Bible Study series: Luke 10:38-42. Mary and Martha have two different responses to Jesus’s visit. Do you see yourself in one of them?
Category Archives: Luke
Greatest Commandments and Parable of the Good Samaritan
Bible Study series: Luke 10:25-37. These verses are important because they define what the greatest commandments are, and the parable is very beloved and admired.
The Seventy-Two Return, and Jesus Rejoices
Bible Study series: Luke 10:17-24. Their mission trip was a success. Demons were subjected to them in Jesus’s name
Judgments on Unrepentant Towns
Bible Study series: Luke 10:13-16. Not every judgment is equal. Some sins are worse than others.
Jesus Commissions the Seventy-Two
Bible Study series: Luke 10:1-12. Now the circle of missionaries widens to include disciples who were not part of the twelve. Ordered to proclaim that the kingdom of God is near, they too were empowered to minister to people.
Jesus Issues a Radical Call to Follow Him
Bible Study series: Luke 9:57-62. Jesus was firmly resolved to go to Jerusalem and complete his mission. Do you want to join him? It’s all in or move on.
How Jesus Overcame Rejection
Bible Study series: Luke 9:51-56. He was resolved to move on and accomplish his mission. On to Jerusalem!
Who the Greatest Is, and an Outsider Expels Demons
Bible Study series: Luke 9:46-50. People who seem to do the works of the kingdom are not far off. But please note. He was expelling demons in the name of Jesus, not a false god. Don’t discourage them. Instruct them in the full gospel.
Jesus Again Predicts His Death
Bible Study series: Luke 9:43b-45. Jesus knew what his mission was. He’s about to set his face like flint to go into Jerusalem. He told his disciples what would happen, so they would expect it and not be shocked.
Deliverance of a Boy with Unclean Spirit
Bible Study series: Luke 9:37-43a. This was a great deliverance.
The Transfiguration of Jesus, in Luke’s Gospel
Bible Study series: Luke 9:27-36 This is a display of the glory the Son enjoyed before he came down from heaven to earth.
‘Let Him Deny Himself and Pick Up His Cross Daily and Follow Me.’
Bible Study series: Luke 9:23-26. We must crucify our own selfishness and follow Jesus.
Jesus’s Questions and Peter’s Confession
Bible Study series: Luke 9:18-22. Who do you say that I am? How would you answer his question?
Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand
Bible Study series: Luke 9:10-17. He cared for their needs in practical ways.
Herod’s Confusion about Jesus
Bible Study series: Luke 9:7-9. Herod was speculating about who the Messiah was.
Jesus Commissions the Twelve
Bible Study series: Luke 9:1-6. He loves people and wants to reach them with his disciples. He was also training them to go out into all the world (Luke 24:47; Acts 1:8).
Jesus Ministers to Woman with Issue of Blood and Jairus’s Daughter
Bible Study series: Luke 8:40-56. Two females needed help. The daughter needed to be raised from the dead.
Jesus Frees the Gerasene Demoniac
Bible Study series: Luke 8:26-39. Demonic oppression is real. Don’t look for it but don’t deny it, either.
Jesus Calms the Storm, Who Is This Man?
Bible Study series: Luke 8:22-25. The disciples were trying to figure him out.
The Mother and Brothers of Jesus
Bible Study series: Luke 8:19-21. The natural reading is that these are his full brothers, not step-brothers.
The Purpose of Parables and the Parable of Soils (Sower), Explained
Bible Study series: Luke 8:9-15. Are you hungry enough to dig into God’s word to mine its truths? Will you stay with your faith or walk away? Will you let Satan steal the word from your heart? Your soul is at stake.
Parable of the Soils (Sower), Introduced
Bible Study series: Luke 8:4-8. Where is your heart when you hear the gospel? Soft? Ready? Hardened? Anxious? Vulnerable to Satan?
Women Travel and Financially Support Men
Bible Study series: Luke 8:1-3. Women were important for the earliest Jesus Movement before his resurrection, and afterwards.
A Sinful Woman Is Forgiven
Bible Study series: Luke 7:36-50. Jesus set her free from her past.
