Luke

Luke, Paul’s companion and fellow-laborer (Acts 16:10; 20:610And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavored to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them. (Acts 16:10)
6And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, and came unto them to Troas in five days; where we abode seven days. (Acts 20:6); Philemon 2424Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlaborers. (Philemon 24); 2 Tim. 4:1111Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry. (2 Timothy 4:11)), wrote both this Gospel and the book of Acts. He addresses both accounts to Theophilus, an Italian nobelman—“most excellent Theophilus” (Luke 1:33It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus, (Luke 1:3)). Though we have much from his pen, Luke records nothing of himself. From the Apostle’s reference to “the beloved physician” (Col. 4:1414Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you. (Colossians 4:14)), we know his occupation, and it would also appear from these verses that he was a Gentile (compare Col. 4:11, 1411And Jesus, which is called Justus, who are of the circumcision. These only are my fellowworkers unto the kingdom of God, which have been a comfort unto me. (Colossians 4:11)
14Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you. (Colossians 4:14)).
The Gospel, without at all detracting from its divine inspiration, is marked by the nature of this unique correspondence. It is an account of the Lord’s life, by a Gentile to a Gentile: “That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed” (Luke 1:44That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed. (Luke 1:4)). It is a divine portrait of Christ—a Man among men perfectly meeting their need in grace—His moral glory always shining. In Luke’s gospel He is the Son of Man.
Whereas the “kingdom of heaven” is predominant in Matthew, the “kingdom of God” distinguishes Luke. This expression takes us beyond Israel and the Messiah—“all flesh shall see the salvation of God” (Luke 3:66And all flesh shall see the salvation of God. (Luke 3:6)). Yet even in Luke, the order followed is “to the Jew first, and also to the [Gentile]” (Rom. 1:1616For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. (Romans 1:16)). Its message is to those who were bidden, then to the poor of the city—the remnant—and finally beyond the city to the highways and hedges—the Gentile (Luke 14:16-2416Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: 17And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. 18And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused. 19And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused. 20And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. 21So that servant came, and showed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind. 22And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. 23And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. 24For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper. (Luke 14:16‑24)). In the first three chapters we have His presentation to the godly remnant in Israel (Luke 2:25-3825And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. 26And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 27And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, 28Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, 29Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: 30For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, 31Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; 32A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel. 33And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him. 34And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; 35(Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. 36And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity; 37And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. 38And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem. (Luke 2:25‑38))—the devout few that thought upon His name (Mal. 3:1616Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name. (Malachi 3:16)).
The “kingdom of God” also has an important moral element: “The kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost” (Rom. 14:1717For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. (Romans 14:17)). These moral principles, applicable to all men, shine in the Gospel of Luke.
The use of the word “generation” in this Gospel and elsewhere (Luke 21:3232Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled. (Luke 21:32)) is perhaps confusing at first. However, all difficulties are removed if we simply remember that it is a moral expression. An example may be found in Psalm 12, verse 7. In that instance, “forever” is connected with “a generation”; clearly a lifetime is not in view. In particular, “generation” refers to the apostate masses.
The genealogy in Luke is traced back to the first man, Adam. Jesus as the Son of Man takes up the inheritance God gave to man. The temptations in Luke are presented in a moral order (Luke 4:1-131And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 2Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered. 3And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread. 4And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God. 5And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, showed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. 7If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine. 8And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. 9And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence: 10For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee: 11And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. 12And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. 13And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season. (Luke 4:1‑13)). Beginning with the most basic desire, hunger, the tempter moves on to that which man has by every means sought for himself, power and glory—“and he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son” (Gen. 4:1717And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch. (Genesis 4:17)). The final temptation—more subtle—is spiritual in character, appealing to man’s religious nature.
Unlike the first Adam, the Lord Jesus is triumphant in obedience. In Luke He is ever the obedient, suffering, victorious man. He is the Man of Sorrows (Isa. 53:33He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. (Isaiah 53:3)). Only in this Gospel do we find such details concerning His agony in the garden: “Being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground” (Luke 22:4444And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. (Luke 22:44)).
While all the subject matter of Luke is rich, it is helpful to observe the following divisions: chapters 1-3, His birth until the commencement of His public ministry—thirty years; chapters 4-5, His ministry of grace amongst the cities, towns and villages of Galilee; chapters 6-9:50, His ministry in grace, but in contrast with Judaism (the old garment cannot be patched with new cloth; Mark 2:2121No man also seweth a piece of new cloth on an old garment: else the new piece that filled it up taketh away from the old, and the rent is made worse. (Mark 2:21)), closing with His glory as man; chapters 9:51-19:48 begin with His determination to go to Jerusalem and end with His entry into that city, in between which we have the judgment of those who rejected the Lord and the grace he dispensed along the way—the promises of God are accomplished by grace and laid hold of by faith; chapters 20-21, Jerusalem and the Jews delivered up to the Gentiles; chapters 22-24, the Lord with His disciples, His death and resurrection—the risen Man.