THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE (Lesson 4 – Feb 18, 2025) Ch. 1: 31-80

 

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE

(Lesson 4 – Feb 18, 2025) Ch. 1: 31-80

 

 

Lk: 32 Son of the Most High. In Lk 1:76 John is described as “prophet of the Most High”. “Most High” is commonly used by Luke (1:35.76; 6:35; 8:28; Acts 7:48;16:17).

 

V.34 The Virginal conception of Jesus takes place through the holy Spirit and God's power; therefore, Jesus has a unique relationship with Yahweh.

 

V.45: Blessed are you who believed: Luke portrays Mary as a believer whose faith stands in contrast to the disbelief of Zechariah (v.20)

 

Vv 39-40 According to Jewish customs. It was improper, or at least unusual, for single or betrothed females to travel alone. Mary, however, may have undertaken this journey with Joseph’s consent

 

The Magnificat is divided into four stanzas, each of which contains three verses (1) (46-48); (2) 1:48-50; (3) 51-53; (4)  54-55.

 

V.47 God my Saviour. Undoubtedly, Mary was looking for civil and political blessings, through the birth of the Messiah.

 

V. 52 The mighty overthrow of all anti-Messianic power seems, in her imagination, to begin with the fall of the Idumæan usurper.

 

V. 55 Abraham and his seed. A remarkable proof that Mary’s expectations concerning the Messiah’s appearance were universal. For the seed promised to Abraham was to be a blessing to the whole world.

 

46-55 except v.48, there is no specific connection of the canticle to the context of Mary’s pregnancy.

 

Traditionally called the Magnificat sung in the evening prayer. Referred to Abraham and the Jewish-Christian cast. It contains the reversal theme found in (1 Sam 2:1-10) but is modified. Those who oppress now will be overthrown, and the lowly will be exalted; those who are hungry now will have their fill, but those who are satiated now will be sent away.

 

He casts down the mighty--he exalts the humble: Stanley Jones said, “The Magnificat is the most revolutionary document in the world.” It is a moral revolution and a social revolution. Christianity puts an end to the world's labels and prestige. Christianity begets a revolution in each man and a revolution in the world.

 

V.59 On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, these practices exist among the Khandi in India, and Africa; the Greeks, and Romans - also it was customary to name the child on the day of purification.

 

Circumcision is incorporated into the people of Israel by the sign of the Covenant (Gen 17:1-12)

 

Vv. 68-79 like the canticle of Mary (46-55) the canticle of Zechariah is loosely connected with the context.  Apart from vv 76-77 speaking about John the Baptist

V. 69. A horn of salvation. The well-known Biblical meaning (1 Sam 2:10; Ps 132:17, ) must be here understood, and not the horns of helmets but this horn is to spring from David’s race.

 

V.71 Salvation from our enemies. Undoubtedly the political element was chiefly present to Zachariah. The priest is at the same time the patriot in the best sense of the term, deeply moved by the sight of Roman tyranny and the reformation of divine worship: Luke 1:74-75.

 

V.72 The mercy promised to our fathers. The fulfillment of the promises concerning Messiah is not only a matter of rejoicing for the present, and a source of hope for the future, but also a healing balm for past sorrows (Lk 20:37-38; Jn 8:56).

 

V. 74 That He would grant unto us. The purpose for which God once swore it, and was now about to fulfill it (Gen 22:16-18).

 

Without fear: Not the fear of God, but the fear of enemies - the Macedonians, especially Antiochus Epiphanes, and the Romans, hindered the Jews in the exercise of their worship!

 

V. 75 In holiness and righteousness before Him. All the days of our life, or rather all our days.  Uninterrupted national prosperity, based upon true religion, is the ideal of his aspirations.

 

 

V. 78 The day springs from on high. An emblematic allusion to Messiah and His salvation, again referring to Malachi 4:2. There is a remarkable coincidence between the last Messianic prophecy and the very last before the incarnation of the Divine Word.

