David Pawson Luke (full)

Summary

The video script delves into the unique aspects of Luke's Gospel within the New Testament, highlighting its focus on humanity, the divine, and joy. Luke, a Gentile physician, is portrayed as a skillful writer who meticulously researched and recorded the life of Jesus and the early Christian church. His Gospel is distinguished by its emphasis on the marginalized, such as women, the poor, sinners, and outcasts, and its portrayal of Jesus as the savior for all people. The narrative is rich with parables, teachings, and supernatural elements, including frequent appearances of angels and a strong focus on the Holy Spirit. Luke's Gospel concludes with the Ascension of Jesus, linking it to the Book of Acts, which continues the story of the early Christian mission. The script emphasizes the universality of salvation and the joyous nature of Luke's narrative, making it a user-friendly Gospel that resonates with a diverse audience.

Takeaways

• 📜 The Gospel of Luke is unique for its detailed birth narratives from Mary's perspective, unlike Matthew which focuses on Joseph's perspective.
• 👶 Luke provides a special interest in Jesus' boyhood, including the story of his time in the temple at age 12, which is not found in other Gospels.
• 🙏 Luke emphasizes the role of the Holy Spirit in Jesus' life and ministry, highlighting the Spirit's presence at Jesus' baptism and throughout his teachings and miracles.
• 😇 The Gospel of Luke has a strong focus on people, particularly outcasts, women, the poor, and sinners, showing Jesus' compassion and inclusivity.
• 🕊️ Luke's Gospel is rich in parables, including the Parable of the Good Samaritan and the Prodigal Son, which teach profound lessons about God's love and forgiveness.
• 🎶 It contains some of the most beautiful songs of praise and worship, such as the Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis, reflecting Luke's emphasis on joy and thanksgiving.
• 🤝 Luke has a particular interest in Samaritans and Gentiles, showing the universal scope of the Gospel and the breaking down of barriers between different groups.
• 🌍 The Gospel concludes with Jesus' ascension, linking it to the Book of Acts and setting the stage for the spread of the Gospel to the Roman Empire and beyond.
• 📝 Luke, as a Gentile doctor, provides a detailed and accurate account of events, using his skills in research and record-keeping to present a comprehensive view of Jesus' life.
• 👉 The Gospel of Luke is described as 'user-friendly', with a clear intention to make Jesus accessible to everyone, regardless of their background or status.
• 😁 Luke's Gospel is noted for its joyful tone, with a higher frequency of words related to rejoicing and happiness compared to the other Gospels, reflecting the author's positive outlook and the good news of salvation.

Q & A

What is the significance of the quotation 'if they do these things in the green tree what shall be done in the dry'?

The quotation is from Jesus as he carried the cross of Calvary, as recorded in Luke's Gospel. It is a metaphorical statement referring to the treatment of Jesus, an innocent man, and implies a warning about the consequences for those who are guilty.

Why is Luke's Gospel considered the best-loved but least well-known of the four Gospels?

Luke's Gospel is beloved for its unique stories and parables, such as the Good Samaritan and the Prodigal Son. However, it is least well-known because many of its contents are not as widely read or recognized compared to the overlapping material found in the other Gospels.

What is the unique perspective that Luke's Gospel provides about the birth of Jesus?

Luke's Gospel provides the nativity story from Mary's perspective, including intimate details of the conception and birth of Jesus, which are not covered in the other Gospels.

Why is the author of Luke's Gospel believed to be a Gentile?

The author is believed to be a Gentile because he freely uses the term 'God,' which Jewish authors tended to avoid. Additionally, he is the only non-Jewish writer in the Bible, and his style and content suggest a Gentile background.

How did Luke gather his material for the Gospel?

Luke gathered his material through extensive research and by interviewing eyewitnesses of Jesus and his ministry, including Mary, James, Matthew, and John.

What is the significance of the phrase 'most excellent Theophilus' in the context of Luke's Gospel?

'Most excellent Theophilus' is a legal title, and it is believed that Luke wrote his Gospel and the Book of Acts for Theophilus with the purpose of defending Paul in a Roman court.

What is unique about the parables presented in Luke's Gospel?

Luke's Gospel contains unique parables not found in the other Gospels, such as the Parable of the Good Samaritan, the Parable of the Prodigal Son (often misattributed to the son, but actually about the father), and the Parable of the Persistent Widow.

Why is Luke's Gospel considered to have a strong emphasis on the Holy Spirit?

Luke's Gospel emphasizes the Holy Spirit more than the other Gospels because it highlights the Spirit's role in empowering Jesus' ministry, from his birth to his miracles, and concludes with the instruction to wait for the Holy Spirit's empowerment in Acts.

How does Luke's Gospel portray Jesus' relationship with various groups of people?

Luke's Gospel portrays Jesus as having a special interest in and affinity for Samaritans, Gentiles, outcasts, women, the poor, and sinners, making it a very inclusive and humanitarian account of Jesus' ministry.

What is the significance of the Ascension of Jesus in Luke's Gospel?

The Ascension of Jesus, unique to Luke's Gospel, serves as a transition to the Book of Acts, which begins with the Ascension and continues the narrative of the early Christian church.

