I. GENERAL CONTENTS OF THE BOOK:

It records events from the birth of John the Baptizer (ch. 1) to the ascension of Jesus (ch. 24).

The book of Luke is the most complete account of the earthly life of Jesus that we have in the New Testament.

Luke is the only New Testament writer that at any time notes the age of Jesus.

He records that Jesus was 12 years old when His parents left Him in the temple (2:42).

He records that Jesus was about 30 years old when He was baptized (3:23).

 

II. WRITER: Luke.

By profession he was a physician (Colossians 4:14).

He was a frequent companion of the apostle Paul (Colossians 4:14; Philemon 24; 2 Timothy 4:11).

He is also the probable writer of the book of Acts. The book of Acts and book of Luke were both written to a man by the name of Theophilus.

 

III. WHEN WRITTEN: Some time before A.D. 70, as it records Jesus’ prediction of the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple (chapter 21), but does not record the fulfillment of such.

IV. TO WHOM WRITTEN:

It was written specifically to Theophilus (1:3), a Greek name that means "lover of God."

It was most likely written for the benefit of Gentiles.

It gives tidings of great joy to "all people" (2:10).

It records that Simeon prophesied that God had prepared a "light to lighten the Gentiles" (2:32).

"And all flesh shall see the salvation of God" (3:6).

"And Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled" (21:24).

The genealogy of Jesus recorded in chapter three goes back to Adam (3:38).

 

V. PURPOSE:

To show Theophilus and other readers of "the certainty of those things" that they had been taught about Jesus (1:1-4).

To prove that Jesus is the Son of God (1:35) and the "Christ of God" (9:20).

To show Jesus as the perfect man (Son of man), as the Savior (2:11), and as the Friend of sinners (7:34).

 

VI. GENERAL OUTLINE:

The birth of John the Baptizer (1).

The birth of Jesus and His visit to Jerusalem when He was 12 years old (2).

The preaching of John the Baptizer, baptism of Jesus, and genealogy of Jesus (3).

The temptation of Jesus (4:1-13).

Jesus’ ministry in Galilee (4:14-9:50).

Jesus’ ministry on the way to Jerusalem, in Judaea, and in Perea (9:51-19:27).

Jesus’ preaching in Jerusalem, His death and burial (19:28-23:56).

Jesus’ resurrection, appearances to disciples, the Great Commission, and His ascension (24).

 

VII. SPECIAL ASPECTS:

Much attention is given to the humanity of Jesus (when He was God in the flesh).

Luke writes more than any other writer about His childhood: born in a manger in Bethlehem (2:1-7), visited by shepherds (2:8-20), circumcised (2:21), went to Jerusalem to be dedicated to the Lord (2:22-38), grew up (2:40,52), and obeyed His parents (2:51).

Luke shows Jesus eating meals with a variety of people: with Levi (5:29,30), Simon (a Pharisee, 7:36-40), Mary & Martha (10:38-42), another Pharisee (11:37-42), a leader of the Pharisees (14:1), and Zacchaeus (19:1-10).

Luke shows that Jesus came to serve, save, and receive all kinds of people.

"For the Son of man is come to seek & to save that which was lost" (19:10).

"I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance" (5:32).

His salvation is not limited to the Jews, but is also for Gentiles (2:10,32; 3:6,38; 17:11-19; 21:24).

Jesus’ ministry and message involved poor people: His mother (2:7,24), He preached to the poor (4:18), blessed are the poor (6:20), the need to invite the poor to meals (14:13,21), the beggar Lazarus (16:20), and a poor widow (21:1-4).

Jesus reached out to people whom society often does not pay attention to or want: sinners (7:34,37; 15:2), tax collectors (7:29; 15:1; 18:9-14), parable of the "prodigal" son (15:11-32), and a thief on the cross (23:39-43).

A number of Bible characters are mentioned only in the book of Luke: Zachariah & Elizabeth (1:5), the relationship between Elizabeth & Mary (1:36), Simeon (2:25-35), Anna the prophetess (2:36-38), Simon the Pharisee (7:36,40), Lazarus (16:20), and Zacchaeus (19:1-10).

There is so much teaching in the book of Luke about prayer that some have called it "the gospel of prayer."

It records that Jesus prayed: at His baptism (3:21), alone in the wilderness (5:16), before He chose 12 apostles (6:12), before He fed 5000 (9:16), before He was transfigured (9:28,29), before His disciples asked Him to teach them to pray (11:1), for Simon Peter (22:32), in Gethsemane (22:41-45), on the cross (23:34,46), and before He ate with disciples after He rose from the dead (24:30).

The importance of prayer and how to pray (11:2-4; 18:1; 21:36; 22:40,46).

Parables about prayer: the friend at midnight (11:5-8), the unrighteous judge & persistent widow (18:1-8), also the Pharisee & publican (18:9-14).

Other examples of prayer: a multitude (1:10), Zachariah (1:13), and Anna (2:37).

Luke records much about the role of women: Elizabeth, Mary, Anna, the widow of Nain (7:11-15), "a sinner" that anointed Him (7:37), women from Galilee that ministered to Him (8:2,3), Mary & Martha (10:38-42), a woman who said that Mary was blessed for bearing Jesus (11:27), a woman with an infirmity for 18 years (13:11), the woman that lost a coin (15:8), the persistent widow (18:1-5), the poor widow that gave all she had (21:1-4), a great company of women that lamented Him (23:27), and women from Galilee who saw where Jesus was buried & came to anoint His body on the first day of the week (23:55,56; 24:1).

 

VIII. RECORDED MIRACLES OF JESUS:

Luke records 25 of His miracles, 6 of which are found only in Luke.

Those miracles found only in Luke:

A great multitude of fish (5:4-7).

Raised widow of Nain’s son (7:11-16).

Healed a woman that had been crippled for 18 years (13:10-14).

Healed a man with the dropsy at the home of a Pharisee (14:1-5).

Cleansed 10 lepers (17:11-19).

Healed the ear of the high priest’s servant (22:50,51).

 

IX. RECORDED PARABLES OF JESUS:

Luke records 17 of His parables, 13 of which are recorded only in Luke.

Those parables found only in Luke:

The two debtors (7:40-50).

The Good Samaritan (10:25-37).

The friend at midnight (11:5-10).

The rich fool (12:13-21).

The barren fig tree (13:6-9).

Choosing the chief seats (14:7-11).

The great supper (14:15-24).

The lost coin (15:8-10).

The lost son ("prodigal," 15:11-32).

The unjust steward (16:1-13).

The persistent widow & unrighteous judge (18:1-8).

The Pharisee & publican (18:9-14).

The pounds (19:11-27).

 

X. VERSES TO USE IN EVANGELISM: The following are some of the verses from the book of Luke that we should be prepared to use in teaching the lost.

"And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?" (6:46).

"The seed is the word of God" (8:11).

"I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish" (13:3,5).

"For the Son of man is come to seek & to save that which was lost" (19:10).

"Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem" (24:46,47).

-- Roger D. Campbell