Jesus Tells the People Who John the Baptist Was
Bible Study series: Luke 7:24-35. John was a great prophet, but the least in the kingdom was greater than he. He was a transitional figure.
John Sends Disciples to Jesus to Answer His Doubts
Bible Study series: Luke 7:18-23. Signs and wonders were proof that Jesus was the Messiah. They prove this truth even today.
Jesus Raises a Widow’s Only Son from the Dead
Bible Study series: Luke 7:11-17. This shows that Jesus is the Messiah, true, but it also demonstrates that he loves people who hurt.
A Gentile Centurion with Great Faith
Bible Study series: Luke 7:1-10. He had greater faith than anyone among God’s people. He amazed Jesus.
Jesus Teaches His Kingdom Citizens to Listen and Obey
Bible Study series: Luke 6:46-49. Build your house on the rock (Jesus’s teaching).
Jesus Teaches His Kingdom Citizens to Look for Character
Bible Study series: Luke 6:43-45. We must look for character in those who minister among us. Character over gifting.
Jesus Teaches His Kingdom Citizens to Be Careful about Judging Others
Bible Study series: Luke 6:37-42. Just be aware that your judgment on others could turn back over on you.
Jesus Teaches His Kingdom Citizens to Love Their Enemies
Bible Study series. Luke 6:27-36. In the Sermon on the Plain, Jesus issues a summons or call to radical discipleship. Have you done anything radical or countercultural, like giving money to your church, when your accountant says not to? Do you know someone who has given all for Jesus, to the point of martyrdom? What is your story?
Blessings and Woes
Bible Study series. Luke 6:20-26. Jesus begins the Sermon on the Plain. He is teaching his disciples, his kingdom citizens. Get ready for blessings and some tough times and trials.
Jesus Ministers to Crowd of Disciples and Multitudes
Bible Study series: Luke 6:17-19. This is a good summary of Jesus’s ministry.
Jesus Spends Night in Prayer and Selects Twelve Apostles
Bible Study series: Luke 6:12-16. Jesus was a man of prayer.
Jesus Heals a Man with Withered Hand on Sabbath
Bible Study series: Luke 6:6-11. Jesus broke down the wall which religious leaders had built around the Torah (first five books of the Bible).
Jesus Is Lord of the Sabbath
Bible Study series: Luke 6:1-5. He owns it.
God Is Doing a New Thing through Jesus
Bible Study series: Luke 5:33-39. New wine in old wineskins?
Jesus Calls Levi and Dines with Him
Bible Study series: Luke 5:27-32. Levi said yes. Let’s celebrate!
Jesus Forgives Sins and Heals Paralytic
Bible Study series: Luke 5:17-26. Jesus had authority on earth to forgive sins. He backed up his claim with a healing.
Jesus Heals a Man with Skin Disease
Bible Study series: Luke 5:12-16. This was one of the signs of the Messiah.
Peter Hears the Gospel, Witnesses a Miracle, Repents, and Follows Jesus
Bible Study series: Luke 5:1-11. Peter’s life was changed. Then he had to be trained and grow into his calling.
Jesus Retreats and Then Preaches in Judean Synagogues
Bible Study series: Luke 4:42-44. Apparently he withdrew to rest and pray, but then the crowds found him and wanted to keep him for themselves. But he told them about his mission. A nice two-verse summary.
Jesus Heals and Delivers Those with Various Diseases
Bible Study series: Luke 4:40-41. These are summary verses that teach us about his entire ministry.
Jesus Rebukes the Fever Attacking Peter’s Mother-in-Law
Bible Study series: Luke 4:38-39. God gives us authority to rebuke diseases.
Jesus Liberates a Demonized Man in a Synagogue
Bible Study series: Luke 4:31-37. The crowd marveled because he commanded unclean spirits.
Nazarenes Accept and Then Reject Jesus
Bible Study series: Luke 4:21-30. What changed their minds? He had a miraculous escape.
Jesus Proclaims the Spirit Is upon Him and Anoints Him for Service
Bible Study series: Luke 4:16-21. I love these verses because they show that Jesus was called and anointed of the Spirit to help people. We are too.