Why is Luke's Gospel described as 'user-friendly' and 'happy'?

Luke's Gospel is described as 'user-friendly' and 'happy' because it is accessible to all people, regardless of their background, and it emphasizes joy and the universality of salvation. The Gospel contains more instances of the word 'rejoice' and portrays a positive and inclusive message of Jesus' love for humanity.

Outlines

00:00

📜 The Quotation Quiz and Luke's Gospel

The speaker begins with a quiz, asking the audience to identify the source of a quotation attributed to one of three categories: the Old Testament, the New Testament, or William Shakespeare. The quotation in question is revealed to be from Jesus in Luke's Gospel. The speaker highlights the lesser-known aspects of Luke's Gospel, contrasting it with the more familiar passages such as the Parable of the Prodigal Son and the Good Samaritan. The speaker emphasizes Luke's unique insights and 'carpenter language,' which provides a fresh perspective on the biblical text.

05:01

📝 Luke - The Gentile Doctor and Author

The paragraph delves into the background of Luke, the author of the Gospel and Acts, who is identified as a Gentile doctor. The speaker discusses Luke's unique vantage point as a non-Jewish writer, his use of medical terminology, and his role as a researcher and skilled writer. The Gospel of Luke is portrayed as a well-crafted narrative, with a focus on the parables and the flow of themes, which are distinctive to Luke's literary style.

10:03

📚 The Purpose and Audience of Luke's Gospel

The speaker posits that Luke's Gospel and Acts were written with a specific purpose and audience in mind. The Gospel was intended for Theophilus, likely a Roman official, with the aim of defending Paul's actions and faith. The speaker suggests that Luke's writings served as a legal brief, presenting a case for Paul's innocence and the legitimacy of the Christian faith to the Roman authorities. The speaker also discusses Luke's methodology, emphasizing his reliance on eyewitness accounts and his commitment to accuracy.

15:04

👶 Unique Stories and Perspectives in Luke's Gospel

This section highlights the unique narratives found in Luke's Gospel, including the birth stories from Mary's perspective, Jesus' boyhood, and the genealogies. The speaker points out that Luke provides a different angle on the nativity and Jesus' early life, which complements the accounts found in other Gospels. The speaker also notes the presence of different genealogies in Luke and Matthew, suggesting they trace Jesus' lineage through both his mother and father.

20:06

🤲 The Compassionate Side of Jesus in Luke's Gospel

The speaker focuses on the incidents and parables in Luke's Gospel that showcase Jesus' compassion and his interactions with various marginalized groups. Stories such as the anointing of Jesus by a prostitute, the woman with the issue of blood, and the account of Zacchaeus are used to illustrate Jesus' embrace of the outcasts and sinners. The speaker emphasizes Luke's interest in people, particularly those who were overlooked or despised by society.

25:09

🙏 Luke's Emphasis on the Supernatural and the Holy Spirit

The speaker discusses the supernatural elements in Luke's Gospel, including the prominent role of angels and the Holy Spirit. Luke's Gospel is described as having a strong emphasis on the Holy Spirit's role in Jesus' life and ministry. The speaker also touches on the themes of praise and worship that are woven throughout the Gospel, highlighting the various songs of praise such as the Magnificat and the Nunc Dimittis.

30:10

🌍 The Universal Appeal of Luke's Gospel

The final paragraph summarizes the Gospel of Luke as a universal message of salvation for all people, regardless of their background. The speaker describes Luke's Gospel as user-friendly, with a strong focus on the joy of salvation and the inclusive nature of the Christian faith. The Gospel concludes with the Ascension of Jesus, linking it thematically to the beginning of the Acts of the Apostles, and the speaker encourages the audience to read and explore the Gospel of Luke for themselves.

Keywords

💡Luke's Gospel

Luke's Gospel is the third of the four Gospels in the New Testament and is known for its detailed accounts of the life and teachings of Jesus. It is characterized by its focus on the universality of salvation, the role of the Holy Spirit, and its attention to the marginalized in society. In the video, the speaker emphasizes the unique aspects of Luke's Gospel, such as its portrayal of Jesus' compassion for the outcasts and the rich narrative style that includes parables and stories not found in other Gospels.

💡Parables

Parables are short allegorical stories used by Jesus to convey spiritual truths and moral lessons. The video highlights several parables unique to Luke's Gospel, such as the Parable of the Good Samaritan and the Parable of the Prodigal Son. These parables serve to illustrate the themes of mercy, repentance, and the transformative power of God's love, which are central to the message of Luke's Gospel.

💡The Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is a central figure in Luke's Gospel, symbolizing the divine presence and power guiding Jesus and the early Christian community. The video mentions the Holy Spirit's role in Jesus' life, from his baptism to his ministry. The emphasis on the Holy Spirit reflects Luke's interest in the supernatural aspect of Christianity and the empowerment it provides to believers.

💡Samaritans and Gentiles

Samaritans and Gentiles represent groups that were often marginalized or looked down upon in Jewish society. In Luke's Gospel, they are shown to be recipients of Jesus' love and ministry, highlighting the inclusive nature of his message. The video points out that Luke has a special interest in these groups, reflecting a key theme of universal salvation and God's love for all people.

