01.073. LUKE’S TESTIMONY ABOUT JESUS OF NAZARETH (Concluded)
Lesson Sixty-one LUKE’S TESTIMONY ABOUT JESUS OF NAZARETH (Concluded) Scripture Reading: Luke 10:25-37; Luke 15:11-32; Luke 16:19-31.
Scriptures to Memorize: “But he charged them, and commanded them to tell this to no man; saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and the third day be raised up” (Luke 9:22). “For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in his own glory, and the glory of the Father, and of the holy angels” (Luke 9:26). “And I say unto you, Everyone who shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God” (Luke 12:8). “For the Son of man came to seek and to save that which was lost.” (Luke 19:10) 98.Q.What are the outstanding characteristics of Luke’s Gospel?
A. The outstanding characteristics of Luke’s Gospel are: (1) its unusual literary beauty, (2) its absorbing human interest, and (3) its universal outlook.
(1) Its unusual literary beauty. “It is plainly a product of Greek culture. The divine Spirit chose and equipped a rare instrument in the poetic and refined personality of Luke and through him gave to the world that version of the gospel story which is most exquisite in style and most finished in form” (Erdman, ibid., p. 8). (2) Its absorbing human interest. “It is a story of real life; it is suffused with emotion; it is full of gladness and sorrow, of songs and of tears; it is vocal with praise and with prayer” (Erdman). It is the Gospel of childhood, of womanhood, and of the home, the Gospel of the poor and lowly; the Gospel of sympathy, neighborliness and forgiveness. It is the only one of the four Gospels in which are recorded the matchless narratives of the Prodigal Son, the Good Samaritan, and Lazarus and the Rich Man: three of the most absorbing human interest stories in all the literature of the world. (3) Its universal outlook. Not one trace can be found in Luke’s Gospel of the religious prejudice, the dogmatic legalism, or the narrow nationalism of the Jewish people. It rises above all such trifles and boldly proclaims the universality of God’s love and of Christ’s redemption. “Here no narrow prejudice divides race from race: a despised Samaritan stands as the supreme example of a neighbor, the angels sing of peace among men, and the aged Simeon declares that Jesus is to be a ‘light for revelation to the Gentiles’ as well as the glory of Israel. Luke alone gives the data which link the sacred story to the secular history of the world” (Erdman, ibid., p. 9).
99. Q. What is the general theme of Luke’s Gospel?
A. The general theme of Luke’s Gospel is: The Humanity of Jesus.
Luke portrays Jesus as the Ideal Man, the Head of the New Creation, and our Perfect Exemplar. In the person and character of the Jesus whom he presents, all the essential elements of perfect manhood—matchless courage, tender sympathy, unwavering faith, and abiding fellowship with God—are inherent. “The character of Jesus is so subtle and complex as to defy exact analysis, and yet it is evident that certain of its features, common to all, are emphasized successively by each one of the Gospel writers. Matthew depicts its majesty, Mark its strength, and John its sublimity; but Luke reveals its beauty, and paints a picture of the Ideal Man, the Savior of the world” (Erdman, ibid., p. 9).
100. Q. For whom was Luke’s Gospel obviously written?
A.Luke’s Gospel was obviously written for the Gentiles, and for the Greeks especially. The Greeks were an esthetic people. Love of the beautiful was the prime characteristic of their art, their literature, their philosophy, in fact their very nature. Hence Luke presents Jesus of Nazareth as The One Altogether Lovely, the one Ideal Man in whom all goodness, truth and beauty are perfectly and fully blended.
101. Q. What is Luke’s favorite expression?
A. Luke’s favorite expression is: “Son of man.”
Luke 9:22—“The Son of man must suffer many things.” Luke 12:8—“him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God.” Luke 18:8—“when the Son of man cometh,” etc. Luke 19:10—“The Son of man came to seek and to save that which was lost.” Cf. Luke 6:22; Luke 9:58; Luke 17:22; Luke 21:36; Luke 22:48, etc.
102. Q. When was Luke’s Gospel probably written?
A.Luke’s Gospel was probably written about A.D. 57-59. As Luke, like both Matthew and Mark, treats of the destruction of Jerusalem as an event yet in the future, it follows that his Gospel must have been written prior to A.D. 70. (See Luke 21:1-38). “Luke wrote his Gospel before he wrote the Acts, and after Mark wrote his Gospel. The Acts was probably written in Rome before A.D. 64. Hence, Luke’s Gospel must come in between A.D. 50 and 64.”
REVIEW EXAMINATION OVER LESSON SIXTY-ONE 98.What are the outstanding characteristics of Luke’s Gospel?
99. What is the general theme of Luke’s Gospel?
100. For whom was Luke’s Gospel obviously written?
101. What is Luke’s favorite expression?
102. When was Luke’s Gospel probably written?