A Guide to the Book of Luke

‍Introduction

The book of Luke, located in third place among the four Gospels in the New Testament and addressed to a man named Theophilus, is a unique and “orderly account” of the life of Jesus. Luke himself stated to Theophilus in 1:4 that his purpose in writing his Gospel was “that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught,” and his detailed writing continually reinforces this purpose. While he did not witness the events he recorded, it is clear throughout his writing that Luke carefully consulted and compiled various eyewitnesses, as he affirms in verse 2 of his Gospel. He describes not only the life of Jesus but also the notable events leading up to Jesus’s birth, emphasizes the power and work of the Holy Spirit, and specifically highlights God’s heart for the outcast and marginalized. This guide will provide a comprehensive yet concise overview of the Gospel of Luke, exploring its history, context, and themes. This overview will highlight ways to apply Luke’s Gospel for the equipping of the believer and, ultimately, the glory of God.

Authorship and Date

Luke is nearly undisputed as the author of his Gospel and is referenced by the apostle Paul as “the beloved physician” in Colossians 4:14. Luke is widely thought to have been a Gentile, one outside of the chosen people of God, partly due to the exclusion of his name in Paul’s Colossians 4 record of those who had received circumcision, a rite of passage in Jewish life. Further evidence includes his avoidance of Jewish language and references to the Jewish law along with his overall tendency to address and include Gentiles throughout his writing. He did have a strong understanding of Jewish customs, and his usage of the Greek language is notable as one of the finest examples of Greek in the New Testament. Luke also authored the book of Acts, with his Gospel acting as the natural “prequel” to the narrative, as noted in Acts 1:1. Both books are addressed to Theophilus and favor one another in detail, structure, and style. He traveled extensively with the apostle Paul, and most likely wrote his Gospel during or directly after Paul’s imprisonment in Rome in the early 60s, although some scholars suggest a later date.

Historical Context

The Roman Empire experienced a period of relative peace and stability during the time of Luke’s Gospel. The Jews chafed under Roman rule but took different stances on how best to live faithfully in their context, which resulted in the development of factions: the Pharisees, the Sadducees, the Zealots, and the Essenes. Each group had different political motives and ideas on how best to live out their Jewish faith. They waited expectantly for a promised Messiah, clinging to the hope that He would come and liberate them from their oppression. In addition, Greek culture and influence, known as Hellenism, had permeated the Roman Empire extensively.

Caesar Augustus, the emperor of the Roman Emperor during the birth of Jesus, is famous for his decree that everyone must be registered. This decree resulted in the journey of Jesus’s parents, Mary and Joseph, to Bethlehem, where Jesus was born. Herod the Great, the king of Judea during Jesus’s birth, held a brutal and bloody reign before a Roman governor took his place over Judea. In Luke 3, Luke wrote that Tiberius Caesar was the Roman emperor and Pontius Pilate was the governor of Judea at the beginning of Jesus’s ministry. Herod the Great’s son, known as Herod Antipas, was the tetrarch of Galilee along with his two brothers who were also tetrarchs. During the time of Luke’s Gospel, Roman taxation and social control was oppressive, resulting in widespread resentment and overall frustration from the Jews.

Geographical Context

The book of Luke is centered around the life of Jesus, and the geography of the book can be followed along with the text. Luke 2 states that Jesus was born in Bethlehem, a city located in Judea, although he grew up in Galilee. Judea, located in the Eastern Mediterranean, was a religious epicenter for the Jews. Luke noted in 3:1 that John the Baptist went “into all the region around the Jordan” to prepare the way for Jesus and eventually baptized him at the Jordan River. However, after his temptation in the wilderness, Jesus “returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee” and began teaching in the synagogues. Galilee, “a land of gentle hills and warm, green valleys,” was located north of Judea and was home to Jesus’s village, Nazareth. Jesus traveled and ministered throughout Galilee for an extended amount of time. Finally, “He set His face to go to Jerusalem,” and moved once again to Judea, passing through Samaria, an area inhabited by Samaritans, as he went. These regions, bordered by the Mediterranean Sea, now fall within modern day Israel and Palestine. They are both geographically diverse—marked by coastal beaches, lush hills, and barren deserts—and culturally diverse. The geography in Luke’s Gospel centers on Jesus’s journey from Galilee to Jerusalem, which defines the central portion of the book. It is a parallel to another journey found in Acts, with salvation “going up to Jerusalem” in Luke, and then from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth in Acts.