💡Outcasts

Outcasts in Luke's Gospel include the poor, the sick, and those considered socially unacceptable, such as tax collectors and sinners. The video discusses how Luke's Gospel shows Jesus reaching out to these individuals, demonstrating his compassion and the Gospel's theme of inclusivity. This focus on outcasts underscores the message that God's grace is available to everyone, regardless of their social status.

💡Women in Luke's Gospel

Women play a significant role in Luke's Gospel, often as key figures in the narratives. The video references women such as Mary, Elizabeth, and the widow of Nain, who are portrayed positively and are central to the stories. This focus on women reflects Luke's Gospel as being particularly attentive to the experiences and spiritual journeys of women in the biblical context.

💡The Poor

The poor are highlighted in Luke's Gospel as recipients of God's favor and as exemplars of faith. The video notes that Luke has a special concern for the poor, with Jesus often blessing and ministering to them. This emphasis on the poor aligns with the Gospel's overarching theme of God's care for the marginalized and the importance of recognizing the inherent worth and dignity of all people.

💡Sinners

In the context of Luke's Gospel, 'sinners' refers to those who have acknowledged their inability to keep the Mosaic Law and have turned to God for mercy. The video explains that Jesus is depicted as a friend of sinners, showing them love and acceptance. This portrayal is significant as it challenges the religious elitism of the time and communicates the Gospel's message of redemption and grace for all.

💡Angels

Angels are heavenly beings that appear frequently in Luke's Gospel, often serving as messengers of God or providing assistance to Jesus. The video mentions angels announcing the birth of Jesus and ministering to him, emphasizing the supernatural aspect of the Gospel. Their presence underscores the divine intervention and support present throughout the biblical narratives.

💡Prayer

Prayer is a recurring theme in Luke's Gospel, with Jesus often depicted in moments of prayerful communion with God. The video discusses how Luke portrays Jesus' prayer life as a model for believers, showing the importance of seeking God's guidance and will. Prayer in this Gospel serves to illustrate the intimate relationship between Jesus and God and the role of prayer in the spiritual lives of followers.

💡Worship and Praise

Worship and praise are central to the spiritual experience described in Luke's Gospel, with several instances of songs and hymns that express devotion to God. The video references specific examples like the Magnificat and the Nunc Dimittis, which are songs of praise and thanksgiving. These expressions of worship highlight the joy and gratitude that are characteristic of the Gospel's message and the believer's response to God's grace.

Highlights

The quotation 'if they do these things in the green tree what shall be done in the dry' is from Jesus as he carried the cross of Calvary, as per Luke's Gospel.

Luke's Gospel is less well-known compared to others but contains unique passages that are well recognized.

Luke's Gospel includes unique birth stories from Mary's perspective, contrasting with Matthew's Joseph-centric narrative.

The Gospel of Luke provides a boyhood story of Jesus, not found in other Gospels, including the event of his Bar Mitzvah at age 12.

Luke emphasizes the role of the Holy Spirit in Jesus' life, more so than the other Gospel writers.

The Sermon on the Plain in Luke is a different form of the Sermon on the Mount, suggesting Jesus preached it on different occasions.

Luke's Gospel is known for its parables, such as the Good Samaritan, the Prodigal Son, and the Pharisee and the Publican.

Dr. Luke, being a physician, used medical terms in his Gospel, which adds a unique perspective to the narratives.

Luke's Gospel focuses on people, showing a special interest in Samaritans, Gentiles, outcasts, women, the poor, and sinners.

The Gospel of Luke is described as user-friendly, with a worldwide vision, emphasizing that Jesus is the savior of the world, not just the Jews.

Luke's Gospel is noted for its joyful tone, with a higher frequency of words related to rejoicing compared to other Gospels.

The Ascension of Jesus is uniquely mentioned at the end of Luke's Gospel, serving as a link to the beginning of the Book of Acts.

Luke's Gospel emphasizes the future of the kingdom and the return of the Son of Man, providing a hopeful outlook for believers.

The Gospel of Luke is characterized by its strong humanitarian aspects, focusing on the marginalized and less fortunate in society.

Luke's Gospel is rich in supernatural elements, with frequent appearances of angels and a strong emphasis on the Holy Spirit.

The Gospel of Luke is praised for its literary quality, with skillfully woven narratives and a clear, readable structure.

Luke, as a Gentile doctor, brought a unique perspective to the biblical narrative, combining medical accuracy with a global vision of Christianity.

