Luke: To seek and save the lost

Where Luke sits

In the story

Act V, Christ

In the Bible

New Testament · Gospels · book 42 of 66

Before it in the story

Mark

After it in the story

John

The third Gospel and the first volume of a two-part work: from the promise of John's birth in the temple to the ascension, it shows God keeping His word in Jesus and prepares for Acts, where the same risen Lord pours out the Spirit and sends the gospel from Jerusalem to the nations.

Luke summary

Luke wrote so that Theophilus might know the certainty of what he had been taught (1:1–4). He begins in the temple, where Gabriel promises a son to the old priest Zechariah, and in Nazareth, where the same angel tells the virgin Mary that she will bear the Son of the Most High, heir of David's endless throne; the songs of Mary and Zechariah praise God for remembering His oath to Abraham (1:5–2:52). John prepares the way, the Father owns Jesus at His baptism, the genealogy runs back to Adam, and the Son stands firm in the wilderness (3:1–4:13). At Nazareth Jesus reads Isaiah 61 and says, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing,” and through Galilee He calls sinners, heals, forgives, teaches and raises the dead, until Peter confesses Him the Christ and He is transfigured (4:14–9:50). Then He resolutely sets out for Jerusalem: on the long journey He sends out the seventy-two, teaches prayer, tells the parables of the Samaritan and the lost sheep, coin and son, warns the proud and the rich, and saves Zacchaeus (9:51–19:27). He enters Jerusalem as King, weeps over it, teaches in the temple and foretells its fall and His coming (19:28–21:38). At the Passover He gives the new covenant in His blood; He is betrayed, condemned though innocent, and crucified, and He promises a dying thief paradise (22–23). Risen, He opens the Scriptures to show that Moses, the prophets and the psalms spoke of Him, sends His witnesses to all nations, and ascends, while the disciples return to the temple with great joy (24).

Luke in context

Written by

Luke, the beloved physician and Paul's companion (Col 4:14; 2 Tim 4:11; Philem 24), who also wrote Acts for the same Theophilus (Acts 1:1). Not an eyewitness himself, he drew on those who were eyewitnesses and servants of the word (1:2); the passages in Acts where the narrator says we place him with Paul (Acts 16:10–17; 20:5–21:18; 27:1–28:16), and from the second century the church named him without dispute. He was probably a Gentile (Col 4:10–14).

Written to

Theophilus, “most excellent,” probably a man of rank already instructed in the faith (1:3–4), and with him believers, many of them Gentiles, for whom Luke explains Jewish customs and places (22:1; 23:51) and dates events by Roman rulers (2:1–2; 3:1)

Setting

Judea and Galilee under Rome, from the days of Herod the Great (1:5) through a ministry dated by Tiberius, Pilate, Herod Antipas and the high priests Annas and Caiaphas (3:1–2), to the death, resurrection and ascension at Jerusalem and Bethany (24:50); written probably during Paul's imprisonments, perhaps at Caesarea or Rome

When

Events c. 6/5 BC – AD 30. Written before Acts, which ends with Paul under house arrest about AD 62 without recording his trial, his death or Jerusalem's fall (Acts 28:30–31), so probably c. AD 60–62, possibly a little earlier from Caesarea. Jesus' words about the siege of Jerusalem (19:43–44; 21:20–24) are prophecy, not hindsight. Many critical scholars date it AD 80–90.

Why

That Theophilus might know the certainty of what he had been taught (1:4): to set out in order, from eyewitness testimony, how God kept His promises in Jesus, the Savior who came to seek and to save the lost (19:10); to show why many in Israel refused Him while salvation reached the poor, sinners and Gentiles; and to show from the risen Lord's own words that all the Scriptures spoke of Christ's sufferings, His glory, and the gospel for all nations (24:25–27, 44–47).

Themes of Luke

• The Savior of the lost
• Christ in all the Scriptures
• The Son of David and Son of God
• The Holy Spirit
• Prayer
• Grace for the lowly
• Jerusalem and the temple
• Joy and praise
• The kingdom now and coming
• The cost of following

Key verses in Luke

• Luke 1:3–4

  Therefore, having carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.

• Luke 1:32–33

  He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever. His kingdom will never end!”

• Luke 2:11

  Today in the city of David a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord!

• Luke 4:18–21

  “The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Then He rolled up the scroll, returned it to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fixed on Him, and He began by saying, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

• Luke 9:51

  As the day of His ascension approached, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.

• Luke 19:10

  For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

• Luke 22:20

  In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is poured out for you.

• Luke 24:27

  And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them what was written in all the Scriptures about Himself.

