Luke— the Gospel of the Son of Man
01.18.23
For the Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. (Luke 19:10)
As we considered Mark’s Gospel last time, we may have found ourselves saying “How different is Mark from Matthew.” In examining Luke we will at once say “How different is Luke from either!” Though all three cover the same Person and the same ground, yet how varied they are. In Matthew Jesus is presented to the Jews as their King. Mark speaks to the Gentiles, the Romans, presenting Jesus as the Servant of the Lord. In Luke we see Him presented to the Gentiles, the Greeks, as the perfect Man, the Son of Man. Behind each is the direction of the Holy Spirit. Luke has been described as ‘the Greatest Story ever Told.’
Luke, the beloved physician, is also the author of Acts. Both books are addressed to a Greek named Theophilus (‘friend of God’), an otherwise unknown person.
Luke was probably the only Gentile author of any part of the NT. We know virtually nothing of his early or later life. He was a close friend and traveling companion of Paul. He alone was with Paul at the close of the Apostle’s life.
Luke clearly states (1:1-4) that his work was stimulated by others (likely the Gospel of Mark), that he consulted eyewitnesses, and that he sifted and arranged the information under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Luke’s Gospel is the longest of the four Gospels. Taken along with Acts, they account just shy of one-third of the NT.
Luke presents Jesus as the Son of Man. This is the name most often chosen by Jesus for Himself. This messianic title was first introduced to us by Daniel (Daniel 7:13,14).
With Luke’s focus on our Lord’s humanity, he shows Him as a man of prayer, stressing His dependence on His fellowship with the Father. There is also an emphasis on His reliance upon the Holy Spirit.
As noted, Luke wrote to the Greeks, a people of reason and culture. His goal was to demonstrate to them that only Jesus Christ can fulfill their deepest aspirations of manhood.
In light of the key verse listed previously, Luke 15 is important. In parables, Jesus shows His efforts to seek the lost— a lost sheep, a lost coin, and a lost son.
Luke spends much time presenting Jesus’ nativity, and His early life. He is seen as an actual baby and young man. While Matthew’s genealogy goes back to Abraham, Luke takes it back to Adam. He wants us to see the human side of the God-Man.
Since Luke was a physician, it should be no surprise that he displays an unusual interest in medical matters (4:18, 23, 38; 5:12, 17, 18; 7:2, 15; 8:55; 13:11; 14:2, etc.). He also emphasizes joy and music and greatly honors women, children, the poor and needy. The book is full of Jesus’ sympathy and compassion.
Luke writes thoughtfully, carefully. He uses a flowing speech and more polished literary style than either Matthew or Mark. He includes several events and parables not found in either of the other two Synoptics.
Jesus is the ideal Son of Man who identified with and took upon Himself our sorrows.
He offers us the priceless gift of salvation, provided by His shed blood upon the cross. Have you received His gift? It is the only way to the forgiveness of sin and peace with God.