Subscribe to our PODCAST here.Overview of Luke
Intro.
A. Began study of the gospel of Luke this morning - tonight an overview of some general themes in the book.
B. A unique book in that it is the only N.T. book written by a Gentile. He was a doctor (Col. 4:14), a traveling companion of Paul (“we” passages in Acts), and writer of two books - to Theophilus (Most excellent - a normal title for a high official in the Roman government). Someone said: a preacher sees men and women at their best; a lawyer sees them at their worst; a doctor sees them as they are. Luke saw men and women and loved them all.
C. Emphasis on Christ as the Savior of the world paves the way for his treatment of the work among Gentiles - which is the prominent message of the book of Acts.
D. Symbols of the gospels: Matthew - a lion (the king from the tribe of Judah), Mark - a man (simple and straight-forward presentation of the life of Jesus - Servant); John - an eagle (soars higher than any other bird; this gospel gives higher theological thoughts than any other - Son of God); Luke - the calf (the animal of sacrifice; Luke saw Jesus as the sacrifice for the world - the Savior).
E. Luke dates by the reigning of a Roman emperor and the current Roman governor; not greatly concerned about O.T. prophecy (seldom quotes); traces genealogy - not from Abraham, the founder of the Jewish race, but from Adam, the founder of the human race (Mt. 1:2; Lk. 3:38)
Body:
A. The gospel of prayer:
1. He prayed at His baptism (3:21), before His first encounter with the Pharisees (5:16,17),
before He chose the twelve (6:12,13); before the prediction of His death (9:18-22); at the mount of transfiguration (9:28-29); upon the cross (23:46).
2. Only Luke tells: about His prayer for Peter before his testing (22:31,32); the parable of the friend at midnight (11:5-13); and the unjust judge (18:1-8).
B. The gospel of women:
1. Women held a very low place in the minds of many Jews. In the Jewish morning prayer a man thanked God that He did not make him a Gentile, a slave or a woman!
2. Luke places special emphasis on women: the birth narrative is told from Mary’s point of view (3:38 - the literal genealogy; Matthew’s is from Joseph’s family - both were from David).
3. In Luke we read of: Elizabeth (1:13), Anna (2:36-38), the widow at Nain (7:12-16), one who anointed Jesus’ feet (7:36-50).
4. Luke makes vivid the pictures of Martha and Mary (10:38-42; John mentions them 11:1). He mentions Mary Magdalene (24:10; as do each of the other writers Mt. 27:56; Mk. 16:1; Jn. 20:18).
5. Some suggest that Luke may have been from Macedonia where women were held in a higher position.
C. The universal gospel:
1. The kingdom is not shut up to Samaritans (9:51-56).
2. Only Luke tells the parable of the good Samaritan (10:30-37), and the grateful leper (17:11-19).
3. He shows Jesus speaking with approval of Gentiles: widow in Zaraphath (4:25,26), Naaman (4:27), the Roman centurion (7:6-9).
4. He was a friend of sinners (19:1-10); discussed how man are lost and God’s attitude toward them (15).
a. The sheep - through sheer foolishness (15:1-7). It did not think and pay attention to the shepherd’s voice. (We would escape sin if we thought and listened!)
b. The coin (15:8-10) -- no fault of its own (not totally true of humans - but many are led astray by others).
c. The younger son (15:11-32) - deliberate turning away (parable of loving father and the forgiveness of God).
d. The elder son - the self-righteousness of the Pharisees (15:2). Referred to his brother is “this son of yours” (v. 30), not my brother. (Did he suspect his brother of sins he would have liked to commit? If he had done that - why bring it up after repentance?)
Concl.
Which one represents you?
A. Began study of the gospel of Luke this morning - tonight an overview of some general themes in the book.
B. A unique book in that it is the only N.T. book written by a Gentile. He was a doctor (Col. 4:14), a traveling companion of Paul (“we” passages in Acts), and writer of two books - to Theophilus (Most excellent - a normal title for a high official in the Roman government). Someone said: a preacher sees men and women at their best; a lawyer sees them at their worst; a doctor sees them as they are. Luke saw men and women and loved them all.
C. Emphasis on Christ as the Savior of the world paves the way for his treatment of the work among Gentiles - which is the prominent message of the book of Acts.
D. Symbols of the gospels: Matthew - a lion (the king from the tribe of Judah), Mark - a man (simple and straight-forward presentation of the life of Jesus - Servant); John - an eagle (soars higher than any other bird; this gospel gives higher theological thoughts than any other - Son of God); Luke - the calf (the animal of sacrifice; Luke saw Jesus as the sacrifice for the world - the Savior).
E. Luke dates by the reigning of a Roman emperor and the current Roman governor; not greatly concerned about O.T. prophecy (seldom quotes); traces genealogy - not from Abraham, the founder of the Jewish race, but from Adam, the founder of the human race (Mt. 1:2; Lk. 3:38)
Body:
A. The gospel of prayer:
1. He prayed at His baptism (3:21), before His first encounter with the Pharisees (5:16,17),
before He chose the twelve (6:12,13); before the prediction of His death (9:18-22); at the mount of transfiguration (9:28-29); upon the cross (23:46).
2. Only Luke tells: about His prayer for Peter before his testing (22:31,32); the parable of the friend at midnight (11:5-13); and the unjust judge (18:1-8).
B. The gospel of women:
1. Women held a very low place in the minds of many Jews. In the Jewish morning prayer a man thanked God that He did not make him a Gentile, a slave or a woman!
2. Luke places special emphasis on women: the birth narrative is told from Mary’s point of view (3:38 - the literal genealogy; Matthew’s is from Joseph’s family - both were from David).
3. In Luke we read of: Elizabeth (1:13), Anna (2:36-38), the widow at Nain (7:12-16), one who anointed Jesus’ feet (7:36-50).
4. Luke makes vivid the pictures of Martha and Mary (10:38-42; John mentions them 11:1). He mentions Mary Magdalene (24:10; as do each of the other writers Mt. 27:56; Mk. 16:1; Jn. 20:18).
5. Some suggest that Luke may have been from Macedonia where women were held in a higher position.
C. The universal gospel:
1. The kingdom is not shut up to Samaritans (9:51-56).
2. Only Luke tells the parable of the good Samaritan (10:30-37), and the grateful leper (17:11-19).
3. He shows Jesus speaking with approval of Gentiles: widow in Zaraphath (4:25,26), Naaman (4:27), the Roman centurion (7:6-9).
4. He was a friend of sinners (19:1-10); discussed how man are lost and God’s attitude toward them (15).
a. The sheep - through sheer foolishness (15:1-7). It did not think and pay attention to the shepherd’s voice. (We would escape sin if we thought and listened!)
b. The coin (15:8-10) -- no fault of its own (not totally true of humans - but many are led astray by others).
c. The younger son (15:11-32) - deliberate turning away (parable of loving father and the forgiveness of God).
d. The elder son - the self-righteousness of the Pharisees (15:2). Referred to his brother is “this son of yours” (v. 30), not my brother. (Did he suspect his brother of sins he would have liked to commit? If he had done that - why bring it up after repentance?)
Concl.
Which one represents you?