LUKE---PERFECTION PERSONIFIED

INTRODUCTION

1.    Luke, the writer (1:1-4)

A.   As Mark came under the influence of Peter so Luke came under the influence of Paul.

1.    He traveled as a companion with Paul. (Acts 16:10,12; 20:5; II Timothy 4:11; Philemon 24)

2.    By profession he was a physician. (Col. 4:14)

3.    “It has been suggested that Luke might have taken his medical studies at the University of Tarsus. Attached to that university was a school of philosophy and literature and it is not at all unlikely that Luke and Paul were contemporary students. Perhaps it was there that their life-long friendship began.” --Phillips

B.   From the context of Col. 4:14 we learn that he was “not of the circumcision” and, therefore was a Gentile.

1.    He was probably a Greek.

2.    As is indicated by the gospel itself, he was the most cultured of all the gospel writers.

C.   He is also the writer of the book of Acts. (Acts 1:1)

2.    The addressees

A.   Matthew was written to the Jews to show the regal heritage of Christ.

B.   Mark was written to the Romans to present Christ as the Servant and to show them a “Man who was a man indeed”.

C.   Luke was written to the Greeks, and presents the Lord Jesus as the perfect Son of man and the world’s Savior.

1.    The Greek was the representative of reason and humanity and felt that his mission was to perfect humanity. “The full grown Greek would be a perfect world man”, able to meet all men on the common plane of the race. Likewise, all the Greek gods were images of some form of perfect humanity.

2.    The Gospel for the Greek must present the perfect man, and so Luke wrote about the Divine Man as the Savior of all men.

3.    Philosophers - Acts 17:22

CHRIST IN LUKE’S GOSPEL

1.    Christ touched man at every point and is interested in him as man whether low and vile or high and noble. cf. 5:12, 13 and 18:18-27

2.    Features Christ’s compassion for the weak, suffering and outcast

3.    To the Greek mind, the humanity of Jesus would be important, so Luke emphasizes this.

4.    Christ came to save all, regardless of race or nationality. (19:10)

5.    Luke shows the perfect humanity of Christ in three ways.

A.   His genealogy traced all the way back to Adam, thus identifying Him completely with the human race (3:23-38)

B.   By the constant use of the phrase “Son of man”--25 times throughout the gospel

C.   By observing the Lord’s human qualities such as prayer, feelings, etc.

MATERIAL PECULIAR TO LUKE

1.    It is estimated that 59% of the gospel is peculiar to itself.

2.    The most notable additions are found in 1:1-4:13 and 9:51-18:30.

A.   The early life of Jesus

B.   Incidents in the last journey to Jerusalem

3.    Miracles and parables

A.   Records 20 miracles, of which 6 are peculiar to him. (13:10)

B.   Records 23 parables, of which 18 are peculiar to him. (cf. ch. 15)

DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERISTICS

1.    Its presentation of Christ as the Son of man

2.    Its emphasis on the prayer life. Christ is represented 15 times in the four gospels as praying, 11 of those times being found in Luke. (3:21; 5:16; 6:12; 9:28; 11:1)

3.    Its emphasis on praise and thanksgiving, especially in the first two chapters (1:46-55; 1:68-79; 2:14; 2:29-32)

4.    The prominence given to angels. Most detailed material regarding hell (ch. 16)

5.    The prominence of women and children

A.   Tells us most about Mary and Elizabeth

B.   Describes the ministry of women to Jesus and Jesus’ ministry to them (7:12-15; 36-50; 8:1-3, 48)

C.   Speaks more affectionately about children than any other gospel (7:11-18; 8:41-42, 49-56; 9:46-48; 18:15-17)

OUTLINE OF THE BOOK

  I.     INTRODUCTION (1:1-4)

 II.     PREPARATION FOR THE APPEARANCE OF JESUS (1:5-2:52)

A.   Annunciations (1:5-56)

1.    Of the birth of John the Baptist (vs. 5-24)

2.    Of the birth of the Lord Jesus (vs. 25-56)

III.    INAUGURATION OF JESUS’ MINISTRY (3:1-4:13)

A.   The ministry of John and the baptism of Christ (3:1-22)

B.   The genealogy of Christ (3:23-38)

C.   The temptation of Jesus (4:1-13)

IV.    CHRIST’S MINISTRY IN GALILEE (4:19-9:50)

A.   Rejection at Nazareth (4:14-30)

B.   Ministry in the city of Capernaum and vicinity (4:31-6:11)

C.   Appointment of the apostles and the Sermon on the Mount (6:12-49)

D.   Christ’s ministry, one of grace and mercy (7:1-8:3)

E.   Kingdom parables (8:4-21)

F.    Four great miracles (8:22-56)

G.   Preaching ministry of the twelve (9:1-9)

H.   Feeding of the 5000 (9:10-17)

I.     The great confession (9:18-22)

J.    A call for sacrifice (9:23-27)

K.   The transfiguration (9:28-36)

L.    Healing the demon possessed boy (9:37-42)

M.   Renewed prediction of His death (9:43-50)

 V.     CHRIST’S MINISTRY IN JUDEA (9:51-19:28)

A.   Journey toward Jerusalem (9:51-62)

B.   Commission of the seventy (10:1-24)

C.   Various discourses (10:25-17:10)

D.   From withdrawal to Ephraim until the final arrival in Jerusalem (17:11-19:28)

VI.    CHRIST’S MINISTRY IN JERUSALEM (19:29-24:53)

A.   The triumphal entry (19:29-48)

B.   A day of controversy (20:1-21:4)

C.   The Olivet Discourse (21:5-38)

D.   The Last Supper (22:1-38)

E.   The agony of Gethesmane (22:39-46)

F.    The betrayal and arrest (22:47-53)

G.   Christ on trial (22:54-23:26)

1.    Before the high priest (22:54-71)

2.    Before Pilate (23:1-26)

H.   Crucifixion and burial (23:27-56)

I.     The open tomb (24:1-12)

J.    The walk to Emmaus (24:13-35)

K.   Appearance to disciples in Jerusalem (24:36-49)

L.    The ascension (24:50-53)