Through the Bible - Luke

For as much as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of these things which are most surely believed among us... it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all the things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus, that you might know the certainty of those things wherein you have been instructed. — Luke 1:1-4

Luke's Gospel unveils Jesus as the Son of Man who came to seek and to save that which was lost.

The Author and His Purpose

The Gospel of Luke is actually a two-part work. The author of these 24 chapters is also the author of the Acts of the Apostles, which we'll be studying in a couple of weeks. Acts covers the first twenty-plus years of the church, showing how the Lord moved His church from the little city of Jerusalem to the uttermost parts of the earth, just as Jesus promised in Acts 1:8. From Jesus' ascension to Paul's beheading in Rome, the testimony of the early church was, "These are the men who have turned the world upside down."

The one who recorded the spread of the Gospel in Acts also recorded this Gospel. Acts 1:1 begins, "The former treatise which I have made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach"—picking up right where Luke leaves off. So the author of both books is the same individual, writing to a man named Theophilus, a very Greek name meaning "friend of God" or "lover of God."

How We Know Luke Wrote It

The author is never named in the text—it doesn't say "I, Luke, write these things." We know it was Luke from internal evidence in Acts. The book is largely written in the third person, telling the story of the early church. But in three or four passages—Acts 16:10-17, and again in chapters 20, 21, and 27—the narrative shifts to the first person: "We traveled from this place to that place." As you trace the individuals named in those passages, it can only be one person: Luke.

Luke was a physician, a Gentile, probably of Greek descent—not a Jew. He writes primarily to a Greek crowd, presenting Jesus as the Son of Man. There were many Greek physicians taken as slaves by the Romans to serve as in-house doctors for the wealthy, and it's very possible Luke was such a man who had been released. Somewhere along the way he became a believer. Church tradition holds that he lived to 84 years old—a long and important life, because God used him to write both Luke and Acts.

The Four Gospels and Their Focus

Each Gospel is focused to a different audience. Matthew is written to a Jewish audience and presents Jesus as the King, the Messiah prophesied in the Old Testament. Mark presents Him as the servant who came "not to be served, but to serve and give his life a ransom for many" (Mark 10:45)—written to a Roman audience. Luke presents Jesus as the Son of Man, the title most often used of Jesus in the Gospels. John writes to the whole world; his purpose is given in John 20:31, "These things are written that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God."

Luke's theme verse is Luke 19:10:

For the Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

Luke was written early—prior to Acts, which itself ends before Paul was martyred around 63 A.D. Jesus ascended in the early 30s, so within thirty years this Gospel was written. Those who deny the divine authority of Scripture try to push these writings to a later date, but when you break it down, they were written very early—Luke probably in the late 50s or early 60s A.D., while Paul was still alive. Paul, a traveling companion of Luke, was very likely the primary source of the information Luke recorded.

Jesus Builds His Church

The book of Acts reveals how God built His church. Remember Matthew 16 at Caesarea Philippi, when Jesus asked, "Who do you say that I am?" Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus replied, "Flesh and blood has not revealed this to you... you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church."

The word for "Peter" in Greek is petros, a small stone. But the rock upon which Christ builds His church is not Peter—it is Peter's confession, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." The Roman Catholic church believes God built His church upon Peter as the first pope, but that's not what Jesus was saying. And who builds the church? Jesus does.

When the church lets Jesus build it, the church flourishes in holiness. When man takes it over, it may still grow numerically—as we've seen throughout church history—but it loses holiness, becomes liberal, and becomes man-centric. So pray for me, that I keep my fingers off it and let Him build it. This is God's church. I tell our staff, "I'm not your boss; God is our boss." Pray for the leadership that we would receive His vision, because this is His church and He will build it.

The Structure of Luke

The theme verse provides the outline. First, "the Son of Man is come"—chapters 1 through 3, covering the prophecy and birth of Jesus, as the angel comes to Mary, a virgin overshadowed by the Holy Spirit, who would bring forth a child called Jesus.

