The Book of Luke
DATE: (12/12/14)
Week # 2
Prayer:
Father God, we come before Your presence with thanksgiving in our hearts, and we offer unto You the sacrifices of thanksgiving with our lips. You are our joy, our peace, our strong tower, and everything we need. We give to You, Lord, glory due to Your name. We worship You in the beauty of holiness. You are our light and our salvation, we will not fear. You are the strength of our life, and we will not fear what is happen in this world now. We wait on You, Lord; we will be of good courage, because we know from reading and studying Your Word, that You will strengthen our hearts each and every day. As we study Your Word give us a spiritual ear and heart to receive. As we study about all the characters/patriots, give us hearts like theirs, give us integrity that they had to serve and obey You, no matter what happen. They shared the gospel because it was in their hearts, bless us with the heart to share the gospel today. Help us to receive new revelations on the life of our Savior in this study. We are so grateful and we give You glory, honor, and praise. AMEN.
The Beginning Part (2)
In the beginning of part one, we studied the author, date of writing, the recipient of the book, and we explored some of the Gospel in Luke and Acts, and we looked at the outline of this Gospel. We talked about events concerning Jesus and his ministry. Now let's look at more events in the book of Luke. . .
· Women: Luke-Acts shows us that, both during Jesus' ministry and in the early church, several women were among the most dedicated of his followers. D. L. Block comments:
Luke features the responsiveness of women (7:36-50; 8:1-3; 8:48; 10:38-42; 13:10-17; 24:1-12). Often it is not just a women but a widow who is cited, since she represented the most vulnerable status within society (2:37; 4:25-26; 7:12; 18:3, 5; 20:47; 21:2-3). Whether in parable or by example, these women show that they are sensitive to the message of Jesus. Though on the fringes of first-century society, they are in the middle of Luke's story. Often they are paired with men (2:25-28; 4:25-27; 8:40-56; 11:31-32; 13:18-21; 15:4-10; 17:34-35; Acts 21:9-10), a feature suggesting that the gospel is for both genders. (Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels, p. 506)
· Prayer: The early church experienced dramatic answers to prayer on several occasions (Acts 4:31; 8:1517; 9:40; 12:5-11). Luke shows that the practice of prayer is rooted in Jesus' example (5:16). Luke also includes parables which teach so much about prayer, the friend at midnight (11:5 ff.), the unjust judge (18:lff.), the Pharisee and the tax-collector (18:10ff.). In addition Luke records some exhortations to the disciples to pray (6:28; 11:2; 22:40, 46), and he has a warning against the wrong kind of prayer (20:47). (Leon Morris, The Gospel of Luke, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, p. 50)
· Wealth: Luke has many statements relating to the affluent and the influential. They direct the rich to help the poor, and show the proper use of money generally: "[Luke] has the parable of the two debtors (7:40-43); of the rich fool (12:16-21); of the rash builder of the tower (14:2830); of the unjust steward and his astute financial manipulations (16:1-9); of the rich man and Lazarus (16:19-31); of the servants and the pound (19:11-27)" (William Barclay, Introduction to the First Three Gospels, p. 219).
What this book means for you:
Luke portrays a Jesus Christ who defined his mission as follows: "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach the good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor" (4:18-19). Jesus brought good news to everyone, including the poor and oppressed, to all groups who were despised and marginalized by society in first-century Israel. Through the church, he brings the same good news for our society today. Luke's Gospel emphasizes that through Jesus Christ, salvation is available to all, freely and without prejudice.
Only Luke's Gospel records the parable of the good Samaritan (10:30-37) and the story of the Samaritan who expressed gratitude to Jesus for being healed (17:11-19). These incidents foreshadowed the entrance of the Samaritans into the church of God (Acts 8:4-25).
In Luke, despised tax collectors become examples of repentance and discipleship – in parable and in reality (3:12; 5:27-32; 18:9-14; 19:2-10). Jesus forgives and praises a sinful woman (7:36-50) and promises paradise to a repentant thief (23:43). Repentance and forgiveness of sins are to be preached in Jesus' name to all nations (24:47). "All [humanity] will see God's salvation" (3:6). All we have to do is ask! (11:13)
We know you will enjoy this beautifully written account of the life of Jesus. Why not read, or re-read the Gospel of Luke? If you take one chapter a day, it will only take three and a half weeks for you to discover for yourself this awesome message of hope.
