The Four Gospels: More on Luke

Details of Luke’s Gospel

Luke is referred to as the gospel of Great Pardons. These stories of pardon are found only in Luke: The sinful woman (Luke 7:36-50), b) The despised tax collector (Zacchaeus in Luke 19) and c) The penitent thief (Luke 23).

Luke has also been termed the “ecumenical” gospel because it proclaims good news to the last, the least, and the lost.

Notice the movement in Luke. The action moves to Jerusalem, and then Acts moves broadly in the opposite direction, away from the city. Luke places at the central point, the heart of his books - the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus… this is the key moment Luke is pointing to. (Chiasm)

The Backbone of Luke’s Gospel

The Central section (The journey to Jerusalem 9:51-19:27) has at least one parable per chapter - with the intensity steadily increasing in 15-19 which has been called “The Gospel of the Outcast”. Luke has more parables that either Mark or Matthew. The parables in Luke are indispensable in telling THE STORY related by Luke. The story is

1. The universal outreach of the good news to outcasts/the marginalized (Samaritans, Gentiles, women).

2. Prayer

3. Possessions

4. Table Fellowship

5. Joy

6. Repentance

7. Grace

Many of your favorite parables are found in Luke - Prodigal Son, Good Samaritan, Pharisee and the Publican. Luke knows how to retell a good story well. Luke carries a tone of mercy and grace. Luke’s parables are full of “grace” notes.

At the heart of Luke is the great chapter of Luke 15 (Parables of the Lost Sheep, Lost Coin, Lost/Prodigal Son). The theme is that things are Lost, then they are Found, and there is Shared Joy. The communal aspect of shared joy is important to Luke.

These stories are not nice stories, but they are shocking because they seem ridiculous by human standards. Here we have the core of Luke’s Gospel: God’s Amazing Grace which looks like foolishness to the world (i.e. the cross).

This highlighted grace is displayed against a backdrop of self-righteous protest from Jesus’ opponents. Luke’s Banquet emphasis is a continuation of the Grace/Mercy theme. Not only does Jesus eat with publicans and sinners (he even calls them his friends), but 3 times in Luke, Jesus also is seen to be eating with the Pharisees (the establishment). Jesus’ table fellowship frequently is the setting for Lukan parables and is itself an enacted parable.