The Gospel according to Luke

Christ in the Scriptures

Just like we’d expect from a family doctor, Dr. Luke sensitively describes Jesus as One who reaches out personally and heals those who are mercilessly caged by devastating illnesses. As a person, He is concerned with people. Whereas Matthew likes to refer to Jesus as the Son of David and Mark refers to Him as the Son of God, Luke’s favorite expression is “the Son of Man.”

Jesus’ humanity and compassion are repeatedly stressed by the author. This, coupled with Luke’s portrayal of Jesus’ sinless perfection, set up his logical conclusion. Because Jesus is the only perfect person born of a woman and because He identifies compassionately with the plight of suffering sinful people, He alone is qualified to carry our sorrows, bear our sin, and offer us the priceless gift of salvation.

Luke never met Jesus, yet chose to follow Him. An obviously educated man who, as Colossians 4:14 tells us, was a physician, Luke learned all that he could about Jesus and shared his findings with us. Thus his Gospel provides a “step back,” a unique perspective on Jesus’ birth, ministry, death, and resurrection.

The author writes that he was not an eyewitness to the events surrounding Jesus but had gathered the reports of others. On the other hand, the author was present with Paul at some of the events described in Acts. So the author must have been a lately converted Christian who knew Paul and sometimes traveled with him. Early Christian writings, from the works of Justin Martyr to Tertullian, identify the author as Luke, an identification that was firmly in place by the third century a.d. Luke was an educated man by ancient standards. He was capable of writing in high Greek style, and Colossians 4:10–14 seems to indicate that Luke was not “of the circumcision,” that is, not Jewish. If so, Luke would be the only Gentile author of a New Testament book. Tradition says that after accompanying Paul on some of his missionary journeys, Luke settled in Philippi, investing his life in the ministry of the Philippian church.

The Gospel of Luke is unique in several ways. It is the only Gospel that has a sequel, Acts. Both Luke and Acts include an account of the Ascension, an event that only Luke describes in detail. Second, Luke is the longest of the four Gospels. Third, Luke records a wide variety of miracles, teaching, and parables, making it the fullest portrait of Jesus’ ministry. Much of the material in chapters 9–19 appears only in Luke; in all, about one-third of the Gospel of Luke is unique. Fourth, Luke is the only Gospel addressed to an individual. Luke writes for Theophilus, who was probably a Gentile believer.

For Luke, Jesus is the promised Messiah (1:31–35), the Son of God (9:35), the Servant through whom God works (4:16–18), and the Lord who is called to sit at God’s right hand exerting His authority and giving the Spirit to those who believe. Though aspects of God’s plan are fulfilled in Jesus’ First Coming, other parts of the plan remain to be fulfilled when Jesus returns.

Luke wrote his Gospel to reassure Theophilus, a Gentile and a new believer, that God was still at work in the Christian community founded by Jesus. Luke presents God’s grace as revealed in Jesus’ ministry on earth. He emphasizes that this grace is available to Gentiles, even though the promises relating to Jesus’ ministry stretch back into Israel’s history. For this reason Luke also concentrates on Jesus’ relationship to the nation and leaders of Israel. The rejection of Israel does not mean the failure of God’s plan. On the contrary, although they did not know it, their rejection was part of God’s plan from the beginning (Acts 2:22–39). In fact, persecution of the Christian community would be the means by which the church would spread the Good News throughout the world. Jesus Himself had predicted that this would happen (24:45–48).

The first two chapters of Luke emphasize the Old Testament and its promises of a Messiah, while 3:1–4:13 demonstrate that Jesus is the Messiah, who can resist the Evil One. Then, 4:14–9:50 introduce Jesus’ power and teaching. In these chapters, Luke records Jesus’ claims to authority and the numerous miracles that supported them. Even with these miracles as evidence, the people rejected Jesus while the disciples’ faith in Him steadily grew. The growing rift between Jesus and the Jewish leadership is seen in 9:51–19:44. This breach is emphasized most in chapters 9–13, but in chapters 14–19 attention turns to Jesus’ instruction of His disciples. The last section (19:45–24:53) portrays the final controversies, the trial, the death of Jesus, and the Resurrection and Ascension. The book ends with Jesus telling the disciples to wait for the coming of the Spirit. By now, they should have realized that everything that had taken place in Jesus’ life was promised in the Law, the Prophets, and the Psalms (24:43–49). Jesus is the promised Messiah. Forgiveness of sin can be obtained only through Him. The disciples were witnesses to this fact; their mission was to share this Good News with all nations, not merely the Jews. Jesus gave them this task, but He also provided them with the power to carry it out (24:47). Thus it is clear that Luke’s Gospel centers on God’s plan to provide salvation to the world. It closes anticipating the spread of the gospel that is recorded in its sequel, the Book of Acts.