• Luke 24:44–47

  Jesus said to them, “These are the words I spoke to you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about Me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms.” Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. And He told them, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and in His name repentance and forgiveness of sins will be proclaimed to all nations, beginning in Jerusalem.

Luke chapter by chapter

Part 1 · Prologue: an orderly account 1:1–4

Part 2 · The birth and growth of the Lord 1:5–2:52

1. 1
   Luke 1: God remembers His holy covenant

   God promises John the forerunner and Jesus, Son of the Most High and David's heir, keeping His oath to Abraham.

2. 2
   Luke 2: A Savior, Christ the Lord

   The Savior is born in David's city, hailed by angels and Simeon, and found at twelve in His Father's house.

Part 3 · Preparation for ministry 3:1–4:13

1. 3
   Luke 3: Prepare the way for the Lord

   John calls Israel to repent; the Father owns Jesus as His beloved Son, whose line runs back to Adam.

Part 4 · The ministry in Galilee 4:14–9:50

1. 4
   Luke 4: Today this Scripture is fulfilled

   The Spirit-filled Son defeats the devil, declares Isaiah's year of release fulfilled, and is rejected at Nazareth.

2. 5
   Luke 5: Not the righteous, but sinners

   Jesus calls fishers of men, cleanses and forgives, eats with sinners, and brings a newness old forms cannot hold.

3. 6
   Luke 6: Lord of the Sabbath; blessed are you who are poor

   The Lord of the Sabbath names the Twelve and teaches them to love enemies and build on His words.

4. 7
   Luke 7: God has visited His people

   Jesus heals, raises the dead and forgives, showing that God has visited His people, while the proud refuse Him.

5. 8
   Luke 8: Hear the word of God and carry it out

   Jesus teaches how to hear God's word and shows His power over storm, demons, disease and death.

6. 9
   Luke 9: The Christ of God must suffer

   Confessed as the Christ, Jesus foretells His suffering, is transfigured, and resolutely sets out for Jerusalem.

Part 5 · The journey to Jerusalem 9:51–19:27

1. 10
   Luke 10: Your names are written in heaven

   The seventy-two announce the kingdom; Jesus thanks the Father, then teaches neighbor-love and hearing His word.

2. 11
   Luke 11: Lord, teach us to pray

   Jesus teaches prayer to the giving Father, casts out demons by God's finger, and rebukes a sign-seeking generation.

3. 12
   Luke 12: Do not be afraid, little flock

   Fear God, not men; be rich toward God, free from worry, and ready as servants awaiting their Lord's return.

4. 13
   Luke 13: Unless you repent

   Repent or perish: the kingdom grows, the door is narrow, and Jesus presses on to Jerusalem, which kills the prophets.

5. 14
   Luke 14: Compel them to come in

   At a Pharisee's table Jesus teaches humility, tells of the great supper, and spells out the cost of following Him.

6. 15
   Luke 15: The joy of finding the lost

   God seeks the lost and heaven rejoices when they are found: the sheep, the silver coin, and the son.

7. 16
   Luke 16: Use wealth in light of eternity

   Serve God, not money; the law stands as the kingdom is preached; the rich man heeded Moses too late.

8. 17
   Luke 17: Faith, gratitude and the coming kingdom

   Forgive and serve; a Samaritan gives thanks; the kingdom is here, and the Son of Man's day will come suddenly.

9. 18
   Luke 18: Receive the kingdom with empty hands

   Keep praying; God justifies the humble sinner; receive the kingdom as a child; the Son of David gives sight.

10. 19
    Luke 19: The King comes to Jerusalem

    Salvation comes to Zacchaeus; the departing King will return to judge; Jesus enters Jerusalem as King and weeps over it.

Part 6 · The King in Jerusalem 19:28–21:38

1. 20
   Luke 20: The rejected Son and David’s Lord

   In the temple Jesus silences His challengers: He is the rejected beloved Son, Lord of the living, and David's Lord.

2. 21
   Luke 21: The temple falls; the Son of Man comes

   Jesus foretells the temple's fall and Jerusalem's desolation, then His coming in glory: watch and pray.

Part 7 · Suffering, death, resurrection and ascension 22:1–24:53

1. 22
   Luke 22: The new covenant and the willing Savior

   At the Passover Jesus gives the new covenant in His blood, prays in anguish, and is betrayed, denied and condemned.

2. 23
   Luke 23: The innocent King dies for sinners

   Declared innocent yet condemned, the King is crucified, opens paradise to a thief, dies, and is buried.

3. 24
   Luke 24: The risen Christ opens the Scriptures

   The risen Christ shows that all the Scriptures speak of Him, sends His witnesses to the nations, and ascends.

See the outline of Luke