISM, ANCESTRY, AND TESTING OF JESUS.
In due time, John the Baptist appeared in public and engaged in his ministry of
turning people to repentance as was foretold of him by the prophet Isaiah.
Because of his fearless rebuke of Herod he was put into prison, and later laid
down his life, Ch.3:19-20. As John was baptizing many people in the river
Jordan, Jesus came to him and was also baptized. Then heaven opened, and the
Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon Him, and a voice came
from heaven, which said, “Thou art My beloved Son; in Thee I am well pleased.”
Following the incident of Christ’s baptism, we have the record of His ancestry
traced back to Adam. Thus we are reminded that He was truly the Son of man.
After He received the Holy Ghost, Jesus was led of the Spirit into the
wilderness to be tempted of the devil, Ch.4:1-2.
THE MINISTRY OF THE SON OF MAN IN GALILEE.
While such an experience was painful in the extreme the Lord came through the
temptation in victory, for it is said in v.14, that “He returned in the power of
the Spirit into Galilee”, and began His remarkable ministry. Luke records this
and devotes practically six chapters to what happened in that part of the
country. The opening message was an introduction, as Jesus attended a meeting in
the synagogue on the Sabbath day, Ch.4:16. He stood up to read and asked the
minister for the prophecy of Isaiah. When Isaiah was handed to Him, He turned to
Isaiah 61 and read verse one and part of verse two, stopping at a comma, as the
truth for His day ended there. When the Lord claimed to be the One in Whom the
scripture was fulfilled, His hearers were quite indignant that He who was just
one of their local men should dare call Himself the Anointed One, v.22. They
were still more provoked when Jesus began to expose their lack of faith, so that
God could not manifest His power among them as He desired. The balance of Ch.4
records the deliverance of a man with an unclean spirit, and the healing of
Peter’s wife’s mother.
Christ’s busy life of preaching, and healing, and performing miracles is well
illustrated in Ch. 5. A miraculous catch of fishes was given to Peter and his
fellow fisherman with the promise that henceforth they should catch men, and
from then on they left all and followed Jesus. A leper appealed to the Lord and
was granted immediate cleansing. Then a paralyzed man was carried in a bed by
four friends, and Jesus seeing their faith both forgave his sins and healed his
body. The chapter closes with a parable about the folly of taking a piece out of
a new garment in order to patch an old one. Many people do that today as they
try to serve Christ on the one hand, and the world on the other hand, but they
always fail.
Chapter 6 teaches how Jesus excused His disciples for plucking some corn and
eating it on the Sabbath day. He quoted David who ate the Shewbread and gave to
others with him, when it was not lawful to so do. God did not hold it against
him, and the people thought none the less of him, and Jesus showed how He, the
Son of man, is Lord also of the Sabbath, vs.1-5. In this chapter we also have
Luke’s version of the Beatitudes, and the parable of the house built upon the
rock. Chapters 7 and 8 contain incidents of the general ministry of Christ
ending with the raising to life of the daughter of Jairus.
The Lord called His twelve disciples to Him “and gave them power and authority
over all devils, and to cure diseases, and sent them to preach the kingdom of
God, and to heal the sick.” After the transfiguration mentioned in Ch. 9:27-36,
Jesus began to draw His ministry in Galilee to a close.
THE JOURNEY OF THE SON OF MAN FROM GALILEE TO JERUSALEM.
The disciples of Christ had much to learn. As the Lord turned His face toward
Jerusalem He sought entertainment in a certain village in Samaria. Because the
people acted somewhat different about receiving Him, James and John suggested
that they call down fire from heaven and consume them as Elijah did. They
learned that Gospel ministry is far different, and that Christ had come to save
rather than to destroy, Ch. 9:51-56. In Ch. 10, we read how Jesus increased His
helpers and sent forth seventy more, vs.1-9. They were given the same power as
the twelve, and returned with a glowing report of how the devils were subject
unto them through His name. To help steady them, the Lord suggested that they
rejoice not in success in service, but that their names were written in heaven,
vs. 17-20.
The well know parable of the good Samaritan gives us the sentiment of the
Gospel, how that the sin-sick of this world can be helped in a way that the Law
never could undertake for them. Martha and Mary are also mentioned in this
chapter, and through them we get the searching lesson of the greater good there
is in sitting at the feet of Jesus when He chooses to call us aside for a time
of fellowship, rather than in bustling around in some self-imposed task for Him.
A lesson on prayer is given in Ch. 11. Two things are needful, first that we
approach God in the right spirit, and second that we determine to get the answer
though it would appear as though God seems to delay, vs. 1-3. Some more of the
general ministry of Christ is recorded in the chapters, which follow.
A woman greatly bent over was loosed by Him after she had been tormented by
Satan for eighteen years, Ch. 13:10-27. It is very suggestive that as Jesus
informed her that she was loosed even before there was any manifestation of the
same, so people are loosed by Christ even though they fail to experience it.
Ch. 15 contains the parable of the prodigal son. Three prominent characters
teach us a lasting lesson. The father shows forth the love of God the returned
prodigal reminds us that Jesus came to call sinners to repentance; and the elder
brother illustrates how some believers fail to appropriate what is always at
hand, as they are ever with their Father Who gives them all things richly to
enjoy. In Ch. 16, we have the parable of the unjust steward, vs.1-13. From this
we learn the importance of spending our lives for the salvation of others, that
when our time comes to leave this earth we shall have many who shall receive us
into everlasting habitations. In vs. 19-31, we read how Jesus lifted the veil of
the future life, and by quoting the circumstances of the rich man and Lazarus
showed how there is torment for those who live only for themselves in this life.