Ethnic and Cultural Context

Judea, a spiritual hub for Judaism and the location of Jerusalem, was primarily Jewish and had long been under Roman rule. Samaria was inhabited by Samaritans, who were historically condemned by the Jews because of their different interpretation of the Torah, the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, and ongoing conflict between the two groups. Galilee, a center of trade and commerce, possessed a large Jewish population heavily influenced by a Gentile presence and Hellenism. Interwoven among the villages, towns, and cities of these places, conquering Romans navigated their empire, Jews struggled for their independence, and Samaritans were continually ostracized. Greek influence permeated every element of life the characters in Luke’s Gospel participated in. Jesus emerged at the crossroads of these various cultures and ethnicities—asserting himself not only as the Messiah that the Jews awaited but also as the light for the Gentiles. He avoided the nationalism the Jews longed to ascribe to Him as a vengeful king and instead urged them to love their Samaritan neighbors. Every Gospel account emphasizes selflessness, equality, and forgiveness, but Luke’s especially “stresses that the humble poor are the recipients of the kingdom of God.”

Theological Themes

There are numerous rich themes in Luke’s Gospel, but this section highlights three of them. Firstly, Luke continually revisits the marginalized, ostracized, and overlooked. He details the story of Zacchaeus the tax collector, provides the example of the good Samaritan, and continually references women throughout his writing. The theme of God’s compassion for and acceptance of sinners—regardless of cultural upbringing, social stigma, or gender—is evident throughout the book.

Second, the power and miraculous work of the Holy Spirit is a major theme of Luke’s Gospel and continues into Acts. Luke references the Holy Spirit 17 times in his Gospel, in comparison to Mark, who referenced the Spirit 6 times, and Matthew, who referenced the Spirit 12 times. At least 14 healings are recorded in Luke’s Gospel, perhaps reflecting the author’s own background as a physician. This continual testimony accentuates the power and work of the Holy Spirit, God’s tender care for His people, and the ultimate restoration that comes through Christ.

Finally, Luke underscores the importance of talking with God through prayer. He writes about Jesus’s own times of prayer, and three of his parables include prayer. In addition, Luke records Jesus’s encouragement to His followers to pray in chapter 11 along with several examples of Jesus praying Himself. Not only do believers have direct access to God as modern day “temples” for the Holy Spirit, but He delights in communing with us.

Structure and Literary Features

Luke begins with his “prologue, ” describing the events that led up to Jesus’s birth. He includes Mary’s song of praise, the birth of John the Baptist, and Zechariah’s prophecy (chs. 1-2:21). He illustrates Jesus’s birth and early life before transitioning into John’s preparation and Jesus’s baptism (chs. 2:22-3). Jesus begins His ministry in Galilee, calls His disciples, labors in Galilee , and then starts His journey to Jerusalem (chs. 4-9:51). During His journey to Jerusalem, He performs many miracles and teaches, often in the form of parables, before He is eventually arrested (chs. 9:52-22:47). He is put on trial, crucified, and then buried (chs. 22:48-23). The last chapter of Luke describe Jesus’s resurrection and His final appearance in Jerusalem (ch. 24). Each section of Luke’s Gospel follows a geographical trajectory, especially emphasizing Jesus’s ascent to Jerusalem which culminates in His death, burial, and resurrection. A parallel emerges later in Acts, where the Gospel explodes from Jerusalem, as promised in Luke 24:47.

Luke employs many literary features, but the most notable is his use of parables. The book of Luke has the largest number of unique parables of any Gospel, with fifteen of them unique to Luke. These parables, presented as stories contextualized to the Gentile audience, present unique opportunities to receive the lessons Jesus taught. In considering the context of the book of Luke and the experiences of the first recipients of Jesus’s parables, the modern believer can effectively apply and understand the lessons of Jesus.

Application

Luke records Jesus Himself stating in Luke 19:10 “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” The book of Luke illustrates this reality repeatedly—from His birth to His death and resurrection, it is evident that Jesus’s heart is one of compassion for His people. He invites the outcasts into His fold and offers complete restoration. He desires a relationship with His children and welcomes them into intimate prayer. Each of these glorious truths should serve to spurn the believer on into deeper joy, affection with the Father, and evangelism. It is clear from the book of Luke that, in the same way Jesus cared for the lost and undesirable, believers are to extend that same loving kindness. Believers can and should pray for physical healing, while remembering that the key to eternal life is in their own hands, and complete restoration is available to the lost when they take ownership of this news and share it.

Conclusion

The Gospel of Luke records Jesus’s life starting from the very beginning, the birth of John, and ends with a commission and a promise to His followers in Luke 24:47 “…repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning in Jerusalem.” Luke, a Gentile physician who desired to create an orderly account of Jesus’s life, carefully noted down details, parables, and interactions. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, he faithfully interviewed eyewitnesses to compose his Gospel. In light of the historical, geographical, and cultural context, modern day believers are encouraged by the theological themes and features of Luke’s gospel to seek out the outcasts, pray boldly for healing while extending the gift of salvation, and be fast to turn to God in prayer. May these truths deeply impact the lives of those who seek to daily grow more like Christ.