Gospel of Luke Study

Chapter 1:
Observation

  • Angel Gabriel speaks twice in this passage
  • Luke is writing to Theophilus
  • there are two songs
  • Mary sings and praises God for blessing her to be with child
  • Zechariah prophesies about his son John (the Baptist)
  • every time the angel Gabriel speaks it contains Scripture
  • Mary and Zechariah both quote the Old Testament, the Scriptures (prophecy or Psalms or Torah)
  • v15 - John will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from the womb
  • v41 - Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit
  • v67 - Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit
  • Mary and Elizabeth are relatives v36
  • v66 - neighbours and all of the hill country of Judea people have high expectations
  • v7 - Elizabeth had no child, because she was barren - not because she was cursed!  Luke knew this
  • Elizabeth is old
  • Zechariah was a priest
  • Luke wrote this so that people could have certainty about what was being taught about Jesus
  • which side is the right side? v11
  • v13 - Zechariah was praying for a child!
  • v20 - Zechariah didn’t believe the angel’s words
  • v19 - Gabriel was sent by God himself!

Interpretation

  • John’s birth is the best miracle that could happen EVER
  • Jesus’ birth was the worst miracle that could happen EVER
  • Everyone was well versed with Scriptures, they knew it real well so much that it laced their conversations
  • Luke wanted Theophilus to have certainty because there was uncertainty at the time
  • Angels are intimidating, that’s why Zechariah (the priest) and Mary (the young girl) were both afraid
  • Elizabeth just knew that Mary was pregnant from being filled with the Holy Spirit
  • the Holy Spirit gives power to prophesy v67
  • the Holy Spirit gives power to praise God and praise others v42

Application

  • I need to know the Bible and the Scriptures and word of God way better
  • I need to be filled with the Holy Spirit to do his work, and to praise him, and to prophesy (tell of God’s work)
  • I can have certainty about the events from reading Luke’s account
  • God can work his mighty hand and sovereign grace even through good miracles and bad miracles

Chapter 2

Observation:

  • Joseph is from Nazareth (in Galilee) but originally from the house of David (Bethlehem)
  • David’s home town was Bethlehem
  • Joseph was betrothed to Mary, she was already with child
  • Mary gave birth to her firstborn son, put him in a manger - no inn so they stayed in the stable
  • Angel who speaks to shepherds quotes Scripture
  • Angels praising God speak Scriptures
  • Shepherds identified and correlated the Angels praising and message to something “the Lord made known” to them
  • Shepherds circulated the news around Bethlehem
  • There is a law in the Exodus 2 that specifies the holiness of the firstborn male
  • Simeon had the Holy Spirit upon him
  • The Holy Spirit revealed that he would not die before seeing the Lord’s Christ
  • He came into the Spirit in the temple
  • Simeon quotes Scripture when he praises God about Jesus
  • Simeon quotes about bringing salvation to all peoples and even a light to the Gentiles
  • Anna the prophetess was there in the temple, she worshiped and fasted night and day
  • she spoke about the redemption of Jerusalem to everyone
  • Matthew quotes Scripture when he talks about Jesus becoming strong and growing in wisdom, and the favour of God being upon him (like Samuel and Hannah)
  • Jesus’ first recorded speech in Luke is when he is age 12 and had remained at the temple
  • Jesus says something totally original
  • Nobody (either his parents or the teachers there) understood what he was saying
  • Jesus submitted to his parents
  • Mary treasured all these things in her heart
  • Jesus increased in wisdom and stature and in favour with God and man just like Samuel

Interpretation

  • Mary treasured many things in her heart because she knew that great things were in store for Jesus but also great sorrow
  • If Jesus grew in wisdom and favour with God and man, we should too
  • Jesus submitted to his parents, we should also submit
  • The Scriptures were naturally in people’s hearts at the time
  • Jesus’ parents cared for him (great distress over his unknown whereabouts)
  • The Holy Spirit was active in people’s lives even before Pentecost
  • Even old people like Anna can be worshipping and fasting and praising God and speaking of Christ to others

Application

  • I need to know my Bible even better
  • speaking of Christ to others should be an important part of my lifestyle as long as I live
  • Do I care about where Jesus is right now?
  • I should be submitting to my authorities
  • the Holy Spirit should be evident in my life, at least to other people if not myself.  Matthew knew it was evident in Simeon’s life.