The Gospel of Luke
Chapter 1
The first four verses of Luke’s gospel are one sentence in the original Greek. They are written in academic or classical style. But then, for the rest of the gospel, Luke didn’t use the language of scholars but of the common man, the language of the street. Through this, Luke said to us, “This account has all the proper academic and scholarly credentials. But it is written for the man on the street.” Luke wrote so that people would understand Jesus, not so they would admire his brain and literary skill.
(V1-2) When Luke wrote, most Christians already knew all about the life of Jesus, both from the oral accounts passed on by the original disciples, and by the biographies that had already been written. This may be a reference to the works of Mark and Matthew as Johns Gospel was written latter, or it might be a reference to other biographies about Jesus that haven’t been canonized.
(V3-4) Having already read Matthew and Mark’s account, Luke wanted to give a third account with an emphasis from a Gentiles viewpoint.
“Most honourable Theophilus” Luke addressed his gospel to a man named Theophilus, but it was also written with a wider audience in mind. By his title (most honourable), we gather that Theophilus was probably a Roman official.
My personal view is both this Gospel and the second scroll making the book of Acts make up a defence brief for Paul (Luke’s dear friend) as at this time Paul was awaiting trial which he could be executed in Rome for the crime of being a Christian. In this Gospel and in Acts Luke clearly shows how Christianity is both the natural progression of Judaism and no threat to Rome.
This was important as Pauls was going to be a landmark case as the Jewish religion was permitted under Roman law, but Christianity was yet to be decided.
(V5-6) This was the man known as Herod the Great, he was not a descendant of Israel, but of Jacob’s brother Esau – therefore an Edomite. He was known for his spectacular building programs mainly his refurbishment of the modest second temple built after coming home after the exiles to Babylonia into “The Herods Temple” we read about in Jesus’ time.
“The priestly order of Abijah” The High Priest of Israel were all descendents of Aaron ( Moses brother) and there were 24 different orders all from the different sons of Aaron.
(V7) I can’t imagine the heart break of not being able to have children, but you have to understand in Biblical times the shame was even greater as it was a common thought that if you could not have children then God was punishing you for some unforgiving sin.
(V8-10) Over the years the number of priests multiplied, there were said to be as many as 20,000 priests in the time of Jesus so they used lots to determine which priests would serve when. The lot to serve in this position could only happen to a priest only once in his life.
To a godly man like Zacharias, this was probably the biggest event of his life, a tremendous privilege, a-once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Surely he wondered what it would be like to enter the holy place, and if God had something special to speak to him in this special event of his life.
It is also easy to imagine that Zacharias asked the other priests who had already performed this service what it was like; asking them if they had any unique spiritual experience when they ministered before the Lord. The whole event was filled with enormous anticipation.
To burn incense: According to the Law of Moses, incense was offered to God on the golden altar every morning and every evening .By this time, there was an established ritual for the practice.
There were several lots cast to determine who did what at the morning sacrifice.
- The first lot determined who would cleanse the altar and prepare its fire
- The second lot determined who would kill the morning sacrifice and sprinkle the altar, the golden candlestick, and the altar of incense.
- The third lot determined who would come and offer incense. This was the most privileged duty; those who received the first and second lots would repeat their duty at the evening sacrifice, but not with the third lot. To offer the incense would be a once in a lifetime opportunity.
Before dawn, hundreds or perhaps thousands of worshippers gathered at the temple. The morning sacrifice began when the incense priest walked toward the temple, through the outer courts, he struck a gong-like instrument. At this sound, the Levites assembled and got ready to lead the gathered people in songs of worship to God.
While the incense was being burned, a great crowd stood outside, praying: When the people outside saw the two men exit the temple, they knew that the time to offer the incense had come. Those hundreds of people kneeled before the Lord and spread their hands out in silent prayer. They knew that at that moment the incense priest prayed in the holy place, in the very presence of God, for the entire nation.
There followed several minutes of dead silence in all the temple precincts – as Zacharias lingered in prayer in the holy place during this, the most solemn experience of his life.
(V11-17) Zacharias probably had his eyes tightly shut in passionate prayer, and when he opened them he saw this angel.
Zacharias must have thought, “Does this happen to everyone in here ? The other priests didn’t tell me about this!”
The angel who appeared to Zacharias was not a romantic figure. This angel was a glorious and awesome creature. Like most angels in the Bible, the first thing this angel has to say to his human is “Do not be afraid.”
“God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son” It is doubtful that Zacharias prayed for a son when he was at the golden altar of incense. First, it might have seemed like such a selfish need. Second, since he and Elizabeth were both very old, they had probably given up on this prayer a long time ago.
Zacharias’ reaction to the angel’s promise was probably thinking, “I don’t know what you are talking about. I didn’t pray for a son. We’re old, you know. I gave up on that prayer a long time ago. I’m praying for the salvation of Israel. I’m praying that God will send the promised Messiah.” Zacharias didn’t know that God would answer both prayers at once, and use his miracle baby to be a part of sending the Messiah!
” He must never touch wine or other alcoholic drinks ” This is probably a reference to the vow of a Nazirite found in Numbers 6. Their son John would be specially consecrated to God all the days of his life, as the judge Samson should have been.
(V18-20) It isn’t that Zacharias doesn’t want to believe this; he does. It is simply that he feels it must be too good to be true, and he has probably protected himself from disappointment by not setting his expectations too high.
Then we have the world’s best ” Do You Know Who I Am ? “
Zacharias paid a price for his unbelief. His unbelief did not make God take his promise back; it just kept Zacharias from enjoying it.
Sadly, many Christians would not consider this a punishment – as they don’t mind keeping quiet about Jesus.
