LUKE LESSON 1

    The book of Saint Luke was written by the beloved physician Luke.
In Luke we see the "face of a man". Luke in his gospel honors women.
We see the Lord Jesus dealing with main stream people, the working
people, The poor, and especially the lost. About one half of the
Scriptures in Luke are not in the other gospels. Many of the hymns are
based upon events in Luke. "Ave Maria" is a very good example. Luke
was a close companion of Paul and we see similar thoughts in Luke to
Paul's writings. Luke shows Jesus in His manhood.

    Luke 1:1 "Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in
order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed
among us,"

    Here, Luke is telling us that he is not the only one writing about
Jesus. Many of the disciples and Paul wrote of Jesus. A "declaration"
is something you know that you tell. We see, here, that they all
believe.  There is no question about their belief, most surely.

    Luke 1:2 "Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the
beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;" Luke 1:3 "It
seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things
from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent
Theophilus,"

    The Acts of the Apostles was written to this unknown "Theophilus",
as well as Luke. Many believe that Luke and Acts were both written by
Luke for this very reason. "Theophilus", many believe is just all
Gentile believers.

    We see, here, that Luke states that he was an eyewitness of the
activities of Jesus. He is not writing from hearsay. He also calls
himself a minister of the Word. Luke and Paul ministered together. We
see also from this above, that Luke perhaps was there when Jesus
explained the parables, because it says he had "perfect
understanding".  We see also that Luke was a very early convert
because he says "...from the very first...".

    The reason he decides to write is because he has firsthand
knowledge. Many believe that Luke himself was a Gentile but there is
no Bible Scripture which explicitly says that. Perhaps Luke was in the
multitude which followed Jesus. We cannot guess at what time he was
converted except from this Scripture which says"...from the very
first...".

    Luke 1:4 "That thou mightest know the certainty of those things,
wherein thou hast been instructed."

    It seems whoever "Theophilus" is, he is someone who has heard the
gospel and is kind of on the fence. This letter to him is to convince
him beyond a shadow of doubt that all that has been preached to him is
true. Perhaps Theophilus had great respect for Luke and would believe
When Luke tells him that he was an eye witness and knows this to be
true.

    Luke 1:5  "There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a
certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife
[was] of the daughters of Aaron, and her name [was] Elisabeth."

    Luke is the only one of the four gospels that tells of this event
with Elisabeth and Zacharias. Perhaps he knew them. the Scripture is
not definite how he knew this.

    "Abia" was a priest in the time of David. He was in the ancestry
of Zacharias. It seems as though Zacharias and Elisabeth were both of
priestly ancestry.  Luke places the time here as during the time of
Herod. We see here a family who are in close contact with God.

    Luke 1:6 "And they were both righteous before God, walking in all
the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless."

    We see, here, two people who have been raised in the way of the
Lord. Their parents being godly people, have raised them to have great
respect for God and His commandments. From their youth they had been
followers of God and they had not strayed from their early teaching.
They are esteemed very highly by the Lord because their desire is to
please Him.

    Luke 1:7 "And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was
barren, and they both were [now] well stricken in years."

    For a Hebrew woman to be barren was thought of as a curse from
God.  We see two very devoted to God, people who the community is
looking down on because they don't have children, They are past the
time of bearing children.

    Luke 1:8 "And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's
office before God in the order of his course," Luke 1:9 "According to
the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense when he
went into the temple of the Lord."

    The priesthood remained in a certain family who were called of God
to tend to the affairs of the temple. Zacharias was of a priestly
family and his job was to burn incense twice a day in the temple. We
learned in the book of Exodus that the smoke of incense burned twice a
day in the temple is symbolic of the prayers of the saints. This was a
sweet smelling savour before the Lord. Special perfume was to be
burned. And must be burned in the morning and in the evening. this was
Zacharias' job. This altar was before the Lord.

    Luke 1:10 "And the whole multitude of the people were praying
without at the time of incense."

    The people were not allowed to come into the holy place so they
were in the outer court. This burning of the incense, as I said above,
was associated with prayer. This shows us how important it is to pray
at least twice a day.
    Luke 1:11 "And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord
standing on the right side of the altar of incense."

    We see in  this angel (ministering spirit) a messenger from God to
Zacharias. Zacharias and his wife have undoubtedly been praying to
have a child. God has heard their prayer. God has  purpose for this
baby at this time.

    Luke 1:12 "And when Zacharias saw [him], he was troubled, and fear
fell upon him."

    Sometimes when the high priest went into the Holy of Holies with
sin in his life. God would strike him dead. I am sure that is what
flashed in Zacharias' head when he saw this angel. Probably terror
would be closer to what he felt.

    Luke 1:13 "But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for
thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and
thou shalt call his name John."