Jeremiah 22:13-17

God cares about all people...period!

He cares and He will repay injustice and unrighteousness. We are forgiven in Christ but there always repercussions to our actions. We will learn the lessons we need to learn because of His great love for us. 

God does not leave us where He found us.

Jeremiah 22:15 (FSB): A mocking rhetorical question. Using Jehoiakim’s father, Josiah, as a favorable example, Jeremiah asserts that one is a king by virtue of character, not by virtue of construction projects.

Jeremiah 22:16 (FSB): Knowledge of Yahweh comes through emulating Him in the attributes of justice, righteousness, and care for the oppressed and less fortunate.

Jeremiah 22:14 (NKJVSB): The king was supposed to be the guardian of his people, but Jehoiakim enslaved his fellow Israelites to build his self-aggrandizing palaces.

Jeremiah 22:16 (NKJVSB): Israel perished because of its lack of knowledge of God.  Knowledge of God here is related to concern for the poor and needy.

Jeremiah 22:17 (NKJVSB): Jehoiakim did not follow in the footsteps of Josiah. covetousness … shedding innocent blood … practicing oppression and violence: This triad of sins characterizing the reign of Jehoiakim would hammer home a resounding message to Judah concerning the collapse of its kingship. Covenant violations would not go unpunished.

Jeremiah 22:13–17 (NKJV): “Woe to him who builds his house by unrighteousness and his chambers by injustice,Who uses his neighbor’s service without wages and gives him nothing for his work,Who says, ‘I will build myself a wide house with spacious chambers,And cut out windows for it, Paneling it with cedar and painting it with vermilion.’

“ He judged the cause of the poor and needy;Then it was well.Was not this knowing Me?” says the Lord.“Yet your eyes and your heart are for nothing but your covetousness,For shedding innocent blood, and practicing oppression and violence.”

Jeremiah 22:3 (NKJV): Thus says the Lord: “Execute judgment and righteousness, and deliver the plundered out of the hand of the oppressor. Do no wrong and do no violence to the stranger, the fatherless, or the widow, nor shed innocent blood in this place.

Micah 3:10–11 (NKJV): Who build up Zion with bloodshedAnd Jerusalem with iniquity:Her heads judge for a bribe,Her priests teach for pay,And her prophets divine for money.Yet they lean on the Lord, and say,“Is not the Lord among us?No harm can come upon us.”

Acts 8:35-40

Jesus came to set the captives free, not to bind them in nationalities, in God’s great love. 

For God so loved the world that He sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, to give His life in their place. The greatest commandment is LOVE. Love for God and love for His creation, mankind. Faith in Him and in His goodness and power brings us safely to our eternal home.

Jesus changes everything!

Philip used the fourth Suffering Servant song (Isa 52:13–53:12) to explain the gospel of Jesus’ sacrificial death, victorious resurrection, and the significance of Jesus’ actions for all people. In answer to the eunuch’s question, Philip would have explained that the prophet is speaking about an individual suffering servant, who takes on the sin of all of humanity. He would have then connected the suffering servant prophecy to Jesus. 

Irenaeus, an early church father who lived between a.d. 130 and 202, wrote that the eunuch returned to Ethiopia and became a missionary to his own people. Faithlife Bible.

First-century Jews did not speak much about a suffering Messiah. The Jewish people, facing the yoke of Roman rule, believed that the Messiah would come as the Lion of Judah, a delivering King, not a weak lamb. They believed and taught that the suffering One spoken of by Isaiah was the suffering nation of Israel. Most likely this eunuch had heard the “official” teaching of this passage in Jerusalem but still had some questions. Philip showed him that suffering One was Jesus. He had to suffer on the Cross for the sins of all of humanity. NKJ Bible.

Acts 8:35–40 (NKJV)

³⁵ Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. ³⁶ Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?”

³⁷ Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.”

And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”

³⁸ So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. ³⁹ Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing. ⁴⁰ But Philip was found at Azotus. And passing through, he preached in all the cities till he came to Caesarea.

Romans 6:3-4

It is harder for us to forgive our past than to live in the forgiveness given in and through the salvation of Jesus Christ. It is a debt that we cannot repay. Through our changed life and good works we show our gratitude and love for the triune Godhead.

