Luke Summary

There are four Gospels in the New Testament—books that tell the story of Jesus’ life—of which Luke is the third: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. (The same man, Luke, also wrote the book of Acts, and the two books are sometimes referred to together as Luke-Acts, although, unlike the books of 1 & 2 Chronicles or 1 & 2 Kings, the Gospel of Luke and the book of Acts were written as separate books, they weren’t just pulled apart later.)

Scholars believe Luke was probably a companion of Paul, and there are times in the book of Acts when Luke uses the word “we” in certain instances, indicating that he was present for those events. Luke wasn’t an eyewitness of the things written about in this book, but he did interview many eyewitnesses to ensure that he got his facts straight. In fact, he states that he wrote the book for a man named Theophilus, so that he could be certain that the things he was taught about Christianity were correct (see 1:1–4)—though I don’t know who Theophilus was, or why Luke felt he needed to offer the man this assurance.

In fact, not only was Luke not a firsthand eyewitness, he wasn’t even Jewish (as the majority of Jesus’ initial disciples would have been), he was a Gentile. This would have made Luke’s Gospel especially helpful for other 1^st Century Gentile Christians; he wasn’t writing specifically to them, per se (though for all I know Theophilus was probably a Gentile), but it still would have been helpful that one of their best sources about Jesus’ life and ministry was written by a fellow Gentile.

Luke fills in more details about Jesus’ early life than the other Gospels do, so much of what we celebrate at Christmas comes from Luke’s Gospel. Luke also emphasizes Jesus’ social impact more than the other Gospels.

Chapter 1: Dedication to Theophilus, Birth of John the Baptist Foretold, Birth of Jesus Foretold, Mary Visits Elizabeth, Mary’s Song of Praise: The Magnificat, The Birth of John the Baptist, Zechariah’s Prophecy Chapter 2: The Birth of Jesus Christ, The Shepherds and the Angels, Jesus Presented at the Temple, The Return to Nazareth, The Boy Jesus in the Temple Chapter 3: John the Baptist Prepares the Way, The Genealogy of Jesus Christ 4:1–30: The Temptation of Jesus, Jesus Begins His Ministry, Jesus Rejected at Nazareth 4:31–44: Jesus Heals a Man with an Unclean Demon, Jesus Heals Many, Jesus Preaches in Synagogues 5:1–11: Jesus Calls the First Disciples 5:12–16: Jesus Cleanses a Leper 5:17–26: Jesus Heals a Paralytic 5:27–39: Jesus Calls Levi, A Question About Fasting 6:1–11: Jesus Is Lord of the Sabbath, A Man with a Withered Hand 6:12–19: The Twelve Apostles, Jesus Ministers to a Great Multitude 6:20–23: The Beatitudes 6:24–26: Jesus Pronounces Woes 6:27–36: Love Your Enemies 6:37–42: Judging Others 6:43–45: A Tree and its Fruit 6:46–49: Build Your House on the Rock 7:1–35: Jesus Heals a Centurion’s Servant, Jesus Raises a Widow’s Son, Messengers from John the Baptist 7:36–50: A Sinful Woman Forgiven 8:1–21: The Parable of the Sower, A Lamp on a Stand, Jesus’ Mother and Brothers 8:22–25: Jesus Calms a Storm 8:26–39: Jesus Heals a Man With a Demon 8:40–56: Jesus Heals a Woman and Jairus’ Daughter 9:1–9: Jesus Sends Out the Twelve Apostles, Herod Is Perplexed by Jesus 9:10–17: Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand 8:18–50: Peter Confesses Jesus as the Christ, Jesus Foretells His Death, Take Up Your Cross and Follow Jesus, The Transfiguration, Jesus Heals a Boy with an Unclean Spirit, Jesus Again Foretells His Death, Who Is the Greatest?, Anyone Not Against Us Is For Us 9:51–62: A Samaritan Village Rejects Jesus, The Cost of Following Jesus 10:1–24: Jesus Sends Out the Seventy-Two, Woe to Unrepentant Cities, The Return of the Seventy-Two, Jesus Rejoices in the Father’s Will 10:25–37: The Parable of the Good Samaritan 10:38–42: Martha and Mary 11:1–13: The Lord’s Prayer 11:14–36: Jesus and Beelzebul, Return of an Unclean Spirit, True Blessedness, The Sign of Jonah, The Light in You 11:37–54: Woes to the Pharisees and Lawyers 12:1–12: Beware of the Leaven of the Pharisees, Have No Fear, Acknowledge Christ Before Men 12:13–34: The Parable of the Rich Fool, Do Not Be Anxious 12:35–59: You Must Be Ready; Not Peace, But Division; Interpreting the Time; Settle with Your Accuser 13:1–9: Repent or Perish, The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree 13:10–21: A Woman With a Disabling Spirit, The Mustard Seed and the Leaven 13:22–30: The Narrow Door 13:31–35: Lament Over Jerusalem

14: Healing of a Man on the Sabbath; The Parable of the Wedding Feast; The Parable of the Great Banquet; The Cost of Discipleship; Salt Without Taste is Worthless 15: The Parable of the Lost Sheep, The Parable of the Lost Coin, The Parable of the Prodigal Son 16:1–13: The Parable of the Shrewd Manager 16:14–18: The Law and the Kingdom of God, Divorce and Remarriage 16:19–31: The Rich Man and Lazarus 17:1–6: Temptations to Sin, Increase Our Faith 17:7–10: Unworthy Servants 17:11–19: Jesus Cleanses Ten Lepers 17:20–37: The Coming of the Kingdom 18:1–8: The Parable of the Persistent Widow 18:9–14: The Pharisee and the Tax Collector 18:15–17: Let the Children Come to Me 18:18–30: The Rich Ruler 18:31–43: Jesus Foretells His Death a Third Time, Jesus Heals a Blind Beggar 19:1–10: Jesus and Zacchaeus 19:11–27: The Parable of the Ten Minas 19:28–48: The Triumphal Entry, Jesus Weeps Over Jerusalem, Jesus Cleanses the Temple 20: The Authority of Jesus Challenged, The Parable of the Wicked Tenants, Paying Taxes to Caesar, Sadducees Ask About the Resurrection, Whose Son is the Christ?, Beware of the Scribes 21: The Widow’s Offering, Jesus Foretells Destruction of the Temple, Jesus Foretells Wars and Persecution, Jesus Foretells Destruction of Jerusalem, The Coming of the Son of Man, The Lesson of the Fig Tree, Watch Yourselves 22:1–6: The Plot to Kill Jesus, Judas to Betray Jesus 22:7–23: The Passover with the Disciples, Institution of the Lord’s Supper 22:24–34: Who is the Greatest?, Jesus Foretells Peter’s Denial 22:35–38: Scripture Must Be Fulfilled in Jesus 22:39–46: Jesus Prays on the Mount of Olives 22:47–71: Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus, Peter Denies Jesus, Jesus is Mocked, Jesus Before the Council 23:1–25: Jesus Before Pilate, Jesus Before Herod, Pilate Delivers Jesus to be Crucified 23:26–43: The Crucifixion 23:44–56: The Death of Jesus, Jesus is Buried 24:1–35: The Resurrection, On the Road to Emmaus 24:36–53: Jesus Appears to His Disciples, The Ascension