 

V. 79 Those sitting in darkness and the shadow of death. He foresees not only Israel but deprived of the light of truth and life (Is 9:2; Is 60:1).

 

To guide our feet. The end for which the day-spring should “give light” as this again was the end for which it “visited” our dark world. The hymn concludes with a boundless prospect into the still partly hidden future.

 

 

 

 

“For nothing will be impossible to God”.

 

“Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word” (vv. 37-38)

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE (Lesson 3 – Feb 4, 2025) Chs. 1: 5 - 29

 

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE

(Lesson 3 – Feb 4, 2025) Chs. 1: 5 - 29

 

Luke presents Jesus’ earthly ministry as a battle between Christ and Satan and wins over by his death and resurrection.

He presents challenges between Now and the end times (eschaton)

He presents the Joy of the world because the blood of Christ redeemed him.

 

The Infancy Narrative

Lk 1:5 – only Matthew and Luke present stories of the birth of Christ but from two different perspectives. Luke centers on Mary while Matthew focuses on Joseph. Despite the many variations, both agree on the essential point that Mary is pregnant without human relations.

 

The purpose of drawing the Gentiles to the community of Israel by setting the many references to political events and leaders of the day within the context of the OT. Ex; Simion proclamation: Jesus is “a light of revelation to the Gentiles/ and glory for people of Israel (1:29-32)

 

Vv. 11, 19 -  “the angel appeared” – Lk does not mention the name of the angel – doubt is clarified by revealing the name “I am Gabriel”

 

The name - Gabriel – is a combination of two Hebrew terms: Gabur (“strong man”, “warrior”) and El (“God”) = “Warrior of God”.

Gabriel has a role in the OT: explains a vision to Daniel (8:15, 17-26) while simultaneously giving Daniel understanding (9:22).

V. 13 – “Do not be afraid”; a stereotyped OT phrase (Dt 3:22; Gen 15:1; Jos 1:9; Dan       10:12,19) – 365 times mentioned in the Holy Bible.

- “You shall name him John”. The name John means YHWH has shown favor”. It shows his role in the salvation history.

V. 15 – “He will drink neither wine nor strong drink” (similar to Samson (Jgs 13: 4-5) and Samuel (1 Sam 1:1, 11) – consecrated by Nazarite vow and set apart for the Lord’s service.

- The Nazarite vow is a set of laws in the Hebrew Bible that describe a voluntary vow of separation from the world for some time (Num 6:1–21) to serve the Lord.

V. 17 – “He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah to turn the hearts of fathers……….

John is to be the messenger sent before Yahweh as described in Mal 3:1-2 is sent before “the great and terrible day of the Lord comes”

V. 20 – “You will be speechless and unable to talk”: When Mary asked a similar question (Lk 1:34), she was encouraged, praised, and reassured but Zechariah was punished.

V. 25 -  “to take away my reproach/disgrace before others: Rachel, when she bare a son, said, “God hath taken away my reproach,” (Gen 30:23; Is 4:1; Hos 9:11;1 Sam 1:6-10) = “Yet the days were coming when to be childless would be regarded by Jewish mothers as a blessing” ( Lk 23:29).

Among the Jews, a family of children was counted as a signal blessing, evidence of the favor of God (Ps 113:9; Ps 128:3; Is 4:1; Is 44:3-4; Lev 26:9). To be “barren,” therefore, or to be destitute of children, was considered a “reproach” or a “disgrace”.

 

            - All the prayers we offer up to God, are acceptable and successful only by Christ's intercession in the temple of God above – “through Christ our Lord” Amen.

- “Prayers of faith are filed in heaven and are not forgotten. Prayers made when we were young and entering into the world, may be answered when we are old and going out of the world” - Matthew Henry

 

-        Definition of Faith: Heb. 11:1

 

Vv. 26-27 – “In the sixth month” - after the vision of Zachariah. This is the only passage that indicates the age of John the Baptist, as half a year older than our Lord.