Water baptism is a symbol of the spiritual union of Christ and the believer. When a person trusts Christ, he or she is incorporated into, united to, Jesus Christ, which includes being united to His death. Jesus’ death becomes our death. Having died and having been raised with Christ, the believer should live a new kind of life. Faithlife Bible

Romans 6:3–4 (NKJV): Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Galatians 6:15 (NKJV): For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation.

Ephesians 4:20–24 (NKJV): But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

Matthew 5:13-16

We are to be found similar to our Lord and Savior/ sharing His attributes as closely as is humanly possible. We will never be perfect but others, all genders, nationalities and faiths, should see Him in us.

similitude | siˈmiləˌt(y)o͞od |

noun

the quality or state of being similar to something.

Salt fulfilled a variety of functions throughout biblical history. Israel’s proximity to the Dead Sea and numerous salt pits throughout the land made salt a readily accessible commodity.

Jesus shifts from pronouncements of blessing to instructions about the law. He compares His followers to salt and light, elements commonly used as metaphors in antiquity. His point is that disciples who fail to live a lifestyle that reflects the values of the kingdom of heaven are akin to something tasteless or devoid of light—undesirable and of no value. Faithlife Bible.

Pure salt maintains its flavor. In Israel, some salt was mixed with other ingredients. When it was exposed to the elements, the salt would be “leached out.” Such leached-out salt was used for coating pathways.

The believer does not have inherent light; rather we have reflective light. As we behold the glory of the Lord, we reflect it. Therefore, we need to make sure that nothing comes between us and the Lord’s light. NKJ Bible.

Matthew 5:13–16 (NKJV)

¹³ “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.

¹⁴ “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. ¹⁶ Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

1 Peter 2:12 (NKJV)

¹² having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.

Mark 9:50 (NKJV)

⁵⁰ Salt is good, but if the salt loses its flavor, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another.”

Habakkuk 2:9-11

God’s wisdom and judgement prevails. Make no mistake He cares for the poor and the marginalized of the world. He hears their cries and He will answer them. There are no walls in God’s Kingdom.

Money and power can be used for good or evil…choose wisely.

The final word it is always His.

The Chaldean empire’s thirst for loot and spoil arose from their proud desire to build a great empire. Just as a bird strives to achieve security by building a nest on high, the king of Babylon strove to protect his dynasty. According to one of his own inscriptions, Nebuchadnezzar said that one of the chief purposes for strengthening the walls of Babylon was to make an everlasting name for his reign. It seems that King Nebuchadnezzar’s primary goal was to build an empire that would last forever—one that would be beyond enemy conquest. Instead of achieving their goal of building an everlasting, indestructible empire, the Babylonians created a short-lived dynasty full of shame and violence. Faithlife Bible.

As a bird builds a nest far away from people and wild animals, so the rich work hard at avoiding threats to their fortune. The whole structure of Israel’s society called out for justice; every part reverberated with the need for righting wrongs. NKJ Bible.

Habakkuk 2: 9–11 (NKJV)

⁹ “Woe to him who covets evil gain for his house,

That he may set his nest on high,

That he may be delivered from the power of disaster!

¹⁰ You give shameful counsel to your house,

Cutting off many peoples,

And sin against your soul.

¹¹ For the stone will cry out from the wall,

And the beam from the timbers will answer it.

Jeremiah 49:16 (NKJV)

¹⁶ Your fierceness has deceived you,

The pride of your heart,

O you who dwell in the clefts of the rock,

Who hold the height of the hill!

Though you make your nest as high as the eagle,

I will bring you down from there,” says the Lord.

Obadiah 4 (NKJV)

⁴ Though you ascend as high as the eagle,

And though you set your nest among the stars,

From there I will bring you down,” says the Lord.

Daniel 8:23-26

This seems so eerily prophetic of today and the US. History repeats itself.

God help us to have discernment!

Dear Holy Spirit grant me the ability to hear You clearly in the still, small voice that You use to guide me.

I did some reading in Macabees Chapters 8 and 9....interesting historical facts. I am not sure why the Catholic Bible is the only one that contains them.

Though thematically relevant to those in the Babylonian exile, the vision was specifically intended for those who would undergo future persecution. The persecution by Antiochus in the Hellenistic period is one example. Faithlife Bible.

Most documents of Daniel’s time were written on scrolls that could be rolled up and sealed to protect their contents. This document pertained to a time many days in the future. NKJ Bible;

Daniel 8:23–26 (NKJV)

²³ “And in the latter time of their kingdom,

When the transgressors have reached their fullness,

A king shall arise,

Having fierce features,

Who understands sinister schemes.