Second, the Son of Man has come "to seek"—to seek out lost man—chapters 4 through 19. Luke is the longest and most comprehensive of the four Gospels, covering much material not found in the others, showing Jesus ministering powerfully to the multitudes.

Third, the Son of Man has come "to save"—chapters 19 through 24, focusing on Jesus' move to Jerusalem. As I've said going through Matthew and Mark, the Gospels are passion narratives with extended introductions. Nineteen chapters set the stage, then the whole focus falls on Jesus' last week—His triumphal entry as the people cry "Hosanna," His cleansing of the temple, His examination by the leaders of Israel, His crucifixion on Passover, His burial, and His resurrection three days later.

The Rejection at Nazareth

In Luke 4, Jesus comes to Nazareth where He was brought up, and as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath and stood up to read. They handed Him the book of Isaiah, and He read Isaiah 61:

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor... to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, and to preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

Note that Jesus came to preach the gospel. Luke repeats this throughout—half a dozen times Jesus would sit down and teach. In Jewish custom, a man stood to read the Scriptures and sat to teach. So when Jesus "closed the book... and sat down," all eyes in the synagogue were fastened on Him, waiting for the rabbi to speak. And He said, "This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears." They all knew Isaiah 61 spoke of the Messiah.

Did they rejoice? No. They marveled at His gracious words but said, "Is this not Joseph's son?" Jesus answered, "No prophet is accepted in his own country." By the end of His words, those in the synagogue were filled not with joy but with wrath. They rose up, thrust Him out of the city, and led Him to the brow of the hill to cast Him down headlong—but "he passing through the midst of them went his way." Time and again a crowd rises to kill Jesus, and the people part like the Red Sea, and He simply walks through the middle of them.

Authority to Teach and to Forgive

In verse 31, He came to Capernaum and taught them on the Sabbath, and they were astonished at His doctrine, "for his word was with power." The word is exousia—authority. Like at the end of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught as one having authority, not like the scribes who constantly quoted other rabbis. Jesus said, "You have heard that it has been said... but I say unto you."

In Luke 5, when Jesus was alone He withdrew to the wilderness and prayed—another phrase Luke repeats. When Jesus was with the multitudes He preached; when He was alone He fellowshipped with the Father. This gives us a model: how do we spend our time alone? Do we recognize we have communion with the King of Kings?

While Jesus was teaching, "the power of the Lord was present to heal." Men brought a paralyzed man, and unable to reach Jesus through the crowd, they lowered him through the roof tiles. "When he saw their faith"—and how do you see faith? In actions. Faith without works is dead. Jesus said, "Son, your sins are forgiven."

Now what did the man primarily need? A physical healing, yes—but that wasn't the root problem. Had Jesus merely healed him, he would still have a heart problem condemning him eternally. The root cause of all sickness and death in this world is sin. Just as I always seek the root cause when counseling, Jesus deals with the root first: "Son, your sins are forgiven."

Which Is Easier to Say?

The scribes reasoned, "Who can forgive sins but God?" Their question was right, but their understanding was wrong. Jesus, perceiving their thoughts—itself an indication that He is God—asked, "Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk?"

Jesus answers His own question, and we need to recognize that. If I told someone, "Your sins are forgiven," there is no way to validate it. But if I told a paralyzed man, "Rise, take up your bed and walk," there must be instant, visual proof, or you'd gather stones because obviously I have no authority. So it is much harder to say, "Rise and walk"—and that miracle was given to validate the truth that Jesus has authority to forgive sins.

The man rose up immediately, took up his bed, and departed glorifying God, and they were all amazed and filled with fear. Jesus' miracles were always given to validate His message—read Mark 16. When someone sees a powerful miracle, they cannot deny it. Even doctors who witness miracles write them off as "spontaneous resolution," but it is the power of God. Yes, we reach Him by faith and prayer, but ultimately it is His power.