Jesus Enjoys Success in Galilee, in the Power of the Spirit
Bible Study series: Luke 4:14-15. The Spirit’s power came right after he defeated Satan (and right after Jesus’s baptism). Now he can help people through teaching and healing.
Satan Tempts Jesus
Bible Study series: Luke 4:1-13. How did the Son of God defeat Satan? Let’s learn some lessons for our own (scaled-down) spiritual warfare
What We Can Learn from Luke’s Genealogy
Bible Study series: Luke 3:23-38. We can learn at least eight things from this genealogy. (This post was published on December 25. Perfect.)
John Baptizes Jesus
Bible Study series: Luke 3:21-22. Why did John, the decreasing prophet, baptize Jesus, the increasing Messiah and Son of God?
John the Baptist Is Not the One
Bible Study series: Luke 3:15-18. John clarifies who is the Messiah. It is not he.
John the Baptist Begins His Ministry
Bible Study Series: Luke 3:1-6. Luke records that John came from God and confirmed by Bible prophecy, and Luke then situates the Baptist-prophet in his own historical context.
The Boy Jesus Is in His Father’s House
Bible Study Series: Luke 2:41-52. Jesus had a sense of mission at a young age.
The Family Returns to Nazareth
Bible Study Series: Luke 2:39-40. “The child grew and got stronger, being filled with wisdom, and the favor of God was on him.”
Elderly Prophetess Anna Blesses the Baby
Bible Study Series: Luke 2:36-38. She was in touch with the Spirit and active for God, even at her age.
Simeon Blesses the Child and Prophesies
Bible Study Series: Luke 2:25-35. Jesus will make many fall and rise, in the Great Reversal.
Baby Jesus Is Presented at the Temple
Bible Study Series: Luke 2:22-24. Joseph and Mary were following the law after the birth of their child.
Angels Celebrate Birth of Jesus and Shepherds Are in Awe
Bible Study Series: Luke 2:8-21. The incarnation (Jesus becoming a human) is a time of celebration and awe. It has been called the greatest miracle.
The Birth of Jesus
Bible Study Series: Luke 2:1-7. Now God’s ultimate and highest rescue mission to save humanity is set in motion for real.
The Prophecy of Zechariah
Bible Study Series: Luke 1:67-80. The main themes of Luke’s Gospel and even the entire Bible is announced by Zechariah in his wonderful prophecy.
John Is Born
Bible Study Series: Luke 1:57-66. This is John the Baptist. What a calling he will have: a prophet.
Mary Celebrates with a Poem
Bible Study Series: Luke 1:46-56. Mary’s song fits within the flow of OT biblical salvation. It reviews OT themes and major themes of Luke’s Gospel.
Mary Visits Elizabeth
Bible Study Series: Luke 1:39-45. On hearing Mary’s voice, Elizabeth celebrates, and John (the future Baptist), will leap for joy in his mother’s womb. Good poetry, too
The Birth of Jesus Is Foretold
Bible Study Series: Luke 1:26-38. “The Holy Spirit shall come upon you and the power of the Most High shall overshadow you.” Mary was puzzled by Gabriel’s announcement, but she responded with obedience. She surrendered herself to God’s will, no matter how strange it seemed at first.
Zechariah Is Mute And Elizabeth Gets Pregnant
Bible Study Series: Luke 1:21-25. After Zechariah was extra-skeptical, he was struck mute. But the good news: his wife gets pregnant. Trial and blessings often go together.
Gabriel’s Good News, Zechariah’s Doubts
Bible Study Series: Luke 1:11-20. Would you doubt God’s promise even if an angel delivered it?
Zechariah and Elizabeth Are Childless
Bible Study Series: Luke 1:5-10. It is a great thing when God works a miracle in such a sensitive area of a marriage.
We Can Learn from Luke Introducing His Gospel
Bible Study Series: Luke 1:1-4. Luke took great care to write his Gospel accurately. Let’s learn from it.
The Lord’s Prayer in Luke’s Gospel
Some interpreters say it is a model prayer, so we should not repeat it rote. In my view, you can pray this short prayer word for word, or you can use it as a prayer guide.