    The message of God to His own has always been "fear not". This
angel immediately reassures Zacharias that good and not bad has come
to him from God. God has heard his prayer. He will have the son that
he has longed for. The angel tells him that he is not to name him in
the tradition of his people. by the father's name, but is to name him
John.

    Luke 1:14 "And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall
rejoice at his birth." Luke 1:15 "For he shall be great in the sight
of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he
shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb."
Luke 1:16 "And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the
Lord their God."

    We see, here, a statement that might cause you to believe in
predestination, but you must understand that is not what happens to
everyone. This is a chosen vessel, born into the world for a purpose.
God allowed John to come into this family because of their great
devotion to God.  John is to walk uprightly all of his life.  God has
a job for him to do. He is not to get involved with the world at all
(not to drink strong drink).  He is anointed of God even while he is
yet in his mother's womb. We will see this baptism when Mary comes to
see Elisabeth while they are both expecting. The Holy Ghost will cause
the baby John to leap in the mother's womb. When John goes through the
country preaching, "repent and be baptized", many of the children of
Israel do just that. John will be a voice crying in the wilderness
that the Lord is coming. Many will believe and be baptized.

    Luke 1:17 "And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of
Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the
disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared
for the Lord."

    John would be a voice proclaiming the coming of the Lord. His
message was simple, "repent and be baptized". John in this was showing
their great need for a Saviour. In Malachi chapter 4 verse 5 & 6 in
the old testament there is a promise of Elijah, Malachi 4:5  "Behold,
I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and
dreadful day of the LORD:" Malachi 4:6 "And he shall turn the heart of
the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their
fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse." You can easily
see this is speaking of John. If you need more proof, Jesus says John
is Elijah. In Matthew chapter 11 verses 13-14. which is in Jesus' own
words. Matthew 11:13 "For all the prophets and the law prophesied
until John." Matthew 11:14 "And if ye will receive [it], this is
Elias, which was for to come." You see there is no doubt at all that
John was in the spirit of Elijah. He was called Elijah in the Old
Testament and Elias in the new. This is the difference in Hebrew and
Greek. Just as John was a voice crying, preparing for His coming now,
we must be crying "The Lord is Coming".

    Luke 1:18 "And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know
this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years."

    How in the world could Zacharias doubt a message that was brought
from God by an angel? Nothing is impossible to God. Zacharias should
have remembered what happened to Abraham and Sarah. How they had a
child in their old age.

    Luke 1:19 "And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel,
that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and
to shew thee these glad tidings."

    I have stated in the lessons before that I believe personally that
Gabriel is the angel God the Father sends messages by to His
people. Gabriel stands by the Father to be always available to carry
out God the Father's missions. There is absolutely no question that
this message is from God and it is very good news for this old man
with no heir.

    Luke 1:20 "And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak,
until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou
believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season."

    We see, here, that God will not allow unbelief to spread. He
strikes Zacharias dumb, unable to speak until the time of the birth.
He will not be able to spread his doubt.











                           Luke 1 Questions

1.  Who wrote the book of Luke?
2.  What worldly work did Luke do?
3.  Which of the three faces of the beast of Revelation do we see
    Jesus as in Luke?
4.  About how many of Luke's Scriptures are not in the other gospels?
5.  Name one hymn that was based on Luke.
6.  Who was a close companion of Luke?
7.  What is a "declaration"?
8.  Why did Luke feel he had perfect understanding of the Word?
9.  Who is this letter addressed to?
10. What other book of the New Testament is supposedly written by
    Luke?
11. Who do some people believe Theopholus symbolizes?
12. What indicates that Luke heard the interpretation of the parables
    by Jesus?
13. Why did Luke write this?
14. Who was king in Judaea when Zacharias was priest?
15. Who was Abia?
16. What priestly family was Elisabeth of?
17. What kind of life were Elisabeth and Zacharias living?
18. Why were they considered righteous before God?
19. How many children did they have?
20. For a Hebrew woman to be barren was thought to be what?
21. What job did Zacharias have in the temple?
22. What did we learn in the book of Exodus about the incense burning?
23. How often was the incense burned?
24. Where were the multitude praying?
25. When Zacharias went in to burn the incense, who was standing at
    the right of the incense altar?
26. When Zacharias saw him, what effect did it have on him? why?
27. What was the first thing he said to Zacharias?
28. What message did he bring that Zacharies did not believe?
29. What break with tradition does he tell Zacharies to do?
30. What two things shall this son not touch?
31. What unusual thing shall happen to him in his mother's womb?
32. What will John's message to the people be?
33. Who will John be in the spirit and power of?
34. In Malachi 4:5-6. who is promised to come?
35. Who did Jesus say this is in Matthew 11:13-14?
36. Why is Elijah and Elias the same person with different names?
37. Why does Zacharias not believe the angel?
38. What is this angel's name?
39. Who does the author believe the angel is?
40. What will happen to Zacharias because he does not believe?
41. What will God not allow from His people?