The Centurion's Great Faith

In Luke 7, a certain centurion's servant was sick and ready to die. As I read this again recently, this passage jumped out to me in a way I'd not seen before. I had thought the centurion came and spoke to Jesus directly—but he didn't. First he sent the elders of the Jews, who said, "He is worthy... for he loves our nation, and he has built a synagogue."

Then, as Jesus drew near the house, the centurion sent friends saying, "Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof... but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed. For I also am a man set under authority." Jesus marveled and said, "I have not found so great a faith in all of Israel," and the servant was healed.

The centurion never interacted with Jesus face to face. What I see is a man who understood Jewish culture. It would not have been a good thing in Jewish culture—not biblically, but culturally—for Jesus to enter a Gentile's house, because the Gentile was considered unclean. So this culturally sensitive Roman said, "I'm not worthy that you would even come into my house... but I understand that you have authority."

This reminds us to be culturally sensitive. If we went to India and stuck out a hand to shake, it would offend; they greet by bowing with hands together. We are surrounded by different cultures and should seek the Lord on how to minister to them. We also see God blessing a man who blessed Israel—a fulfillment of Genesis 12, "I will bless him who blesses you." There are two times in the Gospels where Jesus is amazed at the faith of Gentiles: the Syrophoenician woman in Mark, and this centurion.

John the Baptist's Question

Later in Luke 7, John the Baptist, now in prison, sent two of his disciples to ask Jesus, "Are you he that should come, or look we for another?" In that same hour Jesus cured many, and answered, "Go and tell John... the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and to the poor the gospel is preached. And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me."

There are two common views. One is that John wanted his disciples to stop following him and follow Jesus. But that closing phrase makes me think the other view is better: John was undergoing a great testing of his faith. Like many Jews, John believed the Messiah would deliver Israel and overthrow wicked rulers like Herod, who had imprisoned him. Now, near death, John may have been disillusioned—he had seen the Spirit descend like a dove and heard the voice from heaven, yet here he sat in prison, and Jesus wasn't fulfilling John's expectations.

Sometimes God doesn't work the way we expect or think He should. There are times He does not meet our expectations, and Jesus says, "Blessed are you if you are not offended with me." This can be spoken to every one of us. I've met people offended at God because He didn't heal a brother or father with cancer. We need to recognize that He's the potter and we're the clay. The pot cannot say to the potter, "Why have you made me thus?" The Lord has a plan and a reason, and the trying of our faith is for a purpose we often don't understand.

Job did not get to hear God say in heaven, "Have you considered my servant Job?" All he knew was that his possessions and children were gone in a day, his health gone the next, his wife saying "Curse God and die," and his friends accusing him. We don't always understand why God does what He does. We sing "Blessed be the name of the Lord, he gives and takes away"—straight from Job. He knows what He's doing, even when it's hard for us to live that out in trial.

Jesus' Testimony of John

When John's messengers departed, Jesus spoke to the crowd about John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken in the wind? A man clothed in soft clothing? ... A prophet? Yea, and much more than a prophet. This is he of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face" (Malachi 3:1; Isaiah 40).

Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he. — Luke 7:28

God does not play favorites, but He gives a powerful testimony of John. Though God spoke a gentle reproof—"blessed are you if you're not offended"—John's disciples probably didn't hear Jesus' high praise. You and I go through times when we are tempted to lose faith, but blessed are you if you're not offended.

The Cost of Discipleship

In Luke 9, "as he was alone praying," Jesus asked, "Whom do people say that I am?" Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of God." Jesus charged them to tell no one, saying the Son of Man must suffer many things, be rejected, slain, and rise the third day. Then He said:

If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.

There is a cost to discipleship, which John the Baptist saw clearly—his bold preaching cost him his life. Many seek to build up their lives here on earth, but if you store your treasures here, you'll be disappointed. Store up treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy and thieves cannot steal.