Special Report: What You Have Heard Is True!
About 30 years after Jesus Christ, a wealthy man named Theophilus became interested in following Jesus. Some of the stories he heard about Jesus seemed too strange to be true. So he asked an investigator to get the facts about what Jesus had really done and taught. This special investigator learned as much as he could about Jesus' life, work and teachings. He then wrote an organized documentary about Jesus. We call it the Gospel of Luke.
Luke's writing technique
Luke tells us how he went about his task: "I made a careful study of everything and then decided to write and tell you exactly what took place. Honorable Theophilus, I have done this to let you know if what you have heard is true" (Luke 1:3-4, Contemporary English Version throughout).
In addition to being inspired by God to write this Gospel, it's clear that Luke did his research, probably traveling to Judea and interviewing Christians who had known Jesus. Luke learned that Jesus took special interest in the less-respected members of society.
Luke's writing style suggests that he had an upper-middle-class education. Theophilus, judging by the title "Honorable," may have been a wealthy government official. The name Theophilus means "lover of God," so anyone who loved God would feel welcome to read Luke's report.
Luke wanted Theophilus to know about Jesus' interest in disadvantaged people. Like Luke, Theophilus would be surprised and intrigued at how Jesus regarded poor people, for example.
· The poor: Many Jewish religious leaders assumed that poor people were religiously inferior — that God wasn't blessing them because they weren't living right.
But Luke showed that Jesus went out of his way to remind everyone that he had a message for the poor: "The Lord's Spirit has come to me, because he has chosen me to tell the good news to the poor" (Luke 4:18).
On another occasion, "Jesus looked at his disciples and said: God will bless you people who are poor" (Luke 6:20). What would a wealthy man think of that?
· The rich: Jesus included both the poor and the wealthy in his work. But his message to the rich had a different focus: "You rich people are in for trouble," he said (verse 24). But Luke reported that Jesus Christ didn't criticize the rich because they had money. It was their attitude that was most important. Jesus warned the rich to trust in God, not in wealth (Luke 12:15-21).
"You cannot be the slave of two masters.... You cannot serve God and money" (Luke 16:13). "It's terribly hard for rich people to get into God's kingdom" (Luke 18:24).
A wealthy man could be disturbed by such words. But he would see near the end of the report that God can save even a rich man. The cost? A complete change in his attitude toward money.
Luke had heard about, perhaps even interviewed, a wealthy tax collector named Zacchaeus, who told Jesus he would give half his money to the poor. Jesus was pleased. "Today you and your family have been saved, because you are a true son of Abraham" (Luke 19:9).
· Women: Jewish teachers of that time usually considered women to be inferior. But Luke learned that Jesus treated women as individuals worthy of individual attention. Jesus recognized their faith and their feelings.
To illustrate this, Luke included several stories about women in his report. He began with Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist, and Mary the mother of Jesus. Anyone who thought women were inferior would have been surprised. In Luke's report, the first person on whom the Holy Spirit came was Elizabeth (Luke 1:41). The first to be called "blessed" was Mary (verses 28, 42).
And in a more personal touch, Luke described Mary's worry when she thought her young son was lost in Jerusalem (Luke 2:48). She "kept on thinking about all that had happened" (verse 51). In his research, Luke found that women helped pay the cost of Jesus' ministry: "Joanna, Susanna, and many others had also used what they owned to help Jesus and his disciples" (Luke 8:3). Joanna, he noted, was the wife of a government official. Luke knew that Theophilus (who may have been a government official himself) would be interested.
Another story Luke reported was about Jesus teaching in the home of Martha. Martha was busy with housework, but her sister Mary was listening to Jesus. Martha complained to Jesus: "Doesn't it bother you that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself?" (Luke 10:40). But Jesus reminded her that Mary had chosen to do the more important thing (verses 41-42). The teachings of Jesus were important for women as well as for men. (For more about Luke's interest in women, see companion article below.)
· The disabled: Many people of Theophilus' day assumed that handicaps were evidence of sin (John 9:2). But Jesus had special compassion for the disabled and took care of their needs: "Blind people are now able to see, and the lame can walk. People who have leprosy are being healed, and the deaf can now hear," reported Luke (Luke 7:22).
