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Luke 6:1-5 Now it came about that on a certain Sabbath He was passing through some grainfields; and His disciples were picking and eating the heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands. 2 But some of the Pharisees said, “Why do you do what is not lawful on the Sabbath?” 3 And Jesus answering them said, “Have you not even read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him, 4 how he entered the house of God, and took and ate the consecrated bread which is not lawful for any to eat except the priests alone, and gave it to his companions?” 5 And He was saying to them, “The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.” Continue reading

Luke 5:1-3 Now it came about that while the multitude were pressing around Him and listening to the word of God, He was standing by the lake of Gennesaret; 2 and He saw two boats lying at the edge of the lake; but the fishermen had gotten out of them, and were washing their nets. 3 And He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little way from the land. And He sat down and began teaching the multitudes from the boat. Continue reading

Luke 4:1-2 And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led about by the Spirit in the wilderness 2 for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And He ate nothing during those days; and when they had ended, He became hungry. Continue reading

Luke 3:1-3 Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip was tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene, 2 in the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John, the son of Zacharias, in the wilderness. 3 And he came into all the district around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins; Continue reading

Luke 2:1-5 Now it came about in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. 2 This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all were proceeding to register for the census, everyone to his own city. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, 5 in order to register, along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child. Continue reading

Luke 1:1-4 Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile an account of the things fulfilled among us, 2 just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and proved to be servants of the word have handed them down to us, 3 it seemed fitting for me as well, having investigated everything carefully from the beginning, to write it out for you in consecutive order, most excellent Theophilus; 4 so that you might know the exact truth about the things you have been taught. Continue reading

Before embarking on the formal introduction of the Gospel of Luke, it will be beneficial to consider some of the important historical developments that occurred in the centuries from the conquest of Judah by the Babylonians, ~586 BC, to the time of Christ. After the completion of the OT canon with Malachi in ~435 BC until the beginning of the NT period in the 1st century AD there is no biblical record. This period is referred to as the Intertestamental Period. We must not conclude that the absence or paucity of a biblical record indicates that this period was unimportant or uneventful. The period spanned an excess of 400 years and was a time of great tumult and flux throughout the Near East and Mediterranean region. Moreover many of the important developments that transpired during this time frame played a significant part in shaping the social, economic, government, political, and religious ideologies that prevailed in Judea during the time of Christ. Continue reading

In chapter 4 Paul begins with an exhortation to stand stand firm and live in harmony. Evidently two believers in the Philippi were at serious odds so Paul appeals for a group effort in resolving their disagreement. After this appeal, he issues some concluding exhortations in living the Christian life such as “Rejoice in the Lord always,” “Be anxious for nothing,” apply the sound doctrine learned, etc. The apostle concludes the letter by acknowledging their financial gift and gives his closing greetings. Continue reading

Chapter 3 begins with a warning against opponents who insist on circumcision as compulsory in the Church Age. Paul re-affirms the “spiritual” circumcision which occurs at the point of salvation. He further asserts that righteousness comes on the basis of faith in Christ and not on observance of the Law. All of his supposed advantages as a Jew, ancestry and accomplishments, he considered worthless compared to the surpassing value of knowing Jesus Christ. Continue reading

Paul begins the chapter with an appeal for corporate unity among the Philippian believers. He instructs them to refrain from being selfish and instead, have a mindset of humility toward one another. The apostle holds up Christ, the glorified God-Man, as the ultimate example of humility. Following the remarkable Christological passage, Paul gives various directives and then provides news regarding Timothy and Epaphroditus. Continue reading