²⁴ His power shall be mighty, but not by his own power;

He shall destroy fearfully,

And shall prosper and thrive;

He shall destroy the mighty, and also the holy people.

²⁵ “Through his cunning

He shall cause deceit to prosper under his rule;

And he shall exalt himself in his heart.

He shall destroy many in their prosperity.

He shall even rise against the Prince of princes;

But he shall be broken without human means.

²⁶ “And the vision of the evenings and mornings

Which was told is true;

Therefore seal up the vision,

For it refers to many days in the future.”

Job 34:20 (NKJV)

²⁰ In a moment they die, in the middle of the night;

The people are shaken and pass away;

The mighty are taken away without a hand.

1 Corinthians 1:4-9

In Him, with Him and in the unity of the Holy Spirit we are now and will forever be, safe and secure. The Holy Spirit provides everything that we need to succeed in life both spiritual and physical. Once we accept Jesus Christ and place our trust in Him…the rest is all uphill!

All good and perfect gifts come from above.

Spiritual gifts and salvation do not come from people but from Christ. This also shows that the believers belong to Christ now that they’ve entered into a relationship with Him. Faithlife Bible.

The thanksgiving Paul offers to God for the Corinthians seems odd, considering the many problems the church was experiencing. However, Paul focuses his praise not on the troubled Corinthians but on the eternally faithful God. Paul does not praise the Corinthians for their good works as he does some other churches instead, he praises God who works in them. When we focus on people’s faults, hope soon wanes and discouragement follows. But when we concentrate on the Lord, even the darkest hours can be filled with praise. NKJ Bible.

1 Corinthians 1:4–9 (NKJV)

⁴ I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus, ⁵ that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge, ⁶ even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you, ⁷ so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, ⁸ who will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹ God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Deuteronomy 7:9 (NKJV)

⁹ “Therefore know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments;

Isaiah 49:7 (NKJV)

⁷ Thus says the Lord,

The Redeemer of Israel, their Holy One,

To Him whom man despises,

To Him whom the nation abhors,

To the Servant of rulers:

“Kings shall see and arise,

Princes also shall worship,

Because of the Lord who is faithful,

The Holy One of Israel;

And He has chosen You.”

,

John 15:4 (NKJV)

⁴ Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.

Habukkuk 3:17-19

My only hope is You. My trust is in You alone.

You who loved us enough to sacrifice Your only begotten Son for our sins and the sins of all who place their hope in Him. In the salvation that only comes through Him we have been given the gift of eternal life with You. 

Thank You for the gift of mercy and grace that we are given in Christ Jesus. 

In You, with You and In the power of the Holy Spirit we have eternal life and spiritual guidance all the days of our life.

Here the divine name Yahweh is tied to the term Adonai, which means “Lord.” God will strengthen those who trust in Him. He will give those who live by faith the same confidence that a surefooted deer has in climbing mountains. Like a victorious army, the righteous with God’s strength will occupy the high hills. NKJ Bible.

Habakkuk 3:17–19 (NKJV) Hymn of Faith

¹⁷  Though the fig tree may not blossom,

Nor fruit be on the vines;

Though the labor of the olive may fail,

And the fields yield no food;

Though the flock may be cut off from the fold,

And there be no herd in the stalls—

¹⁸   Yet I will rejoice in the Lord,

I will joy in the God of my salvation.

¹⁹   The Lord God is my strength;

He will make my feet like deer’s feet,

And He will make me walk on my high hills.

To the Chief Musician. With my stringed instruments.

Psalm 18:33 (NKJV)

³³   He makes my feet like the feet of deer,

And sets me on my high places.

Matthew 25:31-46

Wake up America. God does not care about politics. He cares deeply about people.

In the manner that you treat others…you will be judged!

The actions described here reflect obedience to the command to love one’s neighbor—and thereby demonstrate love for God, as well. Jesus’ remarks here call for Christian care to reach all the way to the bottom of the social structure, thus inverting earthly values. Faithlife Bible.

In the last parable of this discourse, Jesus focuses His attention on all the nations of the earth. NKJ BIble.

Matthew 25:31–46 (NKJV)

³¹ “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. ³² All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. ³³ And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. ³⁴ Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: ³⁵ for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; ³⁶ I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’

³⁷ “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? ³⁸ When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? ³⁹ Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ ⁴⁰ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’

⁴¹ “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: ⁴² for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; ⁴³ I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’

⁴⁴ “Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ ⁴⁵ Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ ⁴⁶ And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Isaiah 58:7 (NKJV)

⁷ Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,

And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out;

When you see the naked, that you cover him,

And not hide yourself from your own flesh?