READ IT! - Introduction to Luke 1-6

Introduction to Luke 1-6

Luke’s Gospel

Luke’s Gospel was probably written about 85-90 AD, perhaps only five or ten years after the appearance of Matthew.

Luke’s narrative reproduces about half of Mark, along with generous portions of an unknown source we like to call “Q” that Matthew also used for his Gospel. Luke also uses his own special source that we like to call “L” which takes up about a third of his Gospel.

Luke also wrote a sequel to his version of Jesus’ life, the Book of Acts, which continues the story of Christian origins.

“In Luke’s two-volume set, Jesus’ career is presented as the turning point in Israel’s history, the beginning of an innovative religious movement that brings salvation to Greeks as well as Jews.”

“In Luke-Acts, Jesus is the model of service to others whose example of life is followed by many generations of disciples, including not only the apostles who founded the first church at Jerusalem but also an unlimited number of Gentiles who form a multiethnic, international community throughout the Roman Empire.”

Who wrote the Gospel of Luke?

The Gospel of Luke is actually anonymous but we think it was written by a doctor named Luke who was a travelling companion of Paul and not an eyewitness to Jesus’ ministry.

Who was the audience?

Gentile Christians dispersed throughout the Roman Empire. The person to whom both Luke and Acts are dedicated, Theophilus, may have been a Greco-Roman government official, or, because his name means “beloved [or lover] of God,” he may be a symbol for the Gentile church.

Chapter 1

Luke’s Gospel begins by introducing us to a priest named Zechariah who lived in Judea during the reign of Herod. He and his wife Elizabeth were both very old and unable to have children. Zechariah is chosen by lot one year to go into the Temple and burn incense to God. While inside an angel named Gabriel appears to him and says that they will have a son and will name him John.

He then quotes the prophet Malachi, saying that John is the “Elijah who is to come, who will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children… and will prepare the way for the Lord.”

Zechariah doesn’t belief the angel and says “I’m too old for this.” And so Gabriel strikes him with muteness for the next nine months until John is born.

Six months later, the angel Gabriel appears to a young virgin girl living in Nazareth in Galilee named Mary

Mary was pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. Gabriel tells her that she will become pregnant and give birth to a son and she will name him Jesus, and he will be the Messiah – the son of God whose kingdom will never end.

Mary wonders how she will get pregnant since she’s a virgin. Gabriel tells her that she will be impregnated by the Holy Spirit and points out Mary’s cousin Elizabeth’s pregnancy as evidence of God’s miraculous work.

Mary goes and visits her cousin Elizabeth, and when she arrives Elizabeth’s baby jumps for joy in her womb when he hears Mary’s voice.

Luke also records the Song of Mary for us, also known as the Magnificat. Almost every word in Mary’s Song is a biblical quotation which she would have known from childhood. It echoes the song of Hannah in 1 Samuel 2, and much of Mary’s song will be will be echoed by her son’s preaching, as he warns the rich not to trust in their wealth, and promises God’s kingdom to the poor.

After John is born, and Zechariah can speak again, Luke records Zechariah’s Song for us. “It’s a poem about God acting at last, finally doing what he promised many centuries ago, and doing it at a time when his people had had their fill of hatred and oppression.”

“Zechariah’s own story, of nine months’ silence suddenly broken at the naming of the child, is a reflection on a smaller scale of what was going on in the Israel of his day. Prophecy, many believed, had been silent for a long time. Now it was going to burst out again, to lead many back to a true allegiance to their God.”

Chapter 2

“Luke introduces the story by telling us about Augustus Caesar, way off in Rome, at the height of his power.”

“Augustus was the adopted son of Julius Caesar. He became sole ruler of the Roman world after a bloody civil war in which he overpowered all rival claimants. The last to be destroyed was the famous Mark Antony, who committed suicide not long after his defeat at the battle of Actium in 31 BC. Augustus turned the great Roman republic into an empire, with himself as the head; he proclaimed that he had brought justice and peace to the whole world; and, declaring his adoptive father to be divine, styled himself as ‘son of god.’”