 

- Named Nazareth — A small city in the tribe of Zebulon, now reduced to a very low and contemptible condition (Mt 2:23). Josephus describes it as rich in trees and pastures, strong, populous, containing 204 towns, of which the least had 15000 inhabitants.

 

- “a virgin” (Is 7:14; Jer 31:22) The many miraculous and glorifying legends which soon began to gather around her name in the Apocryphal Gospels are utterly unknown to Scripture.

Jer 31:22: St Jerome in his commentary on this verse understood it of Mary's virginal conception of Christ. "The Lord has created a new thing on earth; without seed of man, without carnal union and conception. ' a woman will encompass a man' within her womb - One who, though He will later appear to advance in wisdom and age through the stages of infancy and childhood, yet, while confined for the usual number of months in his mother's womb, will already be perfect man".  

 

- unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth; the whole country of Galilee was mean and contemptible with the Jews: they observe, though through mistake, that no prophet arose out of it, Jn 7:52 and Nazareth particularly was exceeding despicable in their eye: hence those words of Nathanael, "can any good thing come out of Nazareth?" Jn 1:46  “yet hither an angel was sent by God; and here dwelt the mother of our Lord”.

 

V. 27 – “a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph”

 

The Protoevangelium of James: 8, 9 (not inspired by the Holy Spirit, non-canonical)

a.      And when she was twelve years old there was held a council of the priests, saying: Behold, Mary has reached the age of twelve years in the temple of the Lord. What then shall we do with her, lest perchance she defile the sanctuary of the Lord? And they said to the high priest: You stand by the altar of the Lord; go in, and pray concerning her; and whatever the Lord shall manifest unto you, that also will we do. And the high priest went in, taking the robe with the twelve bells into the holy of holies; and he prayed concerning her. And behold an angel of the Lord stood by him, saying unto him: Zacharias, Zacharias, go out and assemble the widowers of the people, and let them bring each his rod; and to whomsoever the Lord shall show a sign, his wife shall she be. And the heralds went out through all the circuit of Judæa, and the trumpet of the Lord sounded, and all ran.

b.       And Joseph, throwing away his axe, went out to meet them; and when they had assembled, they went away to the high priest, taking with them their rods. And he, taking the rods of all of them, entered into the temple, and prayed; and having ended his prayer, he took the rods and came out, and gave them to them: but there was no sign in them, and Joseph took his rod last; and, behold, a dove came out of the rod, and flew upon Joseph's head. And the priest said to Joseph, You have been chosen by lot to take into your keeping the virgin of the Lord. But Joseph refused, saying: I have children, and I am an old man, and she is a young girl. I am afraid lest I become a laughing-stock to the sons of Israel. And the priest said to Joseph: Fear the Lord your God, and remember what the Lord did to Dathan, and Abiram, and Korah; Numbers 16:31-33 how the earth opened, and they were swallowed up on account of their contradiction. And now fear, O Joseph, lest the same things happen in your house. And Joseph was afraid, and took her into his keeping. And Joseph said to Mary: Behold, I have received you from the temple of the Lord; and now I leave you in my house, and go away to build my buildings, and I shall come to you. The Lord will protect you.

 

V. 28 – “Hail favored one! The Lord is with you”

 

V. 29 – “Do not be afraid, (….) for you have found favor with God”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE (Lesson 02 – Jan 21, 2024) Background - 2

 

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE

(Lesson 02 – Jan 21, 2024) Background - 2

 

Author, Date, and Audience: Luke was a physician (Col 4:14) and a travel companion of Paul. The possible date of Luke–Acts is AD 62 in the events of persecution (Acts 28). Luke and Acts are addressed to “Theophilus” (Lk 1:3; Acts 1:1) about Jesus.

 

Aim: Jesus is the promised one of God as prophesied in the Old Testament for all, Jews and Gentiles alike to see God’s saving activity in Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection.

