Author
Luke the physician, who sometimes traveled with Paul.
Date
Uncertain.
Audience
The gospel is addressed to Theophilus. He is not mentioned anywhere else in the New Testament. The content appears to be oriented at Gentile Christians.
Purpose
Luke explicitly tell us that he is writing in order to create an orderly account of the events of Jesus life as presented by eyewitnesses, so that people will know the truth about what they have heard. (Luke 1:1-4) Luke includes many details that other gospel writers do not. For example, Luke includes details about the dating of specfic events. Theologically, it appears that Luke wants to make it abundantly clear that God’s messiah has come to his people, Israel, in fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy and that the Gentiles are to be included in the fulfillment of God’s promises. The Holy Spirit plays prominently in the fulfillment of God’s promises.
Prevalent Themes
The poor and the marginalized. Luke includes a diverse number of story about people who would have been marginalized during Jesus’ time: women, widows, the poor, tax collectors, sinners, shepherds, the physically disabled or infirmed, lepers and Samaritans. Some of the stories unique to Luke include:
–Jesus raising a widow’s son (7:11-17)
–Parable of the Rich Fool (12:13-21)
–Jesus heals a bent woman (13:10-17)
–Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus (16:19-31)
–The thief on the cross (23:42-43)
Women
Women play a larger role in the gospel of Luke than any other gospel. Again his gospel contains some unique stories about women:
–Women disciples mentioned (8:2-3)
–Story of Mary and Martha (10:38)
–Jesus’ words from the cross to the “daughters of Jerusalem” (23:28)
He also spends significant time recounting Mary and Elizabeth’s roles at the beginning of the gospel.
Things to consider
Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of prophecy. God had in mind centuries before Jesus birth a plan of salvation for God’s people. The early Christians where able to speak persuasively about Jesus Christ from just the Old Testament scriptures. Do you know the scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, well enough to explain God’s promises, who Jesus is and how he is a fulfillment of those promises?
During Jesus’ time, many customs separated the poor and physically infirmed from other people. Many traditions also kept tax collectors, sinners and foriegners outside the norms of the religious community. Jesus seems to have ignored many of these boundaries and went where there was need despite those restricitions. In what ways do you distance yourself from people in need? What people are you uncomfortable being around? Why? What are their needs and how could you meet those needs despite your fears or prejudices?
The Holy Spirit speaks to people and plays a prominent role throughout the Gospel of Luke. What has been your experience of the Holy Spirit? How do you see it at work in your life? The Holy Spirit is a gift from God, given to you to comfort, convict, instruct, and lead you. Paul says in a letter to Timothy, “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but of power, love and self-control.” (2 Timothy 1:7) That is a wonderful succinct way for Paul to capture in words what it meant for him to have the gift of the Holy Spirit. In your own words, what does it mean for you to have the gift of the Holy Spirit?
Lastly, gospel stories are intended to not only just recount the facts of what happened in Jesus life, but to help us understand, believe and follow Jesus Christ. What does the Gospel of Luke teach you about who Jesus is? How does this help you understand, believe in and follow Jesus Christ better?