Transcripts

I'm going to give you a quotation and I

want you to vote on whether you think

it's Old Testament New Testament or

William Shakespeare now I promise you

it's one of the three but here is the

quotation then I want you quickly to

vote on it here's a quotation if they do

these things in the green tree what

shall be done in the dry now when they

do these things in the green tree what

should be done in the dry now it's

either Old Testament New Testament

Shakespeare we're going to vote on it

now Old Testament how many think it's

Old Testament a few how many think it's

New Testament how many think it's

William Shakespeare right well the

majority were right it is in Luke's

Gospel and it's what Jesus said as he

carried the cross of Calvary when he

told the women of Jerusalem don't weep

for me weep for yourselves if they do

these things in the green tree what

shall be done in the dry it's carpenter

language when wood is green you can't

cut it and he's saying if they don't

chop me down when I'm innocent what will

they do to you when you rebelled against

the Romans and I gave you that little

quiz for this reason Luke's Gospel is

the best-loved

and the least well-known of the four

Gospels that may come as a surprise to

you but the bits of Luke that are only

to be found in Luke are well known the

rest of Luke's Gospel is almost

universally ignored where something

comes in Matthew Mark and Luke we don't

bother to read it

in Luke I wrote down a few more quotes

here's one my house shall befall now I

wonder how many of you could put that in

its context it's in Luke's Gospel and

Jesus said it he is another a student is

not above his teacher but everyone who

is fully trained will be like his

teacher

have you heard that one before here's

another no one after drinking old wine

wants the new four he says the old is

better and I could go on like this I'm

afraid we know parts of Luke very well

indeed the prodigal son the Good

Samaritan these things we know story of

the little man Zacchaeus who was up a

tree in more ways than one

the story of matheran Mary the story of

the dying Seif the road to Emmaus well

here are two pictures that's Emmaus

that's the main street in Emmaus where

the two husband and wife Clos Paz and

his wife were walking on the first

Easter Sunday Clos pass by the way was

Jesus uncle Joseph's brother so there

were relatives but not close disciples

but that all happened in Emmaus somebody

has said the road to Emmaus is the most

beautiful story in the whole world and

certainly Agrippa doesn't you've heard

that and of course the parable of the

Good Samaritan that's the inn of the

Good Samaritan halfway down the roads

through the wilderness from Jerusalem to

Jericho there's only one in because

there's only one spring where water was

available so that is certainly they in

that Jesus had in mind or that was the

location of it well the story of the

Good Samaritan the road to Emmaus you

know those stories so well but I could

take you to parts of Luke that you don't

know for example in Matthew you read you

are the salt of the earth and I've had

so many preachers talk about salt as

being a preservative a flavoring and

they all think of its use in the kitchen

but when you read Luke's Gospel it isn't

the use of salt in the kitchen that

Jesus has in mind Luke talks about the

use of salt as a fertilizer on the field

and as a disinfectant in the toilet on

the dung heap because the salt came from

the Dead Sea and it was scraped up from

the shores and it was full of potash

potassium salts which were useful as

fertilizer

and as disinfectant so that

salt-of-the-earth is not to flavor or

preserve it is to act as a disinfectant

and a fertilizer in society to make good

things grown to stop bad things

spreading that's a much more meaningful

understanding but because people get the

text out of Matthew they put their own

kitchen meaning into it and it becomes a

food thing whereas in Luke Jesus tells

us what he really meant so we could go

on so let's begin to look at Luke's

Gospel the whole of it

the writer what do we know about him

while I told you quite a lot about him

when we studied the other volume he

wrote the book of Acts we know that he

was a Gentile a Gentile doctor he's the

only Gentile writer in your Bible all

the other 39 writers of the Bible were

Jewish but he's the only Gentile we know

that he came from a place called Antioch

I'll show you a picture of that in a

moment that was a large city which still

exists in Syria where the believers in

Jesus first got the nickname Christian

which was not a label they gave to

themselves it was a nickname that others

gave them he has no hesitation in using

the word God where as a Jewish writer

would Matthew doesn't like to use the

word God because he was Jewish he talks

about the kingdom of heaven Luke talks

about the kingdom of God quite freely

it's Jews who are afraid to use the word

God not Gentiles we know that he was a

doctor and therefore used to research

and keeping good records and that's a

blessing because these are very accurate

records he uses a lot of medical terms

in Luke's Gospel Peters mother-in-law

had a high fever it's a medical term

which only a doctor would have used I

find it fascinating God's sense of humor

that he wanted a doctor to tell us about

the virgin birth

doctors are notoriously skeptical about

healing miracles and about physical

miracles so God chose a doctor to tell

us all about that and of course it was

Luke who managed to get out of ner

all the details because Mary didn't talk

about it she kept all these things in

her heart it took a family doctor with a

good bedside manner to talk to her and

say tell me how how Jesus was conceived

and born he was a traveler he traveled

very widely traveled with Paul later but

he was a wide traveler we know this

because he alone calls the Sea of

Galilee a lake and to him it was just a

lake you see it's only 13 miles by eight

but to the fisherman it was the Sea of

Galilee but he says the lake and puts it

in its perspective as a worldwide

traveler but he was a skillful writer

very skillful indeed and I just give you

one example of how skillfully he puts

things together how he put parables

together see so often we talk about Luke

15 as being the parable of the prodigal

son it's nothing of the kind

it's the parable of the prodigal father