 

Purpose: Luke probably had several goals in writing:

 

(1) Assure the truth of Christ

(2) Understand how Israel rejected Jesus and welcomed the Gentiles into the kingdom of God

(3) Universality of Salvation

(4) The fulfillment of the OT promises

(5) Jesus does not return immediately but there is a period between his resurrection and his return

(6) Emphasize not to be terrified of any earthly power such as Rome.

(7) Importance of Women

 

 

Main Themes

 

1. God’s sovereign rule over history (Lk 13:33; 22:22, 42) – Jerusalem, the city of destiny

 

2. The arrival and actual presence (though not yet the completion) of the kingdom of God (Lk 11:2; 17:20–21; 21:34–36) - “the Kingdom of God is among you” (Lk 17:20-21)

 

3. The coming and presence of the Holy Spirit for Jesus and his followers (Lk 1:15–17, 35; 2:25–27; 3:16, 22; 4:1, 18; 24:49).

 

4. The great reversal in the world. The first become last and the last become first, the proud are made low and the humble are exalted (Lk 1:48; 6:20–26; 13:30; 14:11).

 

5. Invitation to live a life of prayer practicing good stewardship with their possessions (Lk 6:12; 9:28–29; 11:1–4; 12:33–34; 18:1; 22:40).

 

6. The danger of riches (Lk 6:20–26; 8:14; 12:13–21; 16:10–13, 19–31).

 

 

Outline

I. The Prologue (1:1–4)

II. The Infancy Narrative (1:5–2:52)

III. Preparation for the Ministry of Jesus (3:1–4:15)

IV. The Ministry of Jesus in Galilee (4:16–9:50)

V. The Journey to Jerusalem (9:51–19:27)

VI. The Ministry of Jesus in Jerusalem (19:28–21:38)

VII. The Suffering and Death of Jesus (22:1–23:56)

VIII. The Resurrection of Jesus (24:1–53)

 

TEXT ANALYSIS OF LUKE:   CHAPTER 1 (vv 1-9)

 

Vv. 1-4: It is a prologue in the way of Hellenistic Greek writers, and contemporary Greco-Roman literature. Ex: Herodotus begins, “These are the researches of Herodotus of Halicarnassus.” A much later historian, Dionysius of Halicarnassus, tells us at the beginning of his history, "Before beginning to write I gathered information, partly from the lips of the most learned men with whom I came into contact, and partly from histories written by Romans of whom they spoke with praise."

 

   Not only Luke writes the words and deeds of Jesus but also of his birth, ministry, death, and resurrection as fulfillment of OT. He acknowledges his debt to earlier eyewitnesses and ministers. Real religion is never a second-hand thing. It is a personal discovery. Luke had to rediscover Jesus Christ for himself. Personal experience is required. True inspiration comes when the seeking mind of man joins with the revealing Spirit of God (Mt 7:7)

 

Adding his source in a complete and accurate account writes to “Theophilus” (Friend of God)

 

V.  5a: Herod, king of Judea also known as Herod Antipas. He ruled as a tetrarch (a title, a ruler of one fourth in GK) of Galilee and Perea after the death of his father, Herod the Great. He was declared “king of Judea” by the Roman senate in 40 BC. but became undisputed ruler of Palestine only in 37 BC.

 

How does Luke see Christ?

 

Vv. 5b, 8, 9: Abijah to Zachariah: Zachariah was a priest who belonged to the section of Abijah/ Abihu. Who was Abijah? He was a descendant of Eleazar, the son of Aaron.  Aaron was the brother of Moses (Ex 4:14). He is identified as the brother of Moses, a Levite {(Jochebed - a daughter of Levi tribe, mother of Miriam, Aaron, and Moses (Num 26:59)}. How many sons did Aaron have? Aaron had four sons (Lev 10: 1, 6): Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. All four were ordained as priests. Moses instituted priests and Levites. Priests were direct descendants of Aaron. Priests offered the sacrifices and Levites helped the priests in the ceremonies. Who were the Levites? Levites were the descendants of Levi (Num 1:49).

