Luke “the beloved physician” (Colossians 4:14), the friend and fellow-worker of the apostle Paul and his companion on missionary journeys, here undertakes to set forth the true facts, as he has had them from eye-witnesses, concerning the life of Jesus and the beginning of the Christian faith. The Gospel According to St. Luke is addressed to a friend of Luke’s, otherwise unknown, whose name is Theophilus:
It 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, that thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.1:3–4
Although Luke’s account parallels those of Matthew and Mark, the early life of Jesus is most fully told in this Third Gospel, which contains as well a number of incidents, parables and utterances that are peculiar to it.
In Judea, in the reign of Herod, there is an elderly priest named Zacharias to whom one day the angel Gabriel appears, and says to him, thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.1:13
Six months later, in the city of Nazareth in Galilee, Gabriel appears to a virgin named Mary, and says, Hail, thou that are highly favored, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.1:28
Behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest. . . . And of his kingdom there shall be no end.
Mary says to the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? He replies, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.1:31–35
Mary hurries to the home of Elisabeth who, inspired by the Holy Ghost, greets her in a loud voice: Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.1:42
Mary answers, My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
He hath showed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.1:46–53
Mary stays with Elisabeth for about three months; then she returns to Nazareth.
As the angel has promised, Elisabeth, though well advanced in years, gives birth to a son, who is named John. Zacharias prophesies and says, Thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways. . . .1:76
To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.1:79
And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.2:1
Each man, for this purpose, must go to his native city. So Joseph, with Mary his wife, goes to his own city of Bethlehem in Judea. Here the time of Mary’s delivery arrives:
And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
The angel says, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
Suddenly, with the angel, there is a heavenly host, praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.2:7–14
The shepherds hasten to find Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. They spread the story, to the wonder of all who hear it.
And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.2:40
When he is twelve years old, Jesus is taken by his parents to Jerusalem for the feast of the Passover. Afterwards Joseph and Mary turn their steps homeward; but the boy Jesus, without their knowledge, remains behind. They find him, after three days, sitting among the doctors in the Temple, listening and asking questions, astonishing everyone by his knowledge and understanding. When Mary reproaches him for causing them anxiety, he says, How is it that ye sought me? Wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?2:49
His parents do not understand his meaning.
But his mother kept all these sayings in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.2:51–52
In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar in Rome, Pontius Pilate is the Roman governor of Judea; Herod is tetrarch of Galilee; his brother Philip is tetrarch of Iturea and the region of Trachonitis; Annas and Caiaphas are the high priests.
Jesus, having been baptized by John, the Spirit of the Lord having descended upon him, is teaching in the synagogues of Galilee. Although he is rejected by his own people in Nazareth, his fame spreads throughout the region.
As he sits at table in the house of a Pharisee named Simon, in Capernaum, a woman of the city comes weeping. She washes his feet with her tears, kisses them and anoints them. Privately, Simon scorns this: If Jesus is a prophet, he should know that the woman is a sinner. Jesus says, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee; and Simon says, Master, say on.
Jesus says, There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? Simon replies, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. Jesus says, Thou hast rightly judged.7:40–43
Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.7:47
THE GOOD SAMARITAN
Thou shalt love . . . thy neighbor as thyself.10:27
Who is my neighbor? a lawyer inquires of Jesus.
He replies, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. And likewise a Levite. . . .
But a certain Samaritan . . . had compassion on him, and went to him, and bound up his wounds . . . and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.
Which of these three, asks Jesus, was neighbor unto him that fell among the thieves? The lawyer says, He that showed mercy on him. Jesus says, Go, and do thou likewise.10:30–37
In his journeying, Jesus is received into the home of two sisters, Mary and Martha. Mary sits at His feet, listening to his words.
But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and complains that her sister has left her to serve alone. But Jesus says, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.10:40–42
THE PRODIGAL SON
There are murmurs against Jesus among the Pharisees and scribes, that he receives sinners, and eats with them. He answers, saying, What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. . . . I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons which need no repentance.15:4–7
He tells of a man with two sons, who divides his possessions between them. The younger son leaves his home and wastes his substance in riotous living. Starving, he says to himself, I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.15:18–19
But when his father sees him he falls on his neck, and kisses him, and calls to his servants, Bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.15:23–24
The elder son angrily reproaches his father: These many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment; and yet thou never gavest me a kid. . . . But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.
The father replies, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.15:29–32
Jesus, when the Pharisees deride him, speaks to them of a certain rich man clothed in purple and fine linen, dining sumptuously every day; and of a miserable beggar named Lazarus lying at the rich man’s gate, begging only the crumbs from his table.
The beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom.16:22
The rich man also dies. Being tormented in hell, he raises his eyes, and sees Lazarus; upon which he cries out to Abraham to send Lazarus to him, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue. . . . Abraham says, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things. . . . And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed. . . .
At least, pleads the rich man, if Abraham will send Lazarus to save the rich mans brothers: if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. Says Father Abraham, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.16:24–31
FATHER, FORGIVE THEM
When He has been sentenced by Pilate, Jesus is led away.
And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him. But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children. . . .23:27–28
And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.
Jesus says, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.23:33–34
One of the two malefactors rails at Him: If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. But the other rebukes him, saying, Dost not thou fear God? . . . We receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. To Jesus he says, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. Jesus says to him, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.23:39–43
And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.23:46