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Luk 1:5. Ἐγένετο, there was) Following close upon the Preface itself, Luke exhibits the History of Jesus Christ from His entrance into the world, up to the time of His ascension into heaven. In this History we may note-
I. THE BEGINNING: wherein we have
1. The conception of John, Luk 1:5-25
2. The conception of Jesus Himself, Luk 1:26-56
3. The nativity and circumcision of John: the hymn of Zacharias: the youth of John, Luk 1:57-80
4. Jesus Christ’s (a) Nativity, Luk 2:1-20
(b) Circumcision and name given, Luk 2:21
(c) Presentation to the Lord in the temple, Luk 2:22-38
(d) His own country and growth, Luk 2:39-40
II. THE MIDDLE: when He was twelve years of age, and subsequently, Luk 2:41-52
III. HIS COURSE [MINISTRY] itself.
1. The entrance on it: wherein is described the Baptist; His baptism, His temptation, Luk 3:1-2; Luk 3:21-22; Luk 4:1-13
2. The acceptable year in Galilee,
A. Set forth before His hearers at Nazareth, Luk 4:14-30
B. Made good in actual performance:
α. At Capernaum, and in that region. Here are to be noted-
1. His acts not censured by his adversaries; whereby Jesus
1. Powerfully teaches, Luk 4:31-32
2. Delivers one demoniacally possessed, Luk 4:33-37
3. Cures the mother-in-law of Peter, and many sick persons, Luk 4:38-41
4. Teaches everywhere, Luk 4:42-44
5. Calls Peter, and also James and John, Luk 5:1-11
6. Cleanses the leper, Luk 5:12-16
2. His acts censured by His adversaries, and that with gradually increasing severity.
To this class belong-
1. The man with palsy, Luk 5:17-26
2. The call of Levi, and the eating with publicans and sinners, Luk 5:27-32
3. The question as to fasting answered, Luk 5:33-39
4. The plucking of the ears of corn, Luk 6:1-5
5. The withered hand restored, and the plotting against Jesus, Luk 6:6-11
3. His acts, of which the issue [result] was different in the case of the different persons with whom He had to do:
1. In the case of His chosen apostles, Luk 6:12-16
2. In the case of His other hearers, Luk 6:17-18; Luk 6:20-49
3. In the case of the centurion, Luk 7:1-10
4. In the case of the disciples of John, in connection with whom we have-
a. The occasion of the raising of the young man at Nain, Luk 7:11-18
b. The embassy from John, Luk 7:18-23
c. The reproof, Luk 7:24-35
5. In the case of Simon the Pharisee, and the sinner, the woman who showed Him much love, Luk 7:36-50
6. In the case of His own immediate attendants, Luk 8:1-3
7. In the case of the people, Luk 8:4-18
8. In the case of His mother and brethren, Luk 8:19-21
β. On the sea, Luk 8:22-26
And beyond the sea, Luk 8:27-39
γ. On this side of the sea, again:
1. Jairus, and the woman with the issue of blood, Luk 8:40-56
2. The apostles sent forth, Luk 9:1-6
3. The doubts of Herod, Luk 9:7-9
4. The report of the apostles, Luk 9:10
5. The eagerness of the people: the kindness of the Lord: the five thousand fed, Luk 9:11-17
3. The preparation for His passion, etc.
A. The recapitulation of His doctrine concerning the person of Jesus Christ. Silence enjoined; His passion foretold; following Him enjoined, Luk 9:18-19; Luk 9:21-27
B. His transfiguration on the mountain; the lunatic healed; His passion again foretold; humility and moderation commanded, Luk 9:28-29; Luk 9:37-38; Luk 9:43-44; Luk 9:46-47; Luk 9:49-50
C. His great journey to Jerusalem when about to suffer. Herein we may fix eighteen intervals [incidents marking divisions]:
I. THE SAMARITANS, unwilling to receive Him, yet tolerated, Luk 9:51-57
II. On the way: unsuitable followers repulsed: suitable ones constrained, Luk 9:57-62
III. AFTERWARDS, seventy messengers sent before Him: and received back with joy Luk 10:1-24
AND a lawyer taught love to his neighbour by the example of the Samaritan, Luk 10:25-37
IV. In a certain village, Mary preferred to Martha, Luk 10:38-42
V. In a certain place, the disciples are taught to pray, Luk 11:1-13
In a certain place, the demon is cast out: this act is defended, Luk 11:14-26
In a certain place, the exclamation of the woman of the company is corrected, Luk 11:27-28
In a certain place, the people who were eagerly desirous of a sign, are reproved, Luk 11:29-36
VI. In a certain house, the Pharisees and Scribes are refuted, Luk 11:37-38; Luk 11:45-54
VII. A discourse is addressed to the disciples, Luk 12:1-12
A discourse is addressed to one interrupting Him with a request, Luk 12:13-21
A discourse is addressed to the disciples, Luk 12:22-40
A discourse is addressed to Peter, Luk 12:41-53
A discourse is addressed to the people, Luk 12:54-59
VIII. The need of repentance is shown, Luk 13:1-9
In the synagogue the woman is healed on the Sabbath, the kingdom of God thus increasing as the mustard-seed, Luk 13:10-21
IX. On the journey, He declares the fewness of those about to be saved, Luk 13:22-30
X. On that day Herod is called a fox; Jerusalem is reproved, Luk 13:31-35
XI. In the house of the Pharisee, a man with a dropsy is healed on the Sabbath, Luk 14:1-6
Humility is taught, Luk 14:7-11
True hospitality, Luk 14:12-14
The principle [ratio] of the great feast, Luk 14:15-24
Self-denial required, Luk 14:25-35
XII. Joy over repenting sinners is defended, Luk 15:1-2; Luk 15:11-12
Their duty as stewards is enjoined on the disciples, Luk 16:1-13
And the avarice and derision of the Pharisees are refuted, Luk 16:14-31
They are cautioned against ‘Offences,’ Luk 17:1-