NEW TESTAMENT
LUKE - SECOND PART
What is the Gospel of Luke about in the Bible? The Gospel of the Savior for Lost People Everywhere.
Who Wrote the Book of Luke?
Christian tradition holds that Luke, a first-century C.E. historian, physician, and disciple of Jesus, is the author of this compilation of stories and eyewitness accounts of the life of Jesus.
Context:
The events described in Luke take place in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the surrounding occupied lands of the Greco-Roman Empire during the early 1st century, between 10 B.C.E and 40 C.E. Luke was likely composed between 60 and 80 C.E.
Curiosities of the Book of Luke:
Literary Styles:
The book of Luke is written in narrative, along with some discourse sections.
Key Themes:
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The upside-down Kingdom of God.
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Israel’s freedom and new covenant.
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God’s faithfulness to his people seen in his human incarnation.
Structure:
Luke is divided into four parts. 1-2 introduce Jesus and John the Baptist. 3:1-9:50 detail the upside-down Kingdom of God. 9:51-19:27 focus on Jesus' inclusion of outsiders. And 19:28-24:53 conclude with Jesus’ persecution, crucifixion, and resurrection.
The Kingdom of God is good news for the poor:
Luke documents how Jesus ushered in God's Kingdom on Earth by creating a new Israel that includes the poor, outcasts, and marginalized. Jesus reverses the world order and elevates the humble. And he offers them a place of belonging in God’s eternal Kingdom and freedom from evil and sin.
And just as this Kingdom is unexpected, so is Jesus’ rule as the messianic King. He will reign over his people through serving and suffering. And his death on the cross ushers in a Kingdom marked by self-giving love and sacrifice.
Jesus’ Upside-Down Kingdom:
The Gospel of Luke emphasizes the upside-down nature of God’s Kingdom—a place where all are welcome and power structures are reversed. It's a place where the poor and humble, the outcasts of society, are elevated to places of honor. Luke emphasizes this through a series of parables about banquets, where Jesus illustrates that all are welcome in the family of God.
