GOSPEL OF LUKE GOSPEL OF LUKE Gospel of

GOSPEL OF LUKE

GOSPEL OF LUKE: • Gospel of Luke actually a two-part series of the life of Jesus (Luke) & the life of the early church (Acts). • Written by Luke, a physician, @ 80 -85 CE for a Gentile (non-Jewish) audience. • Written from an educated position – the Greek is some of the most sophisticated in the NT. • Like Matthew, also uses Mark as a primary resource, but edits it more extensively. Also uses “Q”.

GOSPEL OF LUKE: • Luke promotes concern for oppressed people – the poor, the socially outcast, & women – & Jesus’ concern for them. Comes down hard on the rich & those in power. • The fellowship of believers is important to Luke – lots of gathering “around the table” • Unlike Mark, disciples are clear about who Jesus is & what he’s doing • Emphasizes the divinity of Christ more, whereas Mark emphasizes his humanity.

STRUCTURE OF LUKE: 1: 1 -4 – PROLOGUE 1: 5 -2: 52 – INFANCY & YOUTH NARRATIVE 3: 1 -4: 13 – PREP. FOR PUBLIC MINISTRY 4: 14 -9: 50 – MINISTRY IN GALILEE 9: 51 -19: 27 – JOURNEY TO JERUSALEM 19: 28 -21: 38 – MINISTRY IN JERUSALEM 22: 1 -24: 53 – PASSION & RESURRECTION

VIDEO FROM JESUS TO CHRIST: GOSPEL OF LUKE https: //youtu. be/B 3 St. BJJ 09 YI 29: 43 mark

LUKAN THEMES JESUS’ AFFINITY FOR THE OPPRESSED • Closely linked with Jesus’ concern for women is his affinity for powerless & vulnerable of society • Jesus openly accepts outcasts, even as his disciples (tax collectors) & dines frequently with them. • This led Jesus to be accused of being “a glutton & drinker”

LUKAN THEMES THE HOLY SPIRIT • Definition: God’s spirit active in the world • Growth of Jesus’ mission & the early church (in Acts) seen by Luke as direct result of Holy Spirit in action. • In Acts, Holy Spirit descends upon gathering in Jesus’ absence & gives them the ability to spread the gospel around the world.

LUKAN THEMES PROMINIENCE OF WOMEN • Women play an important role in Jesus’ work & fulfilling divine plan • Angel appears to Mary mother of Jesus announcing Jesus’ future birth • Mary Magdalene & Mary sister of Martha serve as disciples • Women follow him to Jerusalem with the men.

LUKAN THEMES JESUS AS SAVIOR • Since his Gentile audience is not interested in concept of Jewish messiah, he refers to Jesus as “Savior. ” • Term used throughout Greco-Roman world • Goes further than Matthew & Mark’s “Son of God”

LUKE’S INFANCY NARRATIVE Nativity Scene exercise LUKE MATTHEW • Zechariah & Elizabeth • No Zechariah & Eliz. • Angel visits Mary • Angel visits Joseph • No Herod • Herod out to get baby J • Census • No census mentioned • Shepherds see baby J • No shepherds • No wise men • Wise men see baby J

LUKE’S INFANCY NARRATIVE Only gospel to include anything about Jesus’ boyhood life Jesus @ 12 yrs. old; his family come to temple in Jerusalem at Passover His parents lose him & (after 3 days!!) find him impressing the temple scribes w/his knowledge of faith 2: 52 – “Jesus increased in wisdom & in years. . ” Only info we have about Jesus’ teenage years.

MINISTRY & PASSION/ RESURRECTION

Rest of Gospel of Luke reinforces author’s concerns: Jesus tending to needs of the poor Jesus’ ministry centered around Jerusalem Focus on fellowship of believers

SERMON ON THE PLAIN (6: 17 -49) Compare w/ Matthew’ Sermon on the Mount: • Luke is shorter, simpler, more direct. • Matthew focuses on spiritual blessings (“poor in spirit”); Luke deals w/more material matters (poor, hungry, etc. ) • “Anti-beatitudes” (vss. 24 -26), directed at those who ignore physical needs of those in need.

TWO NOTABLE HEALINGS (8: 40 -56) Two healings woven together: Jairus’ daughter • Jairus was a synagogue leader – Luke shows Jesus’ compassion for all people The Hemorrhaging woman • This miracle story “interrupts” miracle story • Woman is healed by touching Jesus’ cloak • Jesus knows something has happened but not who (? ? ? )

PARABLE OF GOOD SAMARITAN (10: 25 -37) • One of Jesus’ most well-known parables • Answers lawyer’s question: “Who is my neighbor? ” • Abducted man assumed to be a Jew. Those who pass him by (priest & Levite) are ones assumed would stop to help him. • Samaritan – person from Samaria, the former Northern kingdom that broke off from southern kingdom after reign of King Solomon. Samaritans & Jews didn’t get

PARABLE OF GOOD SAMARITAN (10: 25 -37) • This made priest’s & Levite’s actions inexcusable & Samaritan’s actions most unexpected – he’d be last person you’d think would help a Jew. • Point of the parable – everyone is our neighbor & deserving of our kindness & help, especially those who we think aren’t deserving of it. • Fits perfectly into Luke’s understanding of Jesus & his mission on earth.

PARABLES ABOUT WEALTH & POVERTY Luke’s dim view of life spent acquiring wealth PARABLE OF THE RICH FOOL (12: 13 -21) • Jesus speaks directly to crowd about not worrying about having possessions – God will provide (12: 22 -31). PARABLE OF THE PERFECT BANQUET (14: 1 -24) • Luke’s vision of “perfect banquet. ” Look

PARABLES ABOUT WEALTH & POVERTY Luke’s dim view of life spent acquiring wealth PARABLE OF LAZARUS & RICH MAN (16: 19 -31) Inverted relationship – poor man is exalted & rich man is humbled Five brothers – who are they? ?

PARABLE OF PRODIGAL SON (15: 11 -32) • Three characters: younger son (prodigal), older son, father. • Younger son violates major Jewish standard in squandering inheritance. Also would’ve been looked down on by Luke’s audience, the wealthy. • Father welcomes Prodigal home…. . BUT – this is not the end! There’s the older brother…

PARABLE OF PRODIGAL SON (15: 11 -32) • Presence of older brother is key to understanding the parable – why? • Big question: did the older son come to the party or not? What do you think? • Parable could more accurately be called “Story of the Forgiving Father. ” Father (God) loves both the younger & older brothers – those who “deserve” it and those who may not.

LUKE’S PASSION (CHPTS. 22 -23) • Throughout passion, Luke pictures Jesus as doing nothing illegal – a theme to be continued by early Christians in sequel, Acts. • 23: 34 – Only in Luke does Jesus pray for his executioners. • Rather than Mark describing Jesus’ death as sacrifice for human sin, Luke focuses on it as the ultimate example of compassion & forgiveness – Jesus as THE servant.

POST-RESURRECTION: ROAD TO EMMAUS (24: 13 -35) Jesus appears to two people – Cleopas & an unnamed person – after his death. Why don’t they recognize him at first? When do they finally recognize him? ? • A powerful message to early Christians – Jesus lives & has interacted with people like them, & continues to guide them. • Note when they recognize it is Jesus – after the breaking of the bread. Luke’s theme of fellowship around the table.

SUMMARY OF LUKE • God’s compassion & forgiveness for all • Written for a Gentile (non-Jewish) audience • Jesus’ overarching concern for the poor & outcast • Fellowship of believers gathered together around the table • These themes and others would continue in Luke’s sequel, Acts