· Non-Jews: Jews in Jesus' day often looked down on non-Jews. After all, weren't the Jews God's chosen people? And weren't the other nations good-for-nothing idol worshipers? But Luke showed that Jesus had an interest in non-Jewish peoples, and that this was an unpleasant surprise to many Jews of Jesus' day.
Jesus began his ministry by reminding everyone that, God's prophets had served people of other nations (Luke 4:25-27). This made the Jews so angry that they tried to kill Jesus (verses 28-30).
Jesus' attitude toward other ethnic groups was also shown in the parable of the good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-37). Jews despised Samaritans, but Jesus dared to use one as a good example. Jesus broke through social barriers and practiced religious equality.
· Sinners Many Jewish leaders looked down on those who did not observe their strict rules. They assumed that the common people, the crowds, were so far from God that it was pointless to try to teach them (John 7:49). But Jesus preached to the crowds, and they loved him for it (Luke 5:15). He gave them the good news that God would not neglect them, that they were valuable to him. He said: "I didn't come to invite good people to turn to God. I came to invite sinners" (verse 32).
Luke learned that Jesus spent time with all classes of people. He attended banquets with tax-collectors (who were assumed to be cheats and traitors). But the religious leaders criticized Jesus for the company he kept. "Jesus eats and drinks too much!" they said. "He is even a friend of tax collectors and sinners" (Luke 7:34).
Luke described an incident that occurred when Jesus was dining at the home of one of his critics: "When a sinful woman in that town found out that Jesus was there, she bought an expensive bottle of perfume. Then she came and stood behind Jesus. She cried and started washing his feet with her tears and drying them with her hair. The woman kissed his feet and poured the perfume on them" (verses 37-38). This must have astonished everyone who saw it. A Jewish teacher allowing himself to be touched by a woman? And not just any woman, but a woman everyone knew to be "sinful"! And not just touched, but anointed with expensive perfume and caressed with a woman's hair, which was normally kept hidden. Scandalous! But Jesus understood the deep emotion that had prompted her act of adoration. "All her sins are forgiven, and that is why she has shown great love. But anyone who has been forgiven only a little will show only a little love," he told his self-righteous host (verse 47). Jesus then told the woman, "Your sins are forgiven.... You are now saved" (verses 48, 50).
Hope for the humble:
Luke showed Theophilus how Jesus reached out to those less respected in first-century Jewish society. Jesus loved everyone, regardless of their station in life. Even his enemies knew it: "You treat everyone with the same respect, no matter who they are" (Luke 20:21).
Anyone can be blessed by God no matter how lowly he or she may seem to be. As Jesus said, "The people who are really blessed are the ones who hear and obey God's message!" (Luke 11:28). To emphasize this, Luke used the terms repentance, forgiveness and salvation more often than other Gospel writers did. His report encouraged sinners to turn to God, knowing they would be accepted by him.
Luke recorded the story Jesus told to "some people who thought they were better than others and who looked down on everyone else." Two men were praying, Jesus said. The Pharisee prayed, "I am really glad that I am not like that tax collector over there." The tax collector, on the other hand, "was so sorry for what he had done that he pounded his chest and prayed, "God, have pity on me! I am such a sinner. Jesus then said, "It was the tax collector and not the Pharisee who was pleasing to God. If you put yourself above others, you will be put down. But if you humble yourself, you will be honored" (Luke 18:9-14).
Time after time, Luke showed that God wants all people, no matter what their social or religious status, to come to him in repentance and humility. And he will joyfully accept every sinner who turns to him (Luke 15:7, 10).
What a message! God loves rich and poor, saint and sinner, women as well as men. It had seemed too good to be true. But it was true, and is true. Luke had checked it carefully, and sent the good news to Theophilus — and to us today.
Luke's Legacy to Women:
"Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women" (Luke 1:28, King James Version). How many times have we heard these familiar words of the archangel Gabriel repeated, especially every year around the time of Christmas.
Only in Luke:
Without the inspired writings of Luke, we would also not know about the miraculous conception of Elizabeth, mother of John the Baptist; the story of the prophetess Anna; the virgin Mary's song of praise: the story of the woman anointing Jesus' feet with her tears and costly oil; and of the women disciples, along with men, who accompanied Jesus in his travels and helped support his ministry.