When Mary is due to give birth, she and Joseph travel from Nazareth to Joseph's ancestral home in Bethlehem to register in the census of Quirinius.

Mary gives birth to Jesus and, having found no place for themselves in the inn, places the newborn in a manger.

An angel of the Lord visits shepherds out in a nearby field, and brings them "good news of great joy": "to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord."

The angel tells them they will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.

The angel is joined by a "heavenly host" who say "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors.”

The shepherds hurry to Bethlehem where they find Jesus with Mary and Joseph. They go out and tell all who will listen to them what they have seen before returning to their flocks.

While Christmas pageants often depict these shepherds as older men with beards, in the Bedouin culture of the Middle East, from ancient times through even today, shepherding is not considered “men’s work”. Rather, it is the work of unmarried girls, from age 8 through their early teens, and boys, prior to the age of puberty.

And so it is that the witnesses to whom the birth of Christ was announced were the lowest of the low on the social ladder – children watching their family’s sheep. This is incredibly fitting, as it is the last piece of the picture painted in Luke of the coming of Christ.

Mary and Joseph take Jesus to Jerusalem to be circumcised, before returning to their home in Nazareth.

Later in Jerusalem, during the Mosaic purification ceremony, an old man named Simeon approaches them.  Luke tells us that the Holy Spirit had revealed to Simeon that he would not die before he saw the Lord’s Anointed One. He takes Jesus in his arms and blesses the Lord:

An old widow named Anna from the tribe of Asher also suddenly shows up praising God, and she begins to tell everyone about Jesus.

Jesus at the age of twelve accompanies Mary, Joseph and a large group of their relatives and friends to Jerusalem on Passover pilgrimage.

On the day of their return, Jesus "lingered" in the Temple, but Mary and Joseph thought that he was among their group.

Mary and Joseph headed back home and after a day of travel realized Jesus was missing, so they returned to Jerusalem, finding Jesus three days later.

He was found in the Temple in discussion with the elders who were amazed at his learning, especially given his young age.

Mary’s rebuke of “Your father and I have been looking for you!” contrasts with Jesus’ response of “Why? Didn’t you know I had to do my father’s work?”

This story of losing Jesus for three days also foreshadows his death and resurrection after three days. In both cases, those close to Jesus didn’t understand why Jesus had to do what he did. Also, both stories take place at Passover.

Chapter 3

In chapter 3, we see John the Baptist all grown up and “preparing the way” for the Messiah. We also see the baptism and genealogy of Jesus. Matthew’s Gospel also has a genealogy for Jesus, but with different names listed do to Luke’s different emphases than Matthew. Also, Luke’s genealogy traces all the way from Adam, whom he calls “the son of God.”

Chapter 4

In chapter 4, Jesus is tested in the wilderness and tempted by the devil for 40 days as a symbol of Israel’s 40 years of testing in the desert. But Jesus doesn’t give into temptation like Israel did. He is the “true Israelite.”

Jesus later goes to his home town of Nazareth and preaches in the synagogue from the book of Isaiah, claiming that Isaiah was talking about him when he said one would come who would proclaim freedom for the captives, the poor, and the oppressed.

The Nazarenes love his sermon, but then Jesus makes offensive statements at the end. Jesus compares himself to the prophets Elijah and Elisha, but in his comparison he points out how Elijah helped a foreign woman and how Elisha not only healed a foreigner but one who was the commander of the enemy army. The Nazarenes were angry because Jesus claimed that Israel’s God wanted to rescue Israel’s enemies.

The Nazarenes try to throw Jesus off a cliff, but he escapes. It is ironic that in the story prior to this one the devil tempts Jesus to throw himself off a cliff to prove God’s protection over him.

Later, Luke tells us that Jesus drives out an evil spirit from a person, and that he heals many other people.