Parable of the Pharisee and Tax Collector
Luke 18:9-14: Are we humble enough to admit our sins, or do we listen to religion and believe we do not have very many sins to confess?
Parable of the Persistent Widow
Luke 18:1-8: We are challenged to pray and not give up, until we get an answer.
Parable about the Master and His Servant
Luke 17:7-10: This parable challenges us to serve God even when we do not receive applause. Are we humble enough to serve him in this situation?
Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus
Luke 16:19-31: This parable is about doing good to the poor and needy. The parable challenges us not to be like Ebenezer Scrooge in Dicken’s A Christmas Carol. It also explains God’s justice on those who do not help.
Parable of the Prudent Manager
Luke 16:1-13: This parable is difficult to understand.
Parable of the Lost (Prodigal) Son
Luke 15:11-32: The lost son’s father ran out to meet him and hugged him and kissed him, thrilled to have him back home.
Parable of the Lost Coin
In Luke 15:8-19 Jesus loves you so much that he will look everywhere for you.
Parables about the Cost of Discipleship
In Luke 14:16-24, Jesus challenges a large crowd following him to count the cost to be his disciple. It ain’t easy.
Parable of the Great Banquet
In Luke 14:15-24, we are challenged to ask: How long can we reject the call to come into the kingdom of God?
Parable of the Lowest Seat
In this parable (Luke 14:7-11), we must be careful about self-promotion, which is rampant in the American church.
Parable of the Unfruitful Fig Tree
This parable in Luke 13:6-9 is about Israel and Jerusalem and judgment on both. But can we learn lessons about our own unproductive discipleship?
Parable of the Rich Fool
In this parable (Luke 12:13-21), we are called to ask ourselves this question: How attached are you to your possessions?
Parable of a Friend in Need
In the Parable of a Friend in Need (Luke 11:5-8), Jesus teaches us to persist and be bold in prayer.
Parable of the Good Samaritan
In Luke 10:30-37 Jesus challenges his listeners to love their neighbor in need, when religious people ignore him.
Parable of the Forgiven Debtor
Jesus forgave a sinful woman in Luke 7:39-50. This parable teaches us about gratitude for God’s forgiveness.
“Some Shall Not Experience Death until They See Son of Man Coming”
Was Jesus a failed prophet? Matt. 16:28, Mark 9:1, and Luke 9:27 say that some standing there with Jesus would not experience death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom. How can that be true, when the Second Coming has not happened in the past two thousand years (and counting)? The answer will surprise you because it goes beyond the “standard” one.
What Jesus Told High Priest and Sanhedrin Now Makes Sense
Was Jesus a failed prophet? Critics seem to think so because he told Caiaphas the high priest and the Sanhedrin (the highest court and council of Judaism) that they would see him coming, sitting in clouds of glory.
Parable of the Fig Tree and Other Trees
Do you believe the signs Jesus talked about in the first century can carry over to our days?
Did the Centurion or His Emissaries Approach and Speak to Jesus?
Three options can solve the puzzle. Scriptures: Matthew 8:5-13 and Luke 7:1-10.
Parable of the Lost Sheep
God is searching for you, out of his love. He sent his Son to look for you. That’s how much he loves you.
When Was the Temple Curtain Torn in Two?
Wow. Now we have entered the realm of nitpicking to the nth degree. We have to move grains of sand one at a time with tweezers.
Jairus’s Daughter in Three Gospels: Do the Differences ‘DESTROY’ the Truth of the Story?
There are definitely differences in the three accounts of Jairus’s daughter being raised from the dead, in Matthew, Mark, and Luke. But do these differences blind us to the central truth of the story?
Jesus Calls Certain Disciples in Four Gospels. Do the Accounts Contradict?
Are the four Gospel writers all that clumsy, or do they employ the story teller’s art to narrate the story of these disciples from the writers’ own point of view?
Why Did Luke Switch the Sequence in the Temptation Passages?
Scripture: Matthew 4:1-11 and Luke 4:1-13. The second and third temptations were switched in Luke Gospel from the sequence in Matthew’s Gospel. Hostile critics and readers pounce on the differences and conclude that the Gospel are unreliable. Are the critics right?