Read the Book of Numbers 1:47-54

 

Abijah/ Abihu was a chief of the eighth (1 Chro 24:10) of the twenty-four orders into which the priesthood was divided (1 Chro 24: 7-19) and small groups of Levites (1 Chro 24: 4-6) by David (1 Chro 28:12-13). Moses instituted and David divided for the sake of the liturgy.

 

Priests could get an opportunity to serve a week at a time, twice a year. Abijah/ Abhihu was an ancestor of Zechariah, the priest who was the father of John the Baptist. He is not to be confused with Abijah daughter of Zechariah seen at 2 Kings 18:2 who gave birth to Hezekiah king of Jerusalem who reigned for 29 years.

 

 

What happened to the sons of Aaron and Moses?

 

Aaron had 4 sons. The first older sons Nadab and Abihu “offered fire that had not been commanded” to be consumed by the fire (Lev. 10:1). Another set of sons namely Eleazar and Ithamar were almost consumed because they did not obey the command of Moses (Lev. 10: 6, 8, 12, 17). V. 17 is most important.

 

What happened to the sons of Eli?  The wickedness of Eli’s sons (1 Sam 2: 12—17; 25, 12-13; 34).

                                        

What happened to the sons of Samuel? Joel and Abijah, the first judges (1 Sam 8:1-3) sought illicit gains. God needed to appoint a king.

 

Duty of the priests: “Aaron shall bring forward the live goat. Laying both the hands” (Lev. 16:20, 21,22). Does the blood of an animal remove our sins?

 

 

Leviticus 10:17 says, “it was given to you to take away the guilt of the community by making atonement for them before the Lord”.

 

God’s Decision: “I will choose a faithful priest who shall do what I have in heart and mind, I will establish a lasting house for him which shall function in the presence of my anointed forever” (1 Sam 2: 35)

 

Jesus Christ the High Priest “the impossibility of the blood of the animals to take away the sins” (Heb 10:3); Jesus Christ offered himself once and for all (Heb 10:9); became one of us (Heb 2:17) and “let us hold him fast” (Heb 4:14).

 

For this, God prepares the path for his coming to his humanity.

 

V. 7: “Childless” – it was looked upon in contemporaneous Judaism as a curse or punishment for sin. It was intended to present Elizabeth in a situation similar to that of some of the great mothers of important OT figures like Sarah (Gen 15:3; 16:1); Rebekah (Gen 25:21) Rachel (Gen 29:31; 30:1); the mother of Samson and wife of Manoah (Jds13:2-3); Hanah (1 Sam 1:2). Elizabeth was a descendant of Aaron. Both were from the priestly class. Pure blood.

 

God makes his chosen fruitless first to make them exemplary and fruitful next to generation after generation to come.

 

Christ comes from the tribe of Judah to be the King of Kings, the high priest from the pure Blood to rule out the priestly class of the Old Testament, and Messiah prophesied by the prophets (John the Baptist, being the bridge between the OT and NT).

 

“Do not be afraid” (Lk 1:13)

 

 

 

 

AN INTRODUCTION TO THE GOSPEL OF LUKE (BACKGROUND)

 

AN INTRODUCTION TO THE GOSPEL OF LUKE

(Lesson 01 – Jan 07, 2025) BACKGROUND

 

 

Ta Biblia (GK) means “the books” (collection of books). The canon of the Catholic Church was affirmed by the Council of Rome (382), the Synod of Hippo (393), two of the Councils of Carthage (397 and 419), the Council of Florence (1431–1449), and finally, as an article of faith, by the Council of Trent (1545–1563). Those established the Catholic biblical canon consisted of 46 Old Testament, 27 New Testament, and 73 books in total.

 

The Protestant Bible contains 66 books in total—39 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament. However, it does not contain seven books: Baruch, Tobit, Judith, I and 2 Maccabees, Wisdom, or Sirach, which Roman Catholic, Eastern Catholic, and Orthodox Churches use. These books are called Deuterocanonical books. Catholics and Protestants agree on the New Testament, which contains 27 books.

