2. THEME Luke’s Gospel gives a historical narrative which sets forth Jesus Christ as the Perfect Divine Man, The Son of Man.

3. AUTHOR LUKE, author The companion of Paul Native of Greece His profession as a physician His style of writing indicate that he was highly educated.

4. DATE Luke penned his Gospel between 60 and 70 A.D.

5. TO WHOM WRITTEN Was addressed to the Greeks and its style was especially suited for them. The most orderly of the histories of Jesus With the emphasis upon the words of Jesus as opposed to His deeds. Because of its poetical eloquence, it has been called “the most beautiful book ever written.” The book says little or nothing about Old Testament prophecy and the distinctly Jewish portions are left out.

6. COMMENTS Luke is the universal Gospel. It describes Jesus as the Savior of all men, the Seeker of the lost among all people, the One through whom “all flesh shall see the Salvation of God.” This universality is carried forth by such parables and stories as the Good Samaritan, the Lost Coin, the Lost Sheep, and the Lost Son.

7. God’s love is portrayed most vividly in this Gospel. Luke drew a portrait of Jesus’ the perfect Man, the ideal Man which reached out to the Greeks with their ideals of perfect manliness. (The Romans felt it was their mission to govern, the Greeks to educate, elevate and perfect man.)

8. CONTENTS 1. Introduction (1:1-4) Luke began his Gospel with an introduction, a practice common to Greek histories. He stated his goal: to write an orderly account of Christ’s ministry. He gave his qualifications: Having records from eye witnesses and “having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first.” (1:3).

9. 2. The Advent of the Divine Man (1:5-4:13) Luke included many details about Jesus’ advent that are not found in the other Gospels. He began with the annunciation of the birth of John the Baptist (1:15-25). This was the first recorded divine message since Malachi, about four hundred years earlier. Read and compare Malachi 4:5 with Luke 1:17.

10. Luke then proceeded to narrate the annunciation of Jesus’ birth to Mary (1:26-38). Matthew recorded the announcement to Joseph, Luke to Mary.

11. Mary’s visit to Elisabeth is recorded in 1:39-55; 1:56-80 reports the birth and childhood of John the Baptist. Joseph and Mary’s journey to Bethlehem can be found in 2:1-7, the message of the angels in 2:8-20, and the circumcision of Jesus and His presentation in the Temple in 2:21-39. To emphasize Jesus’ humanity, Luke summarized His childhood in 2:20-52.

12. Luke’s genealogy of Jesus (3.23-38) differs from Matthew’s. Matthew traced Jesus’ descent through David’s son Solomon, showing that Jesus had a legal right to the throne of David through Joseph.

13. But since the Messiah had to be the seed of David according to the flesh, and since Jesus was not Joseph’s natural son, it follows that His natural right to the throne must also be proven. Luke did this by giving Mary’s genealogy, thus showing Jesus had a legal right to David’s throne by being born of a virgin who descended from David’s son Nathan.

14. 3. His Ministry In Galilee (4:14-9:50) Luke’s first section concerning Jesus’ ministry focused on His works in Galilee. The following details are peculiar to Luke: * The first rejection at Nazareth (4:14-30) at the synagogue * The miraculous draught of fishes (5:1-11) * The raising of the widow’s son (7:11-18) * The anointing of Jesus by the sinful woman (7:36-50) * The woman who ministered to the Lord (8:1-3) * Zeal without knowledge rebuked (9:49, 50)

15. 4. His Ministry In Perea (9:51-19:28) After the Galilean ministry, Luke narrated Jesus’ ministry in Perea. The following account are unique to Luke: * Jesus’ rejection by the Samaritans (9:51-56) * The sending forth of the seventy (10:1-24) * The Good Samaritan (10:25-37) * Martha and Mary (10:38-42) * The Parable of the Rich Fool (12:13-21) * A lesson on repentance (13:1-10) * The Healing of the woman with an infirmity (13:11-17)

16. * Discourse on the strait gate (13:23-30) * Herod’s warning (13:31-35) * Healing of the man with dropsy (14:1-6) * True hospitality and the Parable of the Great Supper (14:12-24) * Discourse on the cost of discipleship (14:25-35) * Parables of grace and warning: The Lost Sheep, the Lost Coin, the Prodigal Son, the Unjust Steward, and the Rich Man and Lazarus (chapters 15, 16)

17. * A lesson on faith (17:1-10) * The ten lepers (17:11-19) * Parables of the Unjust Judge and of the Pharisee and the Publican (18:1-14) * The conversion of Zaccheus (19:1-10) * The Parable of the Talents (19:11-28)

18. 5. His Crucifixion and Resurrection (19:29-24:53) Luke recorded details concerning Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection which were not included by the other evangelists. These details include: * Christ weeping over Jerusalem (19:41-44) * Strife among the disciples for chief positions (22:24-30) * Warning to Peter (22:31-34) * Instructions to the disciples (22:35-38)

19. * Jesus before Herod (23:8-12) * The lamentation of the women of Jerusalem (23:27-31) * The repentant thief (23:39-43) * The walk to Emmaus (24:13-35) * The command to tarry (24:49)