Trans World Radio – India

Chapter 7

This chapter opens with another meticulous record of healing. In this case it is the centurion’s servant. Although Jesus had no personal contact with the servant, he was made well.

Dr. Luke alone records the raising from the dead of the son of the widow of Nain. He is the only Gospel writer who records Jesus’ raising of two persons from the dead, the other being Jairus’ daughter (8:54, 55).

Also in this chapter is the first of 18 parables that Luke alone records. It grew out of Jesus’ visit to the home of a Pharisee where a woman anointed His feet with ointment. The simple parable of the two debtors reveals that this woman of the street was better in God’s sight than Simon, the Pharisee.

Chapter 8

This chapter records events that are in the other synoptic Gospels.

Chapter 9

This chapter also records events found in Matthew and Mark. All three record the transfiguration. John does not record it, as the transfiguration sets forth the perfect humanity of Jesus rather than adding proof to His deity, and John emphasizes the deity of
Jesus. Verse 29 may give the impression that the light was shining upon Him as a spotlight, but that is not Luke’s intention. Mark 9:3 reads, “And his raiment became shining, exceedingly white like snow, as no fuller on earth can whiten them.” The light came from within. This was probably the original condition of Adam and Eve.

The word for transfigured is from the Greek metamorphoom. The English derivation is metamorphosis. Metamorphosis can be upward or downward:

1. Upward – the ugly larva in the cocoon that became a beautiful butterfly,
2. Downward – death.

In the transfiguration it is upward. There are three steps in the life of Jesus:

1. Innocent and holy – born without sin;
2. Holy in the sense that He met temptation and overcame it (Adam did not meet this test);
3. Transfigured – this is the goal for humanity. In the transfiguration of Jesus we see the hope of humanity.

Dr. Luke alone elaborates upon this detail, as he does upon the contrasting condition – the demon-possessed boy at the foot of the mountain (vv. 37-43). What a contrast! Dr. Luke also gives much attention to demon possession. In chapter 8 he records Jesus’ visit to Gadara and the man in the tombs possessed with demons. This man and the boy at the foot of the mount are extreme cases. He also records other cases, and from these we can draw certain conclusions:

• Casting out a demon is the first miracle recorded by Luke (4:31-35).
• Demons recognized Jesus (4:41).
• Demonism is distinguished from diseases (4:40, 41).
• Demonism is a reality, as real as cancer or fever.
• Demons disturb men physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.
• They destroy the lives of men and bring about inevitable eternal doom.
• Demonism is synonymous with unclean spirits.
• They control the lives of those whom they possess. Victims do not abide by rules and customs of society.
• A demon-possessed person cannot discipline himself – the will is destroyed, leading to strange conduct (e.g., nudity).
• He is abnormal but not necessarily insane.
• The personality is degraded and debased. Ultimately he will be caused to do frightful and terrifying acts (8:27-29; 9:39, 42).
• Demons belong to the spiritual world, not the physical.
• They are behind false religion (1 Corinthians 10:20).
• Demons desire to inhabit persons. Many occupy one person.
• They dread the bottomless pit – would rather go into pigs – pigs would rather die.
• Only Christ can deliver from the power of demons, as it is the power of Satan (8:28; 9:42, 43).

There is evidence of demon possession today. After World War II, with its bloodbath and atrocities in which the finer sensibilities of men had been degraded and deadened, demonism moved into this vacuum. Dr. Kurt Koch, who made a special study, gives many case histories.

Verse 51 is the turning point in the ministry of Jesus. He begins His march to Jerusalem and the cross.

Chapter 10

Luke alone records the familiar parable of the good Samaritan. The final interpretation is that Jesus is the Good Samaritan who found mankind wounded by sin on the side of life’s
highway where religion and the Law went by, indifferent and incapable of helping.

Chapter 11

The two parables on prayer are recorded only by Luke. Most parables illustrate by comparison. These illustrate by contrast. The insistent friend and the sleepy neighbor who would not answer his door at midnight certainly do not illustrate the reluctance of God to answer prayer. God is willing to answer, and He is not asleep; it is we who are not insistent and persistent in prayer. In the second parable, a human father never gives his son a stone as substitute for bread, and surely God is as good as a human father. He is much better! These parables illustrate by contrast.

Chapter 12

Luke alone gives us the parable of the rich fool who built bigger barns in this life but made no provisions for his soul in the next life.

The parable of the steward, who abused his servants because his lord seemed to delay his return, also is unique in this Gospel.

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