Chapter 5

In chapter 5, Jesus calls his first disciples. Jesus was preaching near the Lake of Genesareth (Sea of Galilee), when he saw two boats at the water's edge.

Boarding the one belonging to Simon (Peter), he sat and taught the people from the boat.

Afterwards, he told Peter to let down his nets again even though they had been fishing all night and caught nothing. Peter obeys and suddenly the nets are so filled with fish that they start to break.

When Peter saw the large catch, which filled both boats almost to the sinking point, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!”

Jesus responded “Don't be afraid; from now on you will catch men,” after which Peter and his partners James and John left everything and followed Jesus.

Later, Jesus heals a man with leprosy, and then he forgives and heals a paralyzed man. But the religious leaders are offended by his forgiveness.

Jesus then calls a tax-collector named Levi to come and be his disciple and afterwards he goes and eats with “sinners.” …which offends the religious leaders even more.

Some people ask Jesus why his disciples don’t fast like John’s disciples and the Pharisees do. And Jesus tells them it’s a time of celebration and not appropriate to fast right now… but they will fast some day. And he begins to speak to the people in parables.

Chapter 6

The religious leaders are also offended when Jesus and his disciples pick grain as they walk through the fields and eat it because they are “working” on the Sabbath. And Jesus reminds them that the Sabbath was made for their own benefit, not to be a slave-master over them.

After this, Jesus then calls all of his twelve apostles together to follow him.

Luke then presents us with sermon of Jesus in which he discussed “blessings and woes.”

This sermon runs parallel to Matthew’s Gospel, and the “Beatitudes” from the “Sermon on the Mount.”

Each Beatitude begins with:

Blessed are you...

...who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God, etc.

But then Luke adds: Woe to you...

...who are rich, for you have already received your comfort, etc.

As part of his command to "love your enemies", Jesus says:

“Do to others as you would have them do to you.”

He asks, “How are you any different from sinners if you’re only kind to those who are kind to you?”

And Jesus also talks about judging others, and how those who judge others will be held to the same standard they have set for everyone else.

He also speaks again through parables, such as “A Tree and Its Fruit,” and “The Wise and Foolish Builders.”

Read Luke 1

Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.

In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly. But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old.

Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.

Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.”

The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.”

Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple. When he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak.

When his time of service was completed, he returned home. After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. “The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.”

In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail.”

“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”

And Mary said:

“My soul glorifies the Lord

    and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

for he has been mindful

    of the humble state of his servant.

From now on all generations will call me blessed,

    for the Mighty One has done great things for me—

    holy is his name.

His mercy extends to those who fear him,

    from generation to generation.

He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;

    he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.

He has brought down rulers from their thrones

    but has lifted up the humble.

He has filled the hungry with good things

    but has sent the rich away empty.

He has helped his servant Israel,

    remembering to be merciful

to Abraham and his descendants forever,

    just as he promised our ancestors.”

Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.

When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy.

On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him after his father Zechariah, but his mother spoke up and said, “No! He is to be called John.”

They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who has that name.”

Then they made signs to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child. He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s astonishment he wrote, “His name is John.” Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God. All the neighbors were filled with awe, and throughout the hill country of Judea people were talking about all these things. Everyone who heard this wondered about it, asking, “What then is this child going to be?” For the Lord’s hand was with him.

His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:

“Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel,

    because he has come to his people and redeemed them.

He has raised up a horn of salvation for us

    in the house of his servant David

(as he said through his holy prophets of long ago),

salvation from our enemies

    and from the hand of all who hate us—

to show mercy to our ancestors

    and to remember his holy covenant,

    the oath he swore to our father Abraham:

to rescue us from the hand of our enemies,

    and to enable us to serve him without fear

    in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.

And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High;

    for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,

to give his people the knowledge of salvation

    through the forgiveness of their sins,

because of the tender mercy of our God,

    by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven

to shine on those living in darkness

    and in the shadow of death,

to guide our feet into the path of peace.”

And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the wilderness until he appeared publicly to Israel.