THE GOSPEL OF LUKE

• JESUS IS THE PERFECT SON OF MAN WHO IS THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD

As God’s perfect Son of Man before the Gentiles, Jesus states His primary purpose in

19:10:

“For the Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which is lost.”

THE GOSPEL OF LUKE

I. Preparation for the Son of Man (1:1-4:13).

II. Beginning of the Ministry of the Son of Man Among Men (4:14-9:50).

III. Rejection of the Son of Man by Men (9:51-19:27).

IV. Suffering of the Son of Man for Men (19:28-23:56).

V. Authentication of the Son of Man before Men (24:1-53).

•“This is the Gospel of the Humanity of Jesus. The writer presents the Messiah, not at Sovereign or Servant--though He rules and toils--but as our Fellow and Friend. There is evidence of this at the beginning, where His genealogy is traced back to Adam the father of the race. Luke emphasizes the universality of the Gospel, and has much to say about sinners and the Saviour. The record overflows with sympathy, and is pre-eminently the Gospel of forgiveness. Much is said about prayer because that is a necessity, and a natural function of man. Women and children figure largely in this Gospel of Christ’s humanity. Miracles peculiar to Luke reflect the compassion of Jesus: the widow’s son raised; a woman’s infirmity cured; ten lepers healed, and other acts of mercy. Also the parables peculiar to this Gospel are in keeping with the presentation of Jesus’ humanity: for example, the Two Debtors; the Good Samaritan; the Friend at Midnight; the Great Supper; the Prodigal Son, and fourteen other parables.”

•~ Dr. Scroggie, The Unfolding Drama of Redemption, 2: 107.

“This Gospel presents Jesus as the ideal and perfect man and as the Saviour of all

classes of men. This Gospel presents Christ as passing through all the stages of a normal human life, from infancy through

boyhood to mature manhood.”

~ Dr. Harold Hoehner’s Analysis of New Testament Books.

GENTILE FOCUS:

Luke wrote this historical narrative primarily for the Gentiles. Below are the following evidences:

1) Luke frequently explained Jewish localities (4:31; 8:26; 21:37; 23:51; 24:13). This would be unnecessary if he was writing to Jews.

2) Luke traces Jesus’ genealogy all the way back to Adam (rather than to Abraham as seen in Matthew’s Gospel). The implication is that Jesus was representing all humanity rather than just Israel.

GENTILE FOCUS:

3) Luke refers to Roman emperors in designating the dates of Jesus’ birth (2:1) & of John the Baptist’s preaching (3:1).

4) Luke uses a number of words which would be more familiar to Gentile readers than the comparable Jewish terms found in Matthew’s Gospel (e.g., Luke’s use of the Greek word “didaskalos” rather than “rabbi” for “teacher.”

GENTILE FOCUS:5) Luke uses the Septuagint when quoting from the

O.T. He has relatively few direction quotations, though the book is filled with allusions. The quotations & references are in 2:23-24; 3:4-6; 4:4, 8; 10-12; 18-19; 7:27; 10:27; 18:20; 19:46; 20:17, 28, 37, 42-43; 22:37.

6) Little is said about Jesus prophecies because they were not nearly so important to Gentile readers as they were to Jewish readers. In fact, Luke has only 5 direct references to fulfillment of prophecy and all but one (3:4) are found in the teaching of Jesus to Israel.

INTERESTING FACTS:

1) Luke emphasizes the universal message of gospel more than the other Gospel writers.

2) Luke often wrote about sinners, the poor, & outcasts from Jewish society.

3) Luke often refers to Gentiles who shared in the blessings of the Messiah.

4) Samaritans were presented as coming to faith in the Messiah.

5) Luke frequently wrote about women & children and their faith.

INTERESTING FACTS:

6) Luke’s gospel gives a reader a more comprehensive grasp of the history of the period than the other Gospels.

7) Luke presents more facts about the earthly life of Jesus than did Matthew, Mark, or John.

8) Luke emphasizes forgiveness (3:3; 5:18-26; 7:36-50; 11:4; 12:10; 17:3-4; 23:34; 24:47).

9) Luke emphasizes prayer at many points in His ministry Jesus prayed (3:21; 5:16; 6:12; 29; 22:32; 40-41).

INTERESTING FACTS:10) Luke notes the individual’s place in coming to repentance.

He stresses the action which must come from each individual who follows Jesus (e.g., Zechariah, Elizabeth, Mary, Simeon, Anna, Martha, Mary, Simon, Levi, the centurion, the widow of Nain, Zacchaeus, & Joseph of Arimathea).

11) Luke says more about money and material things than did any other author in N.T. He did not always present the poor as being self-righteous, but he did say that the self-sufficient rich, who regarded riches more highly than Jesus, were unable to enter into the salvation Jesus offered.

12) Luke often spoke of joy that accompanies faith & salvation (1:14; 8:13; 10:17; 13:17; 15:5, 9, 32; 19:6, 37).

13) Luke tends to use a particular term or word in one or more passages and then rarely or never after that. This makes a word stand out and calls attention to it wherever it occurs.

I. Preparation for the Son of Man (Luke 1:4-4:13):

This section records the incarnation & presentation of the Son of Man.

• Luke emphasizes Jesus’ and John’s birth, demonstrating that Jesus was born from a woman like any other man (except it was a virgin birth).