 

Until Martin Luther (not to be confused with Martin Luther King) an Augustinian friar, and ordained priest (1507) the Church had all these Canonical books.

 

The paschal event was the central point to tracing the Jewish people's beginnings (Old Testament), reflected in the era of King Solomon. Christ’s passion, death, and resurrection were the main events for the beginning of Christianity and the New Testament.

 

New Testament (27 Books): 4 Gospels: (3 Synoptic Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke) and the Gospel of John; Acts of the Apostles; “Pauline epistles” are letters written by the apostle Paul (14), while “Catholic epistles” (7 also called “general epistles”) are letters from other apostles like Peter (2 letters), James, John (3 letters), and Jude; and The Book of Revelation by John

 

The Pauline Epistles are addressed to specific communities or individuals. The Catholic Epistles are concerned with the connection between faith and works, and the importance of correct doctrine and moral living. For example, 1 Peter encourages followers of Jesus to live out their new identity in Christ, while Jude confronts those who deny the right doctrine through immoral lifestyles.

 

According to the majority of scholars, the Gospels were probably written between AD 66 and 110 – Mark was the first to be written, using a variety of sources, followed by Matthew and Luke, which both independently used Mark for their narrative of Jesus's career, supplementing it with a collection of sayings called "the Q source" (German word Quelle = source = sayings of Jesus), and additional material unique to each – so they are called Synoptic Gospels

 

 

 

Ex. Common Tradition of Mt and Lk  = “Do to others what you would have them do to you”  Lk 6:31 and Mt 7:12.

Many non-canonical gospels were also written later than the four canonical gospels and like them advocated the theological views of their various authors. Important examples include the gospels of Thomas, Peter, Judas, and Mary; infancy gospels such as that of James (the first to introduce the perpetual virginity of Mary); and gospel harmonies such as the Diatessaron.

 

The Book of Enoch is an ancient Jewish religious text considered non-canonical and not included in the Bible. But, there are several references to Enoch in the Bible: Enoch, the great-grandfather of Noah. Jude 1:14–15: A prophetic passage that quotes from the Book of Enoch. The passage attributes the words to “Enoch, the Seventh from Adam; Lk 3:37: Briefly mentions Enoch in one of the genealogies of Jesus' ancestors; Gen 5:18: Mentions Enoch as the seventh generation from Adam and the father of Methuselah; 1 Pet 3:19–20; 2 Pet 2:4–5; Mt 5:5; Lk 6:24; Mt 19:28; Lk 16:26; Jn 12:36.

 

Until the age of the printing press - Papyrus was made from the pith of the papyrus plant, Cyperus papyrus, a wetland sedge. Papyrus (plural: papyri or papyruses) can also refer to a document written on sheets of such material, joined side by side and rolled up into a scroll, an early form of a book.

 

LXX (Septuagint, Seventy) Ptolemy II Philadelphus (the Greek Pharaoh of Egypt) sent seventy-two Hebrew translators—six from each of the Twelve Tribes of Israel—from Jerusalem to Alexandria to translate the Tanakh from Biblical Hebrew into Koine Greek.

 

Inspiration and Inerrancy: Inspiration from God's errors by human incapacity in the Bible by the translators.

 

The symbols of the 4 Gospels: Matthew = man, Mark = lion, John = eagle, and Luke = calf

 

 

The gospel of Luke (a companion of Paul) and the Acts of the Apostles make up a two-volume work that scholars call Luke-Acts. Luke begins his gospel with a preface addressed to “Theophilus,” which means “Lover of God” and could refer to any Christian.

 

Luke emphasizes the fact that Jesus and all his earliest followers were Jews, although by his time the majority of Christ-followers were Gentiles. Nevertheless, the Jews had rejected and killed the Messiah, and the Christian mission now lay with the Gentiles. 

Lukan source from Old Testament: Ex. "He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty":  Lk 1:53 = Ps 107:9; 1 Sam 2:5.   

 

.......To be Continued....