Was Luke’s Report about a Worldwide Census Wrong?
Luke records that Caesar ordered a worldwide census, during the governorship of Quirinius, in Syria (Luke 2:1-2). Critics have spotted some chronological problems. Luke may have been wrong. Is the problem solvable with sound reason and historical digging?
Common Details in Matthew’s and Luke’s Birth Narratives
Did Matthew really believe that baby Jesus was never circumcised?
Parable of the Yeast
You must be born again to enter the kingdom of God (John 3:3, 5). When you do, your life a radical turn for the better.
Parable of New Cloth and New Wine
We could title this post: “God Is Doing a New Thing through Jesus.” That’s the basic meaning of this parable.
A Misunderstood Biblical Command: “Don’t Judge!”
This is an easy-to-follow word study of key terms in the New Testament and a close look at Matthew 7:1-5. Let’s understand what it really means in context. (I updated this post.)
Luke 17:22-37: Taken Away = Rapture?
What do those verses about being taken away and left behind really teach? The answer may shock many people who have been taught only one viewpoint. I also briefly look at Matthew’s version.
The Lord’s Supper in Synoptic Gospels + Church Traditions
We cannot answer all the questions in this overview, but we can exegete the Lord’s Supper in its original context in Matthew, Mark, and Luke. This post also looks very briefly at 1 Corinthians 10:16-17 and 11:23-34 and John 6:35-59. Then, what do various churches teach about the Lord’s Supper (or Communion or Eucharist)? I am here to learn. I updated this post with information that startled me. I also learned something new from Exodus 12:14. Once more I updated this post!
3. Church Fathers and Luke’s Gospel
The Fathers quoted here lived in the second to third centuries. They are unanimous that Luke wrote the third Gospel, and it was authoritative for them–so it should be for us too.
Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21 and 17 in Parallel Columns Are Finally Clear
These chapters are on Jesus’s discourse about the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple (AD 70) and then the Second Coming, which has not happened yet 2000 years later (and counting). Looking at the chapters side by side clarifies what he really taught. I updated this post.
‘Revenge’ in the Old and New Testaments: Eye for Eye, Tooth for Tooth
Does the Old Testament demand literal retaliation for a wrong? Should an eye or a tooth be gouged or knocked out—physically? What about the teaching of Jesus? Does he raise our vision to a higher calling? How do we forgive a tort or a physical injury? How do we get compensated for damages?
Luke’s Birth Narrative: Pagan Myth or Sacred Story?
Many claim that the birth narratives in the Gospels–here the third Gospel–were merely reshaped copies of Greco-Roman myths. True?
Reconciling Matthew’s and Luke’s Genealogies: Mission: Impossible?
Some scholars say they are irreconcilable, while others say reconciling them is not so difficult. I favor plausible harmonization. It’s all in the family. Bonus: see the American family “the Roosevelts” in a chart for parallels.
God’s Love and Grace in the Gospels and Acts
It’s about God’s love and favor, not yours for him. Great for a series of sermons or Bible studies or your personal edification.
11. Eyewitness Testimony in Luke’s Gospel
Luke researched those who knew Jesus from the “beginning,” his key criterion.
Luke 24
In this chapter, Jesus is resurrected. The women visit the tomb and find it empty. The women are the first evangelists. Jesus dialogues with his uncle Cleopas, brother to Joseph, on the road to Emmaus. Then Jesus appears to the other disciples and shows them his hands and feet and eats in front of them. He commissions them but tells them to wait in Jerusalem for the promise of the Father. Finally he ascends into heaven in front of them.
Luke 23
In this chapter, Jesus is brought before Pilate; then he is escorted to Herod, who was in town. The crowds shout that Jesus must be crucified. Pilate delivers him over to them. Jesus is crucified, and the one insurrectionist who was crucified with him asked Jesus would remember him after they die. Jesus dies, after he entrusts his spirit to his Father. Joseph of Arimathea buried him. The women who followed him from Galilee were there at the crucifixion and the burial. Please see the table of events during Passion week.