• Luke then presents the ministry of the forerunner which is ended when he is put in prison.

• After Jesus had been baptized, Luke gives His genealogy to prove that He was genuine man and that Adam was his father just as he was every person’s father.

• After the genealogy, Luke presents His temptation showing that He was tempted like all people.

I. Preparation for the Son of Man (Luke 1:4-4:13):

•After Luke’s introductory explanation as to the purpose for writing, the author begins to explain the advent of the Son of Man among men (1:5-2:52).

•Angel Gabriel announces the coming birth of John to Zacharias & Elizabeth (vv. 5-25) and the birth of Jesus to Mary (vv. 26-56).

•Both are born forecast (1:57-2:24), & the Son of Man is recognized as the fulfiller of Israel’s hope by Simeon & Anna (2:25-38).

I. Preparation for the Son of Man (Luke 1:4-4:13):

Luke tells of the boyhood of Jesus, emphasizing his normal human development (2:39-52).

John begins his preaching& introduces the Son of Man to men (3:1-20).

Then the qualifications of the Son of Man are traced (3:21-4:13).

The Father authenticates Him by sending the Spirit and speaking words of approval. His bloodline authenticates Him. And in His battle with Satan He demonstrates His moral qualification to perform the ministry as the perfect Man among sinful men.

II. Ministry of the Son of Man among Men (4:14-9:50)

• Luke tells of the boyhood of Jesus, emphasizing his normal

human development (2:39-52).

• Beginning His work in the power of the Spirit, as the ideal man totally dependent by God, the Son of Man immediately identifies Himself as Messiah (4:14-44).

• At Nazareth He makes the specific claim to be the fulfiller of Isaiah 61, but the people reject Him. Then, at Capernaum, Jesus offers His credentials: authoritative words (vv. 31-32)& authoritative works (vv. 33-34).

II. Ministry of the Son of Man among men (4:14-9:50):

Luke records events which demonstrate evidence of His Person for all to consider:

– Miraculous catch of fish (5:1-11) is primarily for the disciples to teach them His authority as the God-man and to prepare them to catch men by that same authority.

– In the healing of the leper (5:15-16), Jesus is presenting evidence of His Person for the religious authorities of Israel (cf. v. 14).

There is a succession of authentications of His Messiahship & at the same time an ever-growing opposition to and rejection of His Person by the Jewish leaders.

II. Ministry of the Son of Man among Men (4:14-9:50):

Jesus begins a concentration upon training the

disciples and preparing them for a ministry (9:1-50), & this includes a pictorial authentication of His Person by the glory of His Transfiguration, which they would never forget (2 Peter 1).

Jesus also makes direct predictions of His coming death, which is the topic of discussion on the mountain of Transfiguration (9:31; 9:22; 9:44-45).

III. The Rejection of the Son of Man by Men (9:51-19:27):

This section develops the rejection by the official

leaders of Israel (9:51-11:54) & His instructions in view of the rejection (12:1-19:27). He continues to seek & to save the lost, ever striving by careful instructions to probe beneath the pretense & sham of the Jews & to point out their deep need of reality with God.

III. The Rejection of the Son of Man by Men (9:51-19:27):

- In the parable of the prodigal son He seeks to contrast the attitude of the Pharisees toward publicans & sinners with His own attitude which seeks them that they might be saved (15:1-32). The same emphasis is presented in the conversion of Zacchaeus (19:1-10).

- In light of the rejection by the official Jewish leaders, Jesus teaches a period of postponement of the earthly Messianic kingdom before it shall finally be instituted immediately following His Second Coming (19:11-27).

IV. The Suffering of the Son of Man for Men (19:28-23:56)

In the last week before the cross, the Son of Man makes His official presentation of Himself as Messiah in Jerusalem on the very day predicted by Daniel (9:24-27 cf. Luke 19:42):

- He possesses the Temple in a Messianic demonstration on Monday.

- He has a series of interviews with groups of His enemies who seek to tramp Him in His words & disprove His authority (20:1-47).

IV. The Suffering of the Son of Man for men (19:28-23:56)

- Jesus unfolds prophecies of the future tribulation period & His own return (21:5-38).

- Judas promises the religious leaders that he will betray Jesus (22:1-6).

- Jesus observes the Passover, institutes the memorial of the bread & the cup & prays in Gethsemane (22:7-46).

IV. The Suffering of the Son of Man for men (19:28-23:56):

- Jesus unfolds prophecies of the future tribulation period & his own return (21:5-38).

- Judas promises the religious leaders that he will betray Jesus (22:1-6).

- Jesus observes the Passover, institutes the memorial of the bread & the cup & prays in Gethsemane (22:7-46).

IV. The Suffering of the Son of Man for Men (19:28-23:56):

- Jesus is arrested, tried by both Jewish & Roman authorities, denied by Peter, declared of innocent of charges & then turned over for crucifixion by Pilate (22:47-23:26).

- Jesus is crucified and laid in the new tomb of Joseph (23:27-56).

V. The Authentication of the Son of Man Before Men

(24:1-53):

Luke finishes part 1 (Luke) of his history by giving a record of the resurrection of the Son of Man & His appearances to His own before the ascension into heaven (Part 2 is Book of Acts):

- The Opened Grave (24:1-12). - The Opened Scripture (24:13-32). - The Opened Understanding (24:33-49). - The Opened Heaven (24:50-53).