actually was the father a wasted his

money by giving it to his two boys the

father was throwing money around but in

fact when you read two chapters straight

through you see how the themes flow

through and how Lucas beautifully in a

literary way made a most readable gospel

you see chapter 15 begins with tax

collectors and sinners eating inside a

house with Jesus and Pharisees and

scribes murmuring outside and there

you've got the setting and the next two

chapters all flow out of that situation

and explain it so Jesus began to tell

stories in the first story he told was

of a lost sheep that was lost far away

and knew it and then a lost coin that

was lost at home and didn't know it one

story for the men one for the ladies but

two lost items then we come to the major

story and it's the story of two lost

sons and the emphasis is not on the

younger but on the older

he was more lost than the younger one

and didn't know it he was like the lost

sheep lost faraway and knew it he was

like the last coin lost at home and

didn't know it you begin to see the flow

and when you move on into chapter 16

you've got again two characters

corresponding to these two that puzzling

story about the rogue that Jesus

commended for his dishonesty do you

remember it some people think it's a

problem but it's interesting that

exactly the same word is used the

youngest son wasted his substance in the

far country and the rogue wasted his

master's substance same word same

character like was the eldest son who

did everything right I never broke a

commandment of yours was just like this

rich man who isn't guilty of any sin

vice or crime but finishes up in hell

because of his indifference to others

and his indulgence of himself in his

independence from God see so that you

see the flow of the theme and it just

goes on and and Luke has very

beautifully put these themes together

it's a tragedy that somebody divided the

scripture into chapters and then into

verses we lose the flow we begin reading

at the wrong point we we lose the

threads and they are beautiful threads

and look so he was a skillful writer and

that's just one example if you want his

style at his very best read the

description of the shipwreck at the end

of the book of Acts has never been a

shipwrecked description like that it's

it's perfect so he was a writer but he

was also an evangelist deep down he

wanted to win other people for Christ

once he'd become a Christian himself he

wanted the whole world to know but he

didn't preach he wasn't a speaker but he

could write and he used his gift of

writing to bring other people to faith

now who was it written for actually it

wasn't written for unbelievers generally

it was written for only one and he did

all his research for volume one we call

the Gospel of Luke and volume 2 the book

of Acts

he did all that for one man whom he

addresses as most excellent Theophilus

now if you've seen my video on axe I

don't need to say too much here I

believe basically dr. Luke wrote these

two volumes researched them and then

wrote them for one purpose only to get

Paul liberated from the trial in Rome he

was with Paul in Rome and in every trial

of course the defense lawyer or the

judge want to know everything they can

about what the prisoner is in the dock

for and so Luke has written two volumes

one about the Jesus who founded this new

faith and one about Paul who became the

main propagator of it and once you have

that key you find both volumes make

sense for example in both volumes there

are three protests of innocence about

Jesus in the gospel and about Paul in

the book of Acts from Roman authorities

for example Pontius Pilate says three

times Jesus is innocent

and likewise Paul at the end of X three

times Roman judges say this man is

innocent furthermore in both volumes

there is never any friction between

Jesus and Paul and the Romans Roman

soldiers are among the most ready to

believe and the whole two volumes are

saying now that Jesus who started this

new faith nor Paul who is now on trial

have done anything against Roman law in

every case it was the Jews who stirred

up trouble so that's the human reason

behind these two volumes and once you

read them in that light you find that

Luke is saying to the judge or the

defense lawyer whichever it was

incidentally most excellent is a legal

title so he's saying most excellent

Theophilus here it is this is the

defense of this men and Luke was

successful and Paul was released and was

able to continue his missionary work

until he was imprisoned a second time

and then beheaded as we shall see so

it's a wonderful defense of Paul and of

the Jesus he followed presented to a

Roman Court again Luke had no idea that

he was writing Scripture or that it

would be read 2,000 years later all over

the world

he wrote it to help his friend Paul in

the trial but God had other ideas

isn't that like God we think we're just

helping one person and God has a great

plan you just don't learn anything about

so it's a lawyer's brief so where did

Luke get his mists material the answer

is that Luke had plenty of time when

Paul was in Caesarea in prison for two

years Luke could trot around the country

gathering material about Jesus it must

have been then that he interviewed Mary

there are traces of him having

interviewed James and probably Matthew

and certainly John because there are

some things in Luke that are only

elsewhere in John cutting off Malthus

ear do you remember when Peter drew his

sword and cut off Malthus ear

well Luke got that from John you see

Luke was not a disciple not an apostle

had never met Jesus he was not an

eyewitness so he carefully went to

everybody he could who was an eyewitness

and got the story of Jesus while he was

waiting two years in Caesarea for Paul

to be shipped to Rome when Paul arrived

in Rome there was another two years when

Luke could write up the story of Paul

and the Acts of the Apostles is not the

Acts of the Apostles hardly any of the

Apostles appear in it and as soon as

Paul appears on the scene everybody else

gets forgotten it's the story of how

Paul came to be involved in this new

religion and what's happened to him is

he's traveled around the Roman Empire so

he got all this from eyewitness accounts

and he says at the beginning of the

gospel I went out of my way to get it as

accurately as I could

many have written about

these things but I did my own research

