The Message of Luke

Luke the Man

Only Mentioned 3 times

Colossians 4:14, 2 Timothy 4:11, Philemon 24.

We have no idea of his birth and we know nothing of his death. We don’t even know how he was converted.

The books of Luke and Acts are both attributed to Him

We don’t know where he was from but Antioch is speculated

Luke is the Occasional Traveling Companion of Paul.

Luke is a Gentile -

Luke is an educated physician and a historian.

Luke’s Message

According to the opening of the ESV: The Gospel of Luke is in the form of a letter to a man named Theophilus. Luke wrote after having carefully investigated all the facts about Christ (1:1–4). Luke documents Christ’s life from before his birth through his ministry, death, and resurrection. Jesus carried out his ministry in the power of the Holy Spirit, announcing the good news of salvation. He showed numerous times his compassion for the poor and the outcast. He fulfilled prophecy and carried out his purpose: to seek and save the lost. Luke gives the fullest account of Christ’s birth, and only Luke records the parables of the Good Samaritan and the Prodigal Son. Luke, a physician and a colleague of Paul, probably wrote this account in the early 60s A.D.

The Gospel of Luke is the longest book in the New Testament.

Themes

The Holy Spirit - According to John Stott, “ One of Luke’s distinctive emphases in his portrait of our Lord is thus that His ministry is undertaken by the power of the Holy Spirit. And this is Luke’s message about the church, also. Just as his Gospel begins with the outpouring of the Spirit upon Jesus at his baptism, so Acts begins with a parallel outpouring on the church, at Pentecost.” This leads Luke to make references to the Holy Spirit 59 times.

Birth - The fact that the Holy Spirit is the means by which Mary would become pregnant is brought out in Luke more than in Matthew.

Luke 1:35 “And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.”

Much more detailed and specific

Matthew 1:18 “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit.” Matthew 1:20 “But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.”

Kind of said matter of factly that this is of the Holy Spirit

Others surrounding Jesus’ conception and birth:

Elizabeth and Zechariah - Again the Holy Spirit plays an important role in the meeting between Mary and Elizabeth as well as Zachariah’s later prophesy.

Luke 1:41 “And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.”

Luke 1:67 “Now his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying:”

Simeon

Luke 2:25–27 “And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law,”

The Holy Spirit in Acts

Inspires Preaching

Acts 4:8 “Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders of Israel:”

Gives boldness

Acts 4:31, “And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.”

Directs Missionary expansion

Acts 13:2–4 “As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away. So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus.”

Gives supernatural insight

Acts 13:9–11“Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him and said, “O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord? And now, indeed, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a time.” And immediately a dark mist fell on him, and he went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand.”

Guides decision making

Acts 15:28 “For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things:”

Reveals the future

Acts 20:23 “except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me.”

Gives encouragement

Acts 9:31 “Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied.”

Salvation

The Lexham Bible Dictionary Salvation

Salvation

Salvation is a main theme of Luke and Acts:

• Both God and Jesus are called “Savior” (Luke 1:47, 69; 2:11; Acts 5:31; 13:23).

• Jesus embodies salvation (Luke 2:30; 3:6; Acts 4:12; 28:28).

• Jesus makes salvation available (Luke 1:69, 77; 19:9).

• The message about Jesus frequently includes an offer of salvation (Acts 13:26, 47; 16:17).

• Salvation entails rescue from enemies (Luke 1:71) and forgiveness of sins (Luke 1:77; see Johnson, Luke, 23; Carson, Moo, Morris, Introduction, 128).

• Salvation is available for all people (Acts 1:8).

Expansion of the Church

The Lexham Bible Dictionary Worldwide Expansion of the Church

The expansion of the Church also is a theme:

• The disciples will be His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judaea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8).

• Opposition to the expansion of the Church is met with prayer and results in the Church’s continued growth (Acts 4:24; 7:59–8:1; 12:5; 16:25; 18:9–10).

• The primary means of expansion is the proclamation of the word of God and the good news of Jesus (Acts 2:1–41; 8:4; 10:34–48; 16:10; 28:30–31).

• This mission is empowered and guided by the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8; 2:4; 7:55; 8:15–17; 10:44; 11:15; 13:2; 15:28; 19:6; 20:22).

Kingdom of God

The Lexham Bible Dictionary Kingdom of God

In Luke, the kingdom is simultaneously the eternal kingdom of Christ (Luke 1:33; 22:30; 23:42) and the kingdom of God (Luke 9:27; 11:2; 12:31–32; 22:29). The messages of Jesus and the early church focus on the kingdom of God (Luke 4:43; 8:1, 10; 9:2, 11, 60; 16:16; Acts 1:3; 8:12; 19:8; 20:25; 28:23, 31).

• The kingdom does not consist of miracles (Luke 17:20–21), though they indicate its close proximity (Luke 10:9; 11:20).

• It belongs to the poor (Luke 6:20; 18:24–25).

• It also belongs to those who are like children (Luke 18:16–17).

Concern for the other people

Women - Because of the low social status of women in the early church they were not given much regard. A daily Rabbinic thanksgiving was: “Blessed are thou, O Lord God, who has not made me a slave, a Gentile, or a woman,” Luke marks a disctint change from this woman bashing by giving the women who surrounded Jesus priority in the account. From the birth stories where Mary and Elizabeth play vital roles to the multiple other women in Jesus life Luke makes it a point to not only mention them but that they are important and loved.

The Sick - Most likely due to his being a doctor Luke takes special interest in how Jesus cares for the Sick and hurting and it continued into acts with the healing works of the apostles. He alone records these miracles:

The widow of Nain’s son (Luke 7:11-17)

Crippled woman (Luke 13:10-17)

Man with Dropsy (Luke 14:1-4)

The ten Lepers (Luke 17:11-19)

Malchus’ ear (Luke 22:50)

Cripple at gate (Acts 3:1-4:22)

Sufferers in Samaria (Acts 8:4-8)

Aeneas at Lydda (Acts 9:32-35)

The death of Tabitha (Acts 9:36-42)

The Unclean -

Lepers - In Luke 5:12–13 “And it happened when He was in a certain city, that behold, a man who was full of leprosy saw Jesus; and he fell on his face and implored Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” Then He put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately the leprosy left him.” Luke records Jesus’ normal interaction with lepers. Far from the usual desire for them to keep their distance Jesus goes and touches the leper.

Samaritans - Luke alone records the parable of the Good Samaritan and in Acts 8:14–17 “Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.” Luke records Peter and John going as soon as they hear that Samaritans had recieved the word.

Tax Collectors and Sinners - Luke records multiple times Jesus meeting with this group that was usually shunned by the rest of the Jews. Luke is the only Gospel to record Zacchaeus the wee little man, (Luke 15:1–2 “Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him. And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, “This Man receives sinners and eats with them.”)

The Plan and Will of God

His dominion over history

Luke 3:38 “the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.”

Acts 17:31 “because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.”

His dominion over events

This is the theme of Acts. The actions of the disciples as they do the work of the Lord. Acts 16:9 “And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.””

His dominion over prophecy

On road to emmaus Jesus tells his disciples why and how he fulfilled the prophecies of the Old Testament Luke 24:25–27 “Then He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?” And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.”

His dominion over the future

Stott, “Peter in his Pentecost sermon charges his hearers with brutally murdering Jesus, but adds the comment,” Acts 2:23 “Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death;”