Luke Part 1 Week 1

Day 1 

RECEIVE 

Luke 1:1-2 

¹ Many people have set out to write accounts about the events that have been fulfilled among us. ² They used the eyewitness reports circulating among us from the early disciples. 

As Luke began his gospel, he alluded to others who had written about the recent events. He saw these events as fulfilled promises. The others had used eyewitness reports that came from the early disciples. Luke does not claim to be an eyewitness; instead he is a researcher of what had been reported.  

REFLECT 

Think of the importance of working with reports of eyewitnesses. These would be the primary sources any researcher would want to hear from and write about. 

RESPOND 

Visit with a friend about the eyewitnesses of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. Read 1 Corinthians 15:3-9. Those living when the apostle Paul wrote these verses could have gone to the witnesses still living at that time. Jesus’ physical resurrection was proof that all He claimed was true. 

Day 2 

RECEIVE 

Luke 1:3-4 

³ Having carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I also have decided to write an accurate account for you, most honorable Theophilus, ⁴ so you can be certain of the truth of everything you were taught. 

Notice Luke’s credentials as a researcher. He had investigated everything “from the beginning” and now would write an accurate account. There is some doubt about who “Theophilus” was. The name means “lover of God.” Some think it is referring to all readers, but Luke refers to him as if he is a person. Luke gives the purpose of his gospel in wanting Theophilus to “be certain of the truth of everything you were taught.”  

REFLECT 

As you read the gospel of Luke you can imagine yourself as reading the mail sent to Theophilus. Consider yourself blessed to have a copy of this important letter. 

RESPOND 

As you read the gospel of Luke it will enable you to be certain of the biblical truths you have been taught. If you have not been taught these matters, it will be an authoritative first exposure to these important events.  

Day 3 

RECEIVE 

Luke 1:5-7 

⁵ When Herod was king of Judea, there was a Jewish priest named Zechariah. He was a member of the priestly order of Abijah, and his wife, Elizabeth, was also from the priestly line of Aaron. ⁶ Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous in God’s eyes, careful to obey all of the Lord’s commandments and regulations. ⁷ They had no children because Elizabeth was unable to conceive, and they were both very old. 

Luke documents the time he described. Herod was king of Judea. There were various sons of Herod the Great who reigned from 37 to 4 B.C. Herod the Great had the boy babies killed in Bethlehem. Luke referred to Herod Antipas, the son of Herod the Great who reigned from 4 B.C. to A.D. 39. Luke told the story of Zechariah and Elizabeth. They were godly, old, and unable to have children.  

REFLECT 

Notice that even though people are godly it does not mean all their dreams are fulfilled. 

RESPOND 

With a friend, be reminded of what Herod the Great did at the time when the wise men came looking for the one born King of the Jews. In his jealousy Herod had babies killed. Read Matthew 2:16-18 that tells about this horrible action of Herod. 

Day 4 

RECEIVE 

Luke 1:8-10 

⁸ One day Zechariah was serving God in the Temple, for his order was on duty that week. ⁹ As was the custom of the priests, he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense. ¹⁰ While the incense was being burned, a great crowd stood outside, praying. 

Luke wrote about Zechariah serving in the temple. Notice the sovereignty of God in that Zechariah was chosen by lot to be in the sanctuary to burn incense. While the smell of incense was rising to God a large crowd was praying as they stood outside. This sets the background for what Luke will write about Zechariah as he is in the Holy Place in the temple.  

REFLECT 

Observe how praying was associated with worship even in those early days. That is to be remembered and practiced today also.  

RESPOND 

Visit with a friend about what all is involved in “worship.” The word itself comes from an old English word that meant “worthship.” Any time one is thinking about the worth of God, he or she is worshiping.    

Day 5 

RECEIVE 

Luke 1:11-13 

¹¹ While Zechariah was in the sanctuary, an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the incense altar. ¹² Zechariah was shaken and overwhelmed with fear when he saw him. ¹³ But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son, and you are to name him John.” 

Zechariah was “shaken and overwhelmed with fear” when he saw the angel with him in the temple. Zechariah was told not to be afraid and then came the announcement of an answer to his prayer. His elderly wife would have a son and he was to be named “John.”  

REFLECT 

Imagine what it would have been like had you been in Zechariah’s place and saw an angel. Would you have been afraid?  

RESPOND 

Luke was a physician. Although God inspired what He wanted the human authors to write, they were inspired to write what God breathed out. Included in their writings, however, was evidence of the personalities of the human authors. As a doctor, Luke will give more details about the birth of Jesus than the other gospel writers. Visit with a friend about what you would expect a doctor to write about the birth of Jesus.