I've got it firsthand from eyewitnesses

now that's exactly what a legal trial

needs secondhand opinion is no good

it needs I witness accounts of what

happened and where Luke himself was not

an eyewitness of Paul and he certainly

wasn't of Jesus he got his material from

eyewitnesses and Lucas very carefully

put it together it's a piece of

incredible original research and to go

back to the chart we showed you earlier

Luke's on the right there and the yellow

is all his original material there's a

lot of it he used a lot from Mark who we

met in Rome but he's also done a lot of

original research and especially the

best stories but later you'll find

there's a whole bit that fits into that

journey south through Perea and in mark

only one chapter but in Luke many

chapters that's when Jesus told the

story of the prodigal son and then at

the end the resurrection stories and the

death of Christ a lot of unique material

that Luke managed to dig out for his

purpose

well now what therefore is unique in

Luke's Gospel which is not in the others

number one the birth stories all from

Mary's angle now when you read the birth

story in Matthew it's all from Joseph's

angle it's all from the male side and

the intimate details of the conception

and the delivery are not there and so

clearly Matthew got the Christmas story

from Joseph but Luke got it from Mary

and this may explain the different

genealogies in the two if you notice the

difference we may well have in Matthew

Joseph's line back to King David but in

Luke Mary's line back to King David and

that would make Jesus doubly

of david legally the son of david

through his father's line and physically

the son of david through his mother's

line not it but luke's birth stories are

written from the woman's angle from

elizabeth and from mary and he got the

stories from there then we have a unique

story of jesus boyhood in Luke he's the

only one who managed to dig out anything

about Jesus in his first 30 years which

is astonishing really isn't it we know

he was a carpenter but at the age of 12

Jesus had his Bar Mitzvah no I don't

have you ever been to a Jewish Bar

Mitzvah Bar Mitzvah means able to do

good deeds and when a boy reaches the

age of 12 then he is able to do good

deeds and therefore becomes responsible

for his own behavior up to the age of 12

the parents are punished when the boy

does wrong wouldn't that be a wonderful

improvement in our society but at the

age of 12 he's able to do good deeds Bar

Mitzvah so he's taken to the synagogue

and he reads a portion of the law of

Moses and then he is a man he puts away

childish things puts away his toys he

becomes a partner with his father in

whatever trade or profession his father

has you know we lack a ceremony in our

society and culture whereby a boy turns

into a man don't we and so we just stay

boys and the only difference between a

man and a boy is the prize was toy but

you see we need a recognition this boy

is now a man and this happened to Jesus

and Joseph and Mary took him up to

Jerusalem now the way they traveled in

those days the women went first and they

walked 15 miles a day then they put the

tents up and cooked the meal and by the

time it was ready to serve the men

arrived good arrangement though that the

feminists would go mad over this but

anyway so the children under 12 traveled

with mother and the children over 12 the

boy over 12 traveled with dead

when they left Jerusalem the women went

down the road to Jericho first set up

camp cooked the meal and then the men

arrived and Mary said to Joseph where's

Jesus and Joe said I thought he was with

you

no no he's 12 he'd be with you he's not

my boy is your boy and that's how they

came to lose Jesus each of them thought

he was with the other you see and then

they finally went back and after a long

search they found him in the place where

they should have looked first in the

temple and his is the conversation is

fascinating Mary like an anxious angry

mother said where have you been your

father and I have been looking

everywhere for you

your father and I have been looking

everywhere for you

and Jesus said but I'm a man now didn't

you know that I was in my father's

business now I'm a partner with dead

I've grown up so Jesus said didn't you

know that I must be with my father in

this business now the most amazing thing

then is it says that he came back to

Nazareth and was subject to them it's a

little glimpse but it means that Jesus

knew who he was even at the age of 12

when Mary had never told him she said

your father and I have been looking for

you they'd always brought Jesus up to

regard Joseph as is dead but jesus knew

a wonderful little story which Luke must

have got from Mary the next thing we

know is that at the baptism Luke again

put some information in there that we

don't get anywhere else

for example it's Luke who says that

Jesus after he was baptized in water

came up out of the water onto the bank

and prayed and it was only as the result

of that prayer that the Holy Spirit was

given to him now that's very very

interesting because it's from Luke that

we learn more about baptism in the

spirit than any other writer and it goes

right back to Jesus experience

that after its water baptism Jesus stood

and prayed and he was clearly asking his

father now please give me the Holy

Spirit and the Dove came down Luke has a

very strong interest in the Holy Spirit

more than any of the other Gospel

writers or certainly more than Matthew

and Mark in the teaching of Jesus in

Luke there are things that for example

the Sermon on the Mount disappears and

becomes the Sermon on the plain and

matching every blessed is a woe blessed

are you who mourn woe to you who laughs

now it's clear that Jesus preached that

sermon more than once and in varied

forms and Luke has given us a very

different form of the Sermon on the

Mount a shorter one and clearly one that

Jesus preached on a different occasion

but for every blessed there is a woe and

a woe is a curse and Jesus did curse

people the parables of course are the

main things we owe to Luke the parable

of the Good Samaritan the parable of the

prodigal son prodigal father and two

lost sons the parable of the godless

judge the parable of the Pharisee and

the publican isn't that a tremendous

parable what a message it has the

parable of the friend at midnight