On the other hand, those who believe in the Lord, though their path maybe thorny
down here on earth, they shall enter into wonderful bliss after they leave this
world.
The healing of the ten lepers and the return of the one to give thanks, Ch.
17:11-19, called forth a word of surprise from Jesus that the nine had made no
such response. Even in such things god is quick to notice and appreciates our
thanksgivings as well as our prayers. The Lord in vs. 22-37, makes a reference
to His second coming. He said that He must first suffer many things and be
rejected. Then in the time of the end conditions of life will be repeated as
were in the days of Noah and Lot. Finally two men shall be in one bed; the one
shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding together, and
one shall be taken, and the other left. Two men shall be in the field, one shall
be taken, and the other left. The disciples asked, “Where, Lord?” and all He
replied was, “Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered
together.” Jesus told them all they were to know at that time for the day for
the fuller revelation was not yet due.
THE FINAL OFFER OF THE SON OF MAN AS KING TO ISRAEL, HIS REJECTION AND
SACRIFICE.
In Ch. 19:41-44 Jesus gave His final word concerning Jerusalem. He had made His
memorable entry upon the colt, but was criticized by the Pharisees because of
the rejoicing of the disciples. Then followed the great denunciation in which
the Lord foretells how Jerusalem should be besieged and eventually the city
would lay even with the ground.
Ch. 20, is taken up largely with the words of dispute by which the Scribes, and
Pharisees, and the Sadducees sought to overthrow Christ’s ministry.
In Ch. 21, we have Luke’s version of the signs of the end. Jesus made the
statement that the temple would be so completely demolished that not one stone
would be left upon another, v.6. In the siege of Titus, A.D. 70 the temple
caught fire. Its gold melted and trickled in between the stones. The Roman
soldiers pried them apart to obtain the precious metal, and thus the prediction
was fulfilled. In v.7, we have the disciples threefold question the same as in
Matthew 24. The course of this age is shown in vs. 8-19. Then in vs. 20-24,
Jesus spoke specifically of the siege of Jerusalem to be accomplished in that
day, and showed how the city would afterwards be trodden down by the Gentiles
until the times of the Gentiles should be fulfilled. Such has been the state of
Israel until within recent years. Jerusalem was freed from Turkish rule and came
under the mandatory rule of Great Britain. Now Israel is once more a nation and
prophecy is being fulfilled.
Certain conditions, which shall characterize the last days, are mentioned in vs.
25-28. When we see signs of such we may look up, for our redemption will then be
near at hand. A word of warning is given in vs. 34-36. We must beware of being
overcharged with either pleasures or cares of this life lest that day come upon
us unawares, and we fail to escape the things which shall come upon the earth,
but rather let us strive to be worthy to stand before the Son of man.
Chs. 22 & 23, give us similar facts of the last few days of Christ before
Calvary as are stated in the other Gospels. He gathered His disciples for the
last Passover supper, and then instituted the new supper, which we call the
Lords Supper. Jesus announced His betrayal and then sought to show His followers
that true greatness consists in serving others. They finally made their way to
the Garden of Gethsemane and after the prayer-struggle of Christ, Judas came
along and betrayed Him into the hands of the band of men sent by the priesthood.
Peter drew a sword and cut off a man’s ear, but Jesus asked permission and
healed the man, Ch.22:51. Following the arrest, Peter denied Christ but wept
bitterly for his act of weakness in that trying moment. After being buffeted,
Jesus was taken before the Sanhedrin to be tried. Later they took Him to Pilate
who finally was persuaded to give sentence that He be crucified, Ch. 23:24. The
crucifixion took place in a very short time and He was hung between two thieves.
As one reviled Him the other cried for mercy, and although Christ’s agony was
exceeding great, He listened to the plea and granted salvation in the eleventh
hour. Just before His death, Jesus commended Himself into the hands of the
Father and gave up the ghost. Being buried hurriedly because of the approaching
feast of the Passover, His body was laid away in a temporary manner, and the
women of His group prepared spices and ointments for use after the Sabbath day.
THE RESURRECTION, RESURRECTION MINISTRY, AND ASCENSION OF THE SON OF MAN.
Very early in the morning of the first day of the week, the women went to the
sepulcher with the spices they had prepared, expecting to carry out the usual
rites of the day for their dead friend, Christ Jesus, Ch.24:1. Imagine their
surprise to find the stone rolled away and the grave empty. Two angels broke the
news that He was not there but had risen as He formerly told them, and it says,
they remembered His words. As the women broke the good news to the others, it
says “their words seemed to be as idle tales, and they believed them not.” Then
Peter went to the grave and saw how things were and wondered in himself at what
had come to pass, vs. 11-12. Still others were filled with astonishment.
Two disciples were journeying to Emmaus and Jesus joined their company. He
appeared to wonder why they were so sad, and finally revealed to them that the
things, which had happened, were according to the scriptures. Then He entered
their home, broke bread with them, and as they recognized their Lord, He
suddenly vanished from their sight. The two disciples hurried back to Jerusalem
with the good news, vs. 33-35.
While the group was gathered together, Jesus appeared in their midst, ate in
their presence, and then opened up their understanding in the scriptures. The
Lord then commissioned the disciples to be His witnesses, but enjoined upon them
the great importance of being first endued with power from on high, v.49. He
then led them out as far as to Bethany and was suddenly parted from them and
carried up into Heaven. The disciples were filled with joy, and returned to
Jerusalem and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God.