EXPLORE IT! - The Context of Luke 15

The Travel Narrative

In the center of the Luke’s Gospel is a section (9:51–18:14) known as “The Travel Narrative” or “The Journey to Jerusalem.” This travel narrative fits into the overall theme of Luke-Acts by the way it attempts to show the reader that Jesus came not only for the Jews and the law-keepers, but for the Gentiles and sinners as well. Luke appears to be a very Jewish work, but it deals with issues that the early Jewish Christians would have been facing, such as what to do with the Gentiles.

Unique Material

This travel narrative is unique in many ways to the four gospels, including the three synoptics. While other gospels show Jesus and His disciples making their way on up to Jerusalem, Luke’s presentation of this event contains much material not seen in any of the other gospels. It is thought that much of the material Luke incorporates into this section of his gospel came from a source or sources not used in any of the other gospel accounts. These sources are known as “L” among New Testament scholars. What does not come from the “L” source in this section is thought to be derived from the “Q” source and Mark’s Gospel.

Luke’s Purpose

In the beginning of Luke’s Gospel, the writer states that he intends to write an orderly account of the life of Jesus. However, when you get to “The Travel Narrative,” you can see that this portion of the story differs from the rest of the narrative. While much of Luke appears to be in chronological order, and interested in being as historically accurate as possible, this section deviates from this pattern, and the arrangement of the material is not according to chronology, but rather to theme.

The Fulfillment of The Law

At the beginning of “The Travel Narrative” it says that Jesus turned His face toward Jerusalem. This verse lays the foundation for all that is about to take place. From this point on, the story of Jesus is based for the most part upon His teachings, rather than upon the actual events, presumably that were given on His way to Jerusalem. Many think this portion of Luke is arranged according to certain themes presented in the book of Deuteronomy, and that each theme in Luke is presented in the same order as they are presented in Deuteronomy. For example, the event towards the beginning of “The Travel Narrative” where Jesus sends out the seventy (or seventy-two) is seen to parallel or correspond with the seventy who accompanied Moses when he went up the mountain, and so on. Luke pulls from Deuteronomy to show that Jesus is the fulfillment of The Law and the Savior of both Jews and Gentiles.