There's a promise for the one who counts the cost: whoever loses his life for Christ's sake will save it. But following the Lord involves denying ourselves—our thoughts, plans, and ambitions—which is impossible apart from the Holy Spirit. I've found in my own life that as I lay down my plans, His plan for me is far greater than anything I had planned for myself. Over the last couple of weeks in America, we've seen many people's kingdoms come crashing down. But let not your heart be troubled—Jesus said in His Father's house are many mansions, and that place is far better than anything Wall Street can buy.

Ask, Seek, Knock

In Luke 11, "as he was praying in a certain place," a disciple said, "Lord, teach us to pray." Jesus gave them the model prayer and then a parable: a man whose friend comes knocking at midnight asking for three loaves to feed a traveler. The man in bed has tucked in his children and shut the door, but Jesus says, "Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity"—his persistence—"he will rise and give him as many as he needs."

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. — Luke 11:9

Who are we to be in this parable? The persistent one knocking. The picture is not that God is lying in bed refusing us—it's that we are to keep asking, seeking, and knocking. Sometimes we think He's not listening, but He's saying, "Keep asking." I'm surprised how many Christians come asking me to pray for them but admit they haven't prayed themselves. When you're alone, the Lord wants you to pray. Remember, even the centurion had others go to Jesus on his behalf, but Jesus tells us in John we can now go directly to the Father.

Then He speaks to us as His children: "If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? ... If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?" Some object, "I'm not evil," but the Bible says the heart of man is desperately wicked. If we, being evil, give good gifts, how much more will our Father, in whom there is no wickedness, give the Holy Spirit?

When we need strength, power, or mercy, all of these are found in Christ by His Holy Spirit. So when we're lacking, we ask, "Lord, I need your Holy Spirit." I find I need to ask a hundred times a day—especially driving on the 15. And the Lord says, if you ask, you'll receive.

On the Road to Emmaus

Luke 24 focuses on two disciples leaving Jerusalem on the third day, walking the seven miles to Emmaus, talking sadly of all that had happened. Jesus Himself drew near, but "their eyes were holding that they should know him." He asked why they were sad. Cleopas answered, "Are you only a stranger in Jerusalem, and have not known the things which are come to pass?"

They spoke of "Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word"—and notice the past tense: "we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel." They even reported the women's testimony of angels saying He was alive, but "him they saw not." Jesus said, "O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!" And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded to them all the Scriptures concerning Himself. How we wish we had that on recording.

As they neared the village, He made as though He would go further, but they constrained Him to abide with them, for it was evening. As He sat at the meal, He took bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to them—"and their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight." They said, "Did not our hearts burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?" That same hour they rose and ran back to Jerusalem, finding the eleven saying, "The Lord is risen indeed."

All day they walked slowly and sadly from Jerusalem; once Jesus was revealed, they ran back with joy. He came alongside those who were mourning. Interestingly, the name Emmaus means "warm baths"—and the Lord doesn't want us to tarry lukewarm in the warm baths; He wants us to go on with Him. He was made known in the breaking of bread, which is why our times of communion together are so important—the Lord reveals Himself there.

And every time I sit down to read the Scriptures, I find the dots begin to connect, and it's as though my heart burns within me. Not a burning in the bosom, but the Lord giving us passion to dig deep into His word. I hope that as we go through these books of the Bible, it increases your passion to look into His word, because just under the surface are great gold nuggets of God's truth.

Closing Prayer

God, thank You for this passage of Scripture, the Gospel of Luke. I ask that You would give us a hunger and a thirst for Your word and for Your righteousness. We know that as we hunger and thirst after You, we will be filled. I pray that You would bring my brothers and sisters this week, repeatedly every day, to that place where they're hungry and come knocking on Your door saying, "Lord, I need You to fill me up." May they find that filling in Your word and at Your feet, for we ask it in Jesus' name. Amen.