banging on a neighbor's door til he got

some bread at midnight for an unexpected

visitor and Jesus said now that's how

you ask for the Holy Spirit you go on

banging at God's door until you get the

Holy Spirit because if you being evil

know how to give good gifts to your

children how much more will your

heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to

those who go on asking him the parable

of the barren fig tree the parable of

the unjust manager the parable of

Lazarus and the rich men who finished up

in hell that's the only parable that has

a name of anyone in it Lazarus so it may

even refer to an actual situation an

actual person the parable of the two

debtors then there are a whole lot of

incidents about people in this gospel

let's look at some of them there's the

prostitute anointing Jesus feet in the

house of a Pharisee one of the most

moving stories in the Gospels and Jesus

said she's been forgiven a lot so she

loves me a lot people have only been

forgiven a little only love me a little

there's the incident of the woman

touching the hem of His garment in the

middle of a big crowd and jesus knew

that goodness had drained from him

there's the incident of matheran mary

who doesn't know about that one the

incident of Zacchaeus the little men of

the tree and the shock he got when Jesus

said I'm coming to your house for lunch

which meant that Jesus lost dozens of

friends in order to gain one there's the

story of the man with the dropsy the

story of the crippled woman the story of

the ten lepers only one of whom came

back to say thank you very true to life

we pray like men when we need help but

how often do we come back and say thanks

then there are other incidents like the

miraculous catch of fish the dying thief

and the two on the road to Emmaus

beautiful gospel so let's underline this

that Luke has people interest more than

any other gospel he's interested in

people well of course a family doctor

would be but there's something deeper

than that

there are at least six groups of people

that he had a special interest in and

it's really quite remarkable

the first group he had a special

interest in with Samaritans

well the parable of the Good Samaritan

would tell you that but Luke alone tells

you that the one leper who came back to

say thank you was a Samaritan the rest

were Jewish they just took the blessing

of healing and took it for granted this

Samaritan came back James and John

wanted to call down fire from heaven on

the Samaritans because they were rude to

Jesus I find it ironic that in the book

of Acts John had

to come back to scenario to pray that

they might receive the fire of the Holy

Spirit so jesus said you can pray fire

from heaven on them but not the way you

think you'll be back here years later

you'll do it

the second group that Luke has an

interest in are Gentiles he was a

Gentile he wasn't a Jew and so time and

again Gentiles figure large in this

story the widow of Zarephath name and

the Syrian again and again as an

interest in Gentiles thirdly Luke has an

interest in outcasts people whom others

would not look at a touch only treat

with contempt

lepers tax collectors shepherds even

prostitutes luke has an interest in the

outcasts of society fourthly he has a

particular interest in women Martha Mary

the woman touching his hem the women

weeping for Jesus as he carried his

cross luke refers to ten women who are

not mentioned anywhere else again a

family doctor comes through but it makes

Luke a very popular gospel with the

ladies fifthly

he has a special heart for the poor

Moses seems of his bias towards the poor

blessed of the poor he recalls Jesus

saying woe to you rich and by New

Testament standards everyone in this

room is rich and Jesus cursed the rich

said blessed are you poor

whereas Matthew says blessed are you

poor in spirit luke says blessed are you

poor just poor poverty is a blessing he

says credible and therefore he has a

particular concern for widows who've

been left without a man's wage and Widow

after Widow after widow appears in the

pages of the story and the last

category surprising once sinners Luke

has a special place for sinners now you

must know what a sinner is we think a

sinner is somebody filled with vice and

crime

cannibals criminals but that's not what

the Bible means by a cinema sinner I was

on a coach in Israel some of you may

have been on the coach with me I don't

know and the Israeli driver and the

Israeli guide was sitting at the front

and I was talking over the microphone

and I said I want you to know what a

sinner is I said we have two sinners on

this coach I said they're both sitting

at the front and the two at the front

their backs straightened up and they

stared straight ahead and I said you see

these two men we've gone on the bus of

sinners a sinner is someone who's given

up trying to keep the law of Moses I

said today is the Sabbath and he

shouldn't be driving this bus and he

shouldn't be guiding us but because of

the economic pressures they've just got

to live and they've got to keep their

families alive so they're breaking Moses

law for us but I said technically

they're sinners a sinner if someone says

I can't keep all those laws life's just

too tough I said they're sinners and

they sat very straight and they never

looked round and then I said now when

Jesus the Messiah came he was a friend

of sinners he didn't like the Orthodox

people keeping all the laws he made

friends with people like our guide and

our driver and he loved them and they

loved him and they both turned around

they were grinning from ear to ear and

it made their day and it made a point

they were nice people they weren't bad

criminals they weren't full of ice they

were very nice but they were not able to

keep the law life was too tough and

that's the kind of sinner quote in

inverted commas that Jesus loved and

they loved him amazing that's why the

Pharisees hated him of course because he

mixed with people who weren't keeping

the laws so it's a very humanitarian

gospel but it is also a supernatural

gospel it's not only got the interest in

people on earth

it's got interested in heavenly people

as well let me just go through them this

gospel more than any other has angels in

it again and again there are angels

popping into the story heavenly beings

coming

announcing the birth to Elizabeth

thought to Zechariah have John the