Luke 22
In this chapter, Judas betrays Jesus; the Last Supper and New Covenant are instituted; the disciples dispute over who is the greatest; Jesus predicts Peter’s betrayal, which happens. Jesus prays on Mount of Olives. The beginning of his trial takes place. He is hit and mocked. And the council sentences him to death. (See table of events during Passion Week, at the end).
Luke 21
The widow’s generous gift is announced; Jesus predicts wars and persecutions and the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple. He teaches the lesson of the fig tree and all the trees and says the destruction shall happen in his generation. He then says that the Son of Man is coming back (later). He warns his disciples to watch and not get intoxicated.
Luke 20
Jesus has already entered Jerusalem. The authority of Jesus is challenged; he tells the Parable of the Wicked Tenants; he renders his verdict on paying taxes to Caesar; he replies to the challenge by the Sadducees on the resurrection; he says the son of David is the Lord of David; Jesus rebukes the teachers of the law. See the table of events during Passion Week.
Luke 19
In this chapter: Jesus and Zacchaeus have a conversation; Jesus tells the Parable of the Ten Minas (or Parable of the Pounds); he makes his triumphal entry into Jerusalem, weeping over the city; he cleanses a part of the temple. See a table of events during the Passion Week, at the end.
Luke 18
Jesus tells the Parable of the Persistent Widow; the Parable of the Pharisee and Tax Collector. Jesus says to allow the children to come to him. He dialogues with a rich young ruler. He foretells his death a third time. He heals a blind beggar.
Luke 17
Jesus teaches forgiveness, particularly when sins are inevitable. The disciples ask to have their faith increased. Jesus urges his disciples not to expect a loud thank you and thunderous applause for doing minimal work. He heals ten lepers. Jesus teaches on the Second Coming.
Luke 16
Jesus teaches the Parable of the Prudent (or Dishonest) Manager. Then he says the law and the prophets were until John the Baptist, and the Law is still in effect. And he then issues his brief teaching on divorce. Finally, he tells the story or the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus.
Luke 15
Jesus teaches the Parable of the Lost Sheep, the Parable of the Lost Coin, and the Parable of the Prodigal Son.
Luke 14
Jesus heals a man on the Sabbath. He tells the Parable of the Wedding Feast. He tells the Parable of the Great Banquet. He reminds the huge crowds of the cost of discipleship. Salt without taste is worthless.
Luke 13
Jesus tells the Israelites to repent or perish like the ones whom Pilate slaughtered or like those workers on whom a tower fell. He tells the Parable of the Barren Fig Tree. He delivers a woman from a disabling spirit. He tells the short illustration of the mustard seed and leaven. He tells people to enter by the narrow door. Finally, he laments over Jerusalem.
Luke 12
Jesus says to beware of leaven of Pharisees. Don’t fear those who can kill only the body, but fear the one, who, after our death, has the authority throw us into Gehenna. Acknowledge Christ before men. He tells the Parable of the Rich Fool. He tells us not to be anxious about food and clothing or drink. We must be ready, for the Son of Man can come at any time. Jesus came to bring division, not peace. We must interpret the times. Settle with your accuser before you get to a magistrate (a reference to impending judgment).
Luke 11
Jesus teaches the Lord’s Model Prayer. He is accused of his power coming from Beelzebul. Return of unclean spirits; true blessedness is for those who hear the word of God and keep it. The sign of Jonah; the light is in you because Jesus’s message has entered. Woe pronounced on Pharisees and legal experts.
Luke 10
In Luke 9:51, Luke informed us that Jesus set his face like a flint toward Jerusalem, a major turning point. He winds his way there gradually. In this chapter, Jesus sends out the seventy-two. He pronounces woes on unrepentant towns. The seventy-two return. Jesus rejoices in his Father’s will. He tells the Parable of the Good Samaritan. He visits Martha and Mary.
