Luke Themes

Themes By Chapter

Book Summary

Dr. Luke, perhaps the only gentile writer of the new testament portrays Jesus in His humanity. Luke tells us of our savior with feelings of sympathy, a savior that can relate personally with all. In a few verses Luke tells us how Jesus developed naturally as a boy and grew in wisdom and favor with God and man. In a few verses he tells us about Jesus in the temple as a 12 year old boy. Luke shows accurately the compassion of our Lord and records more prayers of Jesus than any other book – prayer just shows mans dependence on God. His love is expressed in a personal way.

Christ’s genealogy is recorded to show how He relates to all men. Jesus is followed backward to Adam thus connected with the whole human race. There is a distinction between Matthew and Luke’s genealogy. Matthew is Christ’s legal decent through Joseph, it shows His royal genealogy from King David and it starts with Abraham because it is directed towards the Jews. Luke however is concerned with His lineal descent through Mary, it is personal and shows how the Messiah is linked with the whole human race through Adam.

Jesus is the second Adam and through new birth through the spirit He wants to live His life out in us – it is not about what I am striving to be but what I am in Christ – God is not interested in my works but who I am, God is not interested in the external but the internal for He wants to cultivate character in us, the life of Christ.

Structure: 

1. Preparation of the Son of Man (1:1 - 4:13)

2. The Ministry of the Son of Man (4:14 - 19:48)

3. The Suffering of the Son of Man (20:1 - 23:56)

4. The Victory of the Son of Man (24)

Key Verse:

Luke 19:10 - for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.

Christ Portrayed as: As the Son of Man, focusing on His humanity

Author: Luke