Introduction to Luke (July 12, 2020, AM)
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Luke is one of the three synoptic Gospels along with Matthew and Mark.
syn - together
optic - see
so, the synoptic gospels tell the same basic story about the Lord Jesus.
John wrote his Gospel later and was thoroughly familiar with the other gospels.
Of course John did not write to correct the record because it needed no correction, but he wrote in order to add a different and distinct flavor to the well-established record of the other three gospels.
Who was Luke?
Who was Luke?
We see from Luke’s writing that he was a thoughtful and meticulous historian.
We learn from Col. 4.10-14 that he was a gentile, a physician, and a companion of Paul.
10 Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, and Mark the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you have received instructions—if he comes to you, welcome him),
11 and Jesus who is called Justus. These are the only men of the circumcision among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me.
12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God.
13 For I bear him witness that he has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and in Hierapolis.
14 Luke the beloved physician greets you, as does Demas.
Why did Luke write his gospel and its sequel, Acts?
Why did Luke write his gospel and its sequel, Acts?
1 Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us,
2 just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us,
3 it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus,
4 that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.
The Bible is reliable and historical.
Notice in verse 2 he talks about getting eyewitness accounts.
Verse 3 - he writes an orderly account.
Look with me at just a few examples of how Luke places this account in its historical place and time.
5 In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.
1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.
2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria.
1 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene,
2 during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness.
Why is he so concerned about accuracy and historicity?
so that in v.4 “you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.”
Theophilus could check this stuff out.
He could verify the truth of this account.
Some have postulated that Theophilus was not an individual, but a representation of the church.
They theorize this from his name.
Theos = God
Phileo = love
so, lover of God.
I do not think this is correct though.
He seems to be addressing a person and especially so when he says, “most excellent Theophilus”
This “most excellent” address was commonly used for nobility in the ancient world.
The early church was quick to recognize the authenticity, accuracy, and inspiration of this letter and universally adopted it into the canon of Scripture.
Characteristics of the Gospel of Luke
Characteristics of the Gospel of Luke
Luke was a gentile writing primarily to gentiles.
For instance, Matthew traces Jesus genealogy back to Abraham, but Luke takes the more universal, and less specifically Jewish route of tracing Jesus genealogy back to Adam.
Luke emphasizes Jesus as the savior for all mankind, not just the Jews.
There is not disagreement among the gospels, just different emphases.
If there weren’t different emphases, then we wouldn’t need four different gospels.
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We read the first four verses, now let’s read verses 5-38
5 In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.
6 And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord.
7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years.
8 Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty,
9 according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense.
10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense.
11 And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.
12 And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him.
13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.
14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth,
15 for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.
16 And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God,
17 and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.”
18 And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.”
19 And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.
20 And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.”
21 And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering at his delay in the temple.
22 And when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he kept making signs to them and remained mute.
23 And when his time of service was ended, he went to his home.
24 After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she kept herself hidden, saying,
25 “Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.”
26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,
27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary.
28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!”
29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be.
30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.
32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David,
33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”
35 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.
36 And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren.
37 For nothing will be impossible with God.”
38 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
I want us to see the difference between the responses of Zechariah and Mary.
We can respond to God either with doubt like Zechariah, or with faith and submission like Mary.
We can respond with skepticism and doubt to the Word of God.
We can respond with skepticism and doubt to the Word of God.
Zechariah was one of very many priests who were chosen by lot to serve in the temple.
so...
when his turn came to enter the temple and burn incense this was a great honor -
maybe even a once in a lifetime opportunity.
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So this is already awesome, and then...
the angel Gabriel appeared to him.
I hope that we have learned by now that angels are scary.
They are not little fat babies with bows and arrows.
Everyone’s reaction to the sight of an angel is fear.
They are not scary because they are ugly.
On the contrary, I am sure they are stunningly perfect.
But they are certainly alien and intimidating.
Gabriel is used to this reaction and tells him not to be afraid.
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He has great news!
Zechariah and Elizabeth were going to get the answer to their prayers for a baby.
God took his time answering this prayer.
Had they given up?
His reaction indicates that they had given up.
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If you are praying for something that is in keeping with godly goals and ambitions - keep praying!
Jesus clearly, and amazingly teaches that we are to persist in prayer.
Why?
Why doesn’t God just give us what he wants to give us without our persistence?
I don’t pretend to fully understand
But...
I can guess that it has to do with our continuing dependence on God
And...
Our joy when we receive the answer to our prayer.
If we got everything we asked for, when we asked, we would become awfully spoiled.
Persist in prayer!
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Back to Zechariah
He is in the temple in Jerusalem...
a really impressive and awe inspiring angel appears to him...
and tells him that his prayers for a child have been answered.
Not only will they have a child..
They will have a very special child.
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He will
be great before the Lord.
be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.
turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord.
go before the Messiah to make people ready for the Lord.
turn the hearts of fathers to the children.
turn the disobedient to the wisdom of the just.
WOW!
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How does Zechariah respond?
18 And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.”
I wish I could have seen the look on Gabriel’s face...
Listen to this reaction...
19 And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.
20 And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.”
Gabriel does not have any pride that is sinful for sure.
But...
He seems kind of amazed...
He’s like, “Do you know who I am?”
Then he teaches Zechariah a lesson that he won’t soon forget.
I bet Zechariah was a little slower to speak after he finally got his ability to speak back.
Sometimes we need to think before we argue, huh?
I don’t mean to be too hard on Zechariah.
He was a faithful believer who had a bad moment.
But let’s contrast that bad moment with Mary’s reaction.
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We can respond in submission and faith to the Word of God.
We can respond in submission and faith to the Word of God.
Gabriel comes to Mary
says, “don’t be afraid”
then proceeds to tell her this amazing news that she will bear the Messiah.
listen to how mind-blowing this proclamation was...
32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David,
33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
this is radically new territory...
the Son of the Most High?
he will reign over the house of Jacob forever?
this is even more mind-blowing than what Zechariah heard.
Yet she responds in faith and submission.
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She has a question, but it is a very different question.
Zechariah said, “How shall I know this?”
In other words, “how am I supposed to believe this?”
“Are you going to give me a sign or something?”
Mary’s question is not, “can I believe this?”
Her question is not, “is this going to happen?”
Her question is, “how is this going to happen?”
(no experience, but knows how this works)
Gabriel explains it to her and then we get her amazing response that we should all emulate!
38 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
How will you respond to God’s Word?
How will you respond to God’s Word?
Many times when I preach to you we will come to this point of decision.
The same thing will happen when you read the Word.
What do you do with what has been presented to you?
When I share with you the Great Commission how do you respond?
ELABORATE (not really the outgoing type, out of my comfort zone, afraid I would not say the right thing, etc.)
Giving your money to support the work of the church?
ELABORATE (that’s all you church people care about, if God would provide more for me then I could give, that’s just too much money to give, other people don’t do their part so why should I?)
Faithfully attending even when it is slightly inconvenient so as to obey the command to not forsake the assembly?
ELABORATE (It’s my only day off, I don’t feel absolutely perfect, It’s the only day we could go visit, etc.)
Worship with wholehearted enthusiasm?
ELABORATE (If the selection of music were better, I am just not very expressive, I don’t want to draw attention to myself, etc.)
Gabriel asked which dog I would save (had to think about it)
If I could give my life to save my wife or one of my kids - wouldn’t have to think about it.
Love them that much.
I want us all to get to the point where we love God so much that we say yes before we even know what he wants.
salvation is like unconditional surrender
MANY of us act like it is completely conditional
Fan or Follower?
Is God your master or your co-pilot?
Is he your God or your advisor?
Respond to God like Mary!