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Chapter 13

Luke alone records the incident of Jesus healing the crippled woman in the synagogue on the sabbath.

Chapter 14

Luke alone records the delightful occasion of Jesus going to dinner at the home of one of the chief Pharisees. He gave His host and guests a lesson in etiquette in the devastating parable of the ambitious guest. There are two other parables in this chapter that are in no other Gospel - the building of a tower and a king preparing to make war.

Chapter 15

Luke alone records the most famous parable of all, labeled the prodigal son. Actually, there are three parables in one:

• The parable of the lost sheep - the work of God the Son in restoring a sinning son;
• the parable of the lost coin - the work of God the Holy Spirit; and
• the parable of the lost son - the work of the Father in restoring a sinning son.

Chapter 16

There are 2 parables here that are not found elsewhere. The parable of the steward who used his position to further his selfish ends is another parable by contrast. The children of this world are clever and crooked in the use of money. They do it for their own selfish purposes. In contrast, the children of light do not exercise the same wisdom in the use of money for the cause of Christ in the world.

The story of the rich man and Lazarus is not a parable but an actual happening. The name of the poor man is given here, and it is highly unlikely that our Lord would have made up a name and then, in the same account, introduced Abraham by name. Perhaps all His parables are actual incidents. Our Lord follows these two men from this life through the doorway of death and gives a record from the other side - after death.

Chapter 17

Luke alone records the two parables here: the brief story of dedicated service that belongs to the master, and the healing of the 10 lepers with the attendant thanklessness of the 9.

Chapter 18

The parable of the unjust judge is another teaching on prayer by contrast. God is not an unjust judge who has to be prodded into action by the insistent pleadings of a widow who makes herself a nuisance.

The parable of the Pharisee and publican who went up to the temple to pray shows the different attitudes of people when they pray.

Chapter 19

Jesus detours through Jericho to reach a man in a sycamore tree. Luke alone records this account of Zacchaeus, the publican of Jericho. (See author’s booklet, The Fruit of the Sycamore Tree.)

Chapter 20

Luke records the incident (as do Matthew and Mark) of the encounter of Jesus with the religious rulers in the temple area in Jerusalem.

Chapter 21

Luke records the answer to the first of the three questions asked by the disciples, “When shall these things be?” (v. 7).

And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that its desolation is near. (Luke 21:20)

This section was fulfilled when Titus, the Roman, besieged and destroyed Jerusalem in A.D. 70.

Chapter 22

Luke records the Passover, Garden of Gethsemane betrayal, arrest and trial of Jesus before the Sanhedrin, and the denial of Simon Peter. (See notes on Matthew and Mark regarding these events.)

Chapter 23

Luke follows the other synoptic Gospels in giving the account of Jesus before Pilate, the crucifixion and burial of Jesus (see notes on Matthew and Mark). Luke alone includes the record of Jesus being sent to Herod by Pilate. Jesus’ silence before Herod is startling. Jesus is the final issue of Jacob; Herod is the final issue of Esau. Jesus had no word for Herod. He formerly had called him “that old fox” (see Luke 13:32).

Chapter 24

Luke records the resurrection of Jesus as Matthew, Mark, and John do. Luke alone records the journey of the resurrected Jesus down the Emmaus road and His encounter with two disciples. Although Jesus is in a glorified body, He is still human. He walked with these two down a dusty road and ate with them.

Jesus also appears to His disciples in an upper room and eats with them. He is still human, though glorified.

Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself; handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have…. And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and an honeycomb. And he took it, and did eat before them. (Luke 24:39, 42, 43)

The most important highlight in both instances is His reference to the Scriptures to substantiate His death and resurrection.

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