What a legacy the third evangelist has left Christians. Luke has a special interest in women. Only he tells us of the prominence of women in Christ's ministry. As Ben Witherington III writes: "It is Elizabeth and Mary, not Zechariah and Joseph, who are first to receive the message of Christ's coming, who are praised and blessed by God's angels, and who are first to sing and prophesy about the Christ child. Luke presents these women not only as Witnesses to the events surrounding the births of John and Jesus, but also as active participants in God's Messianic purposes" (Women in the Earliest Churches, page 134).
"Luke's portrayal of Mary is emblematic of how God reverses the poverty and powerlessness of the human condition. And throughout his narrative, Luke pays particular and positive attention to the role of women. The theme of reversal is expressed as well by the inclusion within the people of God of Samaritans and Gentiles" (Luke Timothy Johnson, The Gospel of Luke, Sacra Pagina Series, page 22).
QUESTIONS/ANSWERS:
1. To whom had the Holy Spirit revealed that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ? Simeon (Luke 2:26)
2. What was the name of the prophetess who was in the temple, when Jesus was
brought there to be dedicated according to the Law of Moses?
Anna (Luke 2:36)
3. Whose daughter was Prophetess Anna?
Phanuel (Luke 2:36)
4. To what tribe did Phanuel, Anna's father, belong?
Asher (Luke 2:36)
15. How long had Anna been a widow when she met child Jesus?
84 years (Luke 2:37)
6. In what city did Jesus grow up as a child?
Nazareth (Luke 2:39)
7. On what feast did Jesus' parents take him to Jerusalem at the age of twelve, as
indicated in Luke 2:41?
Feast of the Passover (Luke 2:41)
8. What was Jesus doing in the temple (in the incident when he was twelve years
old) when his parents returned to him on the third day?
Jesus was sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking
them questions (Luke 1:46)
9. Who was the governor of Judea in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberias
Caesar?
Pontius Pilate (Luke 3:1)
10. Who was the tetrarch of Galilee in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberias
Caesar?
Herod (Luke 3:1)
Questions:
1). Explain one of the women Dr. Luke mention in his Gospel.
2). What is the wrong kind of prayer Dr. Luke warn against?
3). Dr. Luke records many statements relating to the affluent and the influential. Explain one of them.
4). What does this book means to you?
5). What is to be preached in Jesus' name?
6). What did Dr. Luke learn in his research on Jesus?
7). What did religious leaders believe about poor people?
8). Dr. Luke reported that Jesus Christ didn't criticize the rich because they had money, why did he criticize them?
9). Who told Jesus they would give half their money to the poor after they were saved?
10). What did Jesus recognized about women?
11). In the book of Luke, who was the first person the Holy Spirit came upon?
12). Name a few Jesus minister to, but others rejected.
A Christmas Song:
Silent night, Holy night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon virgin, mother and child
Holy infant, tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace.
Silent night, Holy night
Son of God, love's pure light
Radiant beams from thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord at thy birth
Jesus, Lord at thy birth.
Silent night, Holy night
Shepherds quake, at the sight
Glories stream from heaven above
Heavenly, hosts sing Hallelujah.
Christ the Savior is born,
Christ the Savior is born
Quiz: Place of association
Often when a place is mentioned, a certain item comes to mind. Match each place with the item most often associated with it.
1). Calvey a). A light
2). Gethsemane b). the Temple
3). Golgotha c). the cross
4). Jericho d). falling walls
5). Red Sea e). Slaves
6). Bethlehem f). a skull
7). Garden of Eden g). prayer
8). Jerusalem h). an altar
9). Bethel i). dry land
10). Egypt j). Baby Jesus
11). Damascus k). tree of life
Reading the book of Luke: Chapters 1-24 (optional)
Week 2 Luke 4-6
Luke 4:1-27 Temptation of Jesus, Jesus Rejected at Nazareth
Luke 4:28-44 Jesus Drives Out an Evil Spirit, Jesus Heals Many
Luke 5:1-16 Calling of the First Disciples, Man with Leprosy
Luke 5:17-39 Jesus Heals a Paralytic, Jesus Questioned About Fasting
Luke 6:1-11 The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath
Luke 6:12-26 The 12 Apostles, Blessings and Woes
Luke 6:27-42 Love for Ones Enemies, Judging Others
Luke 6:43-7:10 Tree and its Fruit, Wise and Foolish Builders, Centurion's Faith
Personal reflection question: How do you react to God's surprises in your life; with doubt or with awe?
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