Baptist announcing the birth of Jesus to

Mary and all the way through angels

ministered to Jesus in the time of

temptation in the wilderness angels

ministered to Jesus in Gethsemane

heavenly beings are all the way through

this there's a great emphasis on the

holy spirit in luke's gospel more about

the holy spirit here than Matthew or

mark because he is the one who is

providing the power for Jesus ministry

and the Holy Spirit comes in at the

birth of Jesus at his baptism and his

miracles and the gospel finishes with

Jesus telling them to wait in Jerusalem

and until they to her clothed with power

from on high

Luke has a very real interest in the

Holy Spirit and especially in his second

volume of the book of Acts this above

all is a gospel of praise and worship

you're constantly being lifted up to

heaven some of the most beautiful songs

of praise come here and they're still

sung in churches some churches for

example the Magnificat that's the Latin

word for my soul magnifies the Lord and

that's Mary's song when she was told she

would have a son then there's the nuke

too bitter to ever sing the nunc

dimittis Lord now lettest thou thy

servant depart in peace that's based on

Simeon the old man who saw a carpenter

and his wife with the little baby in the

temple and he knew it was the Messiah

and he praised God he said Lord I can

die happy I've seen him well that's a

free paraphrase but that's that's what

it was Lord now lettest thou thy servant

depart in peace mine eyes have seen the

glory of the Lord and so he get praise

songs

worship songs Luke was a worshipper

above all Luke writes about prayer he

writes about Jesus prayers far more than

any other gospel you constantly seen

Jesus going up into a mountain and

saying father what do I do next

who do I choose from my disciples do you

want me to move from here and Jesus

prayer life is very real as it's ours so

let me begin to wind this up Luke is the

gospel for everybody everybody can find

their niche somewhere here everybody can

identify with this gospel at some point

say yeah that's me

and that's why it's such a good one for

the Gentile world and we're Gentiles so

it's a great gospel to give to Gentiles

you see Luke wanted Jesus to be for

everybody or to use his phrase all flesh

and you find that phrase keeps coming in

it comes in the Gospels all flesh will

see God's salvation you find it coming

in the book of Acts I will pour out my

spirit on all flesh and that is the

emphasis all the way through it's for

everybody no matter what they their

birth what they're raised what their

color Jesus the savior of the world

it's a beautiful emphasis and though he

begins in a very Jewish context he

finishes up in his second volume in the

capital of the Gentile Empire Rome

that's why from the very beginning he

has the angel singing peace on earth

goodwill toward men and that's quoted

every Christmas it's the last probably

the most well known statement in the

Christmas story so here we have a gospel

in which people he says are going to

come from the north and the south and

the east and the west and sit down in

the kingdom together there's a worldwide

vision here where as Matthew sees Jesus

as king of the Jews here Luke says no

savior of the world he's fed everybody

I'm a Gentile writing this you're a

Gentile for whom I'm writing but Jesus

is for us too

think that makes it a lovely gospel I

would sum up his gospel in three words

it's a human gospel

it's a heavenly gospel and above all

it's a happy gospel it's a happy gospel

do you know that the the words related

to the root word rejoice occur more

frequently in this gospel than the

others there's joy in this gospel

there's joy in heaven do you realize if

one person gets converted in a meeting

the Angels throw a party there is more

joy in heaven over one sinner who

repents you'll hardly find the word joy

in Matthew or mark but Luke's a happy

doctor and he's written a happy gospel

it's a human gospel

it's a heavenly gospel and it's a very

happy one it's the only gospel that

mentions laughter not interesting you

won't find that word in any other gospel

and I think in no other book in the New

Testament but you'll find the word left

in luke's gospel well salvation

therefore is for sinners I think we

could sum it up by saying Luke's Gospel

is user-friendly I'm trying to be with

it but it's user-friendly and one of

those texts I gave you at the beginning

which you may not have heard my house

shall be full is part of the parable of

the great feast and the man giving the

feast said sent out the invitations and

people began to make excuses I've

married a wife I can't come of bought a

pair of oxen I've got to try them out of

come into some property and I must go

inspect it and the owner of the feast

said well if they won't come go into the

streets and persuade people to come in

and they did that and then they came to

the man who was giving the feast said

we've been into the streets and still

there are empty chairs he said then go

into the country lanes go further afield

and bring them in then he says my house

shall be

that's what heaven is gonna be there

won't be one empty seat heaven will be

full and God will complete the number of

his family and they'll say to us go as

far afield as you can and bring them in

because my house shall be full it'll be

full of Gentiles Samaritans sinners

women poor it'll be full and that's

really something summarizing the Gospel

of Luke how grateful we are that Luke

gave it to us I should have shown you

that much earlier than I did so let's

just look at it right now I talked about

the unique material in Luke's Gospel his

birth boyhood genealogy teaching

parables incidents and of course it

finishes with the Ascension of Jesus to

heaven which is not in the other Gospels

and that is Luke's link to his second

volume the gospel ends with the

Ascension and the book of Acts begins

with it so that gives him his tie into

volume 2 I've talked about the people

interest Samaritans Gentiles outcasts

women the poor and sinners remembering

what a sinner is someone who just can't

keep all the laws and then we've looked

at the supernatural dimension angels

prayer the Holy Spirit worship and one

other the great emphasis on the future

of the kingdom that's coming the great

day that will come when Son of Man

returns it's all there what a gospel now

you can go and read it