Luke 9
Jesus sends out the twelve apostles. Herod is perplexed by him. Jesus feeds five thousand. Peter confesses Jesus is the Messiah. Jesus foretells his own death. We are called to take up our cross daily and follow him. The Mount of Transfiguration happens. He heals a boy with an unclean spirit. Jesus again foretells his own death. The disciples debate who the greatest is. Anyone not against them is for them. A Samaritan village rejects Jesus. It cost a lot to follow him. In v. 51, he sets his face like a flint toward Jerusalem, so this chapter has a major turning point. It now enters the Travel Narrative, but it is the slow route to get there.
Luke 8
This is a rich and full chapter. Women of Galilee support Jesus and travel with him. He tells the Parable of the Sower and then the purpose of parables. (I also offer an alternative free translation of the Parable of the Sower, based on some interesting grammar.) Do not hide a lamp under a container. Jesus’s mother and brothers are the ones who do the will of God. He calms a storm. He delivers a man with a legion of demons. He heals a woman with an issue of blood and heals Jairus’s daughter.
Luke 7
Jesus heals a centurion’s servant. Jesus raises a widow’s son from the dead. Messengers come from John the Baptist and ask about Jesus’s Messiahship. Jesus forgives a sinful woman.
Luke 6
In this chapter, Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath. He heals a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath. After praying all night, he calls the twelve. He teaches the Sermon on the Plain or high place.
Luke 5
Jesus calls the first disciples, notably Peter. Jesus cleanses a leper. He forgives the sin of a paralytic and heals him, claiming God’s authority and prerogative to do so. The Pharisees and teachers of the law object to his ability to forgive sins. Jesus calls Levi. Questions about fasting: John’s disciples fast; Jesus’s disciples do not.
Luke 4
Jesus overcomes Satan. Jesus begins his ministry. The Spirit of the Lord is upon him. He is rejected at Nazareth. They try to throw him off a cliff, but he walks away. He goes to Capernaum and delivers a man with an unclean spirit. He heals Simon’s mother-in-law and many others. The people try to keep him from leaving, but he says he must preach the good news of the kingdom elsewhere.
Luke 3
John the Baptist prepares the way. Jesus is baptized. Then the genealogy is laid out. He is the son of David and culminates God’s salvation history / story.
Luke 2
In this chapter: the birth of Jesus; the shepherds see angels; Jesus is circumcised; he is presented at the temple; Simeon sings his brief song of praise; the family returns to Nazareth. The boy Jesus, during the feast of Passover, dialogues with religious scholars, and they marvel. His parents lost track of him and looked everywhere. He increased in wisdom and stature and favor with God and man. See the table of parallels between Gen. 11-21 and Luke 1:5-2:52. Luke’s birth narrative does not come from paganism, but from Scripture.
Luke 1
In this chapter: Dedication to Theophilus. Birth of John the Baptist foretold. Birth of Jesus foretold. Mary visits Elizabeth. Mary’s song: the Magnificat. The birth of John the Baptist. Zechariah prophesies.
“Everyone Is Pressed into” the Kingdom
Luke 16:16 has baffled many Bible interpreters. What does it mean in its own historical and textual context?
Quick Reference to Jewish Groups in Gospels and Acts
This is quick reference guide to religious and political Jewish groups who appear in the Gospels and the Book of Acts.
Luke 17:22-37 and 21:34-36 Teach the Second Coming
Those verses in Luke are compared with Matt. 26:26-28 and 36-44, which are about the Second Coming. This post also looks at Luke 21:34-36 and Mark 13:32-37, which are also about the Second Coming.
Luke 21:5-33 Predicts Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
By far, Luke 21:5-33 clearly demonstrate that these verses, which parallel Matt. 24:4-35 and Mark 13:5-31, are an extended prediction of the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple, and not the Second Coming. It is best to read those verses in their own context and in light of Old Testament apocalyptic passages. Then we can have clarity. Please view the photos of the Arch of Titus and the Jewish Menorah, at the end.
Three Options for Interpreting Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21
Things are not so clear-cut as I had thought they were. Please be sure to check out my photos of the Arch of Titus at the end; they show rhe Romans stomped all over the Jerusalem temple.
What Is a Parable?
It is the major technique of Jesus’s teaching, right up there with his direct teaching. So how do we define it?
Works Cited
Here is a list of the principal works referenced or used at this site. More will be added as time goes on, so please check back.