(V21-23) The custom was for the priest to come from the temple as soon as he was finished praying, to assure the people that he had not been struck dead by God.
Zacharias’ delay had started to make the crowd nervous. When Zacharias came out, he was supposed to stand on the temple steps, overlooking the crowd, and pronounce the priestly blessing on the people, and the other priests would repeat it after him. But Zacharias couldn’t speak!
Doing the best he could through hand motions, he told the story of what happened to him in the temple.
(V24-25) Zacharias had normal relations with his wife, as this was not a immaculate conception, that was still to come… Elizabeth did not go away to hide her pregnancy; she was gone during the time when she would be least noticed as being pregnant. She went away to spend time with the Lord.
(V26) This is the first mention of Nazareth in the Scriptures. Nazareth is perhaps remarkable for being truly unremarkable.
Even though Nazareth is in the general region of Galilee, it is 15 miles away from the Sea of Galilee. It is six miles from the closest major road. Nazareth had no good water supply and only one fairly small well in the centre of the village it was unmentioned in the Old Testament, the Apocrypha or in the writings of Jewish historian Josephus.
But Jesus would forever be identified with this place, being repeatedly called Jesus of Nazareth His followers were also called “Nazarenes” and even above His cross He was named from Nazareth.
(V27) Virgin – Now over the past 50 years or so its became almost fashionable to pick at the miracles of the Bible the crossing of the Red sea now crossing the “Reed Sea” by way of a secret path, and here also with the word Virgin in Hebrew being translated as Alma which can mean young women, but in the Greek here used by Luke there can be no translation error as it means Virgin.
She was engaged – Nobody want to break off an engagement, but in Biblical times after you were engaged you were for all purposes married but living in separate houses until you fiancé could build you a home for you both and if you wanted to break off an engagement you had to get a divorce.
(V28-29) The fact that Mary was troubled shows her humility. Mary was surprised to hear such extravagant words said of her.
(V30-33) The focus was not on Mary, but on the Son, to be named Jesus which was a common name. Jesus would be the son of Mary, but not only her son; He would also be, and be known as, the Son of the Most High. Mary knew exactly what Gabriel was talking about because she was a woman of God.
(V34) Mary’s question was logical. She asked the same question Zacharias asked in verse 18, but the difference was how it was asked as his question was asked in sceptical unbelief, and her question was asked in wonder-filled faith.
(V35-37) The word overshadow means “to cover with a cloud,” This cloud was a visible manifestation of the glory and presence of God; this means that the same power of God that was with Moses and others in the Old Testament was now going to do a unique work in the life of Mary.
This expression rules out crude ideas of a ‘mating’ of the Holy Spirit with Mary, like the Greek legends came up with when Zeus comes down and sleeps with a mortal women to have a baby Hercules etc.
He will be called the Son of God. This doesn’t have the same impact on us today because of our unfamiliarity with the idea of being a Son of something. But Mary (and all other Jewish people from her culture) knew what this meant, to be the son of a thing meant being it equal so this child would be equal to God.
your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age –With such an amazing promise, Gabriel also brought evidence, explaining that Elizabeth was pregnant. If God could do that, He could do what He promised for Mary.
(V38) Realising that getting pregnant whilst engaged to another man could easily have meant death for Mary at at the very least rumours about her character for all her life even when Jesus was fully grown it was still said that she was raped by a Roman solider and Jesus was the off spring.
(V39-41) Elizabeth was pregnant so Mary went the considerable distance somewhere between 80 and 100 miles from the region of Galilee to the hill country of Judea for a visit.
(V42-45) John the Baptist had not yet been born, and Zacharias was still mute. Yet Elizabeth believed the word of the Lord given to her husband Zacharias when he was in the temple. In the temple, Gabriel told him that their promised son would “prepare the people for the coming of the Lord”
(V46-56) This song (often called the Magnificant, after the Latin translation of the first few words) resembles Hannah’s song in 1 Samuel . But the whole song shows how well she knew her Old testament as it has loads of quotes from it.
(V57-66) When the time of the birth was near, friends and local musicians gathered near the house. When the birth was announced and it was a boy, the musicians broke into song, and there was universal congratulation and rejoicing. If it was a girl, the musicians went silently and regretfully away.
They wanted to name him Zechariah But Elizabeth said, “No! His name is John!” – Both Zacharias and Elizabeth knew the name of the child had to be John, according to the command from the angel
They made signs to his father: They treated Zacharias as if he were deaf, not mute. This must have been constantly annoying to Zacharias.
Now, Zacharias responded in total faith. It wasn’t “I think his name should be John.” For Zacharias, this was recognition of a fact, not a suggestion.
Even though he had failed before, God gave Zacharias a second chance at faith.
Just as Gabriel said, Zacharias could speak again. It was fitting that Zacharias’ first words were praise to God. His chastisement for disobedience had not made him bitter. Instead, it made him want to trust God all the more, at every opportunity.
(V67-79) The prophetic voice of the Lord had been silent for 400 years. Now, God spoke through Elizabeth, Mary and now through Zacharias. When God spoke this time, it was all connected to the theme of Jesus and His work.
(V80) John would have been orphaned at a young age as both his parents were of very advanced ages. He would have been raised by the Essenes.
The Essenes were a Jewish sect somewhat resembling the Pharisees. They lived lives of ritual purity and separation. They originated about 100 B.C., and disappeared from history after the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70. The Essenes are not directly mentioned in Scripture, although some believe they may be referred to in Matthew 19:11, 12 and in Colossians 2:8, 18, and 23. Interest in the Essenes was renewed with the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls, which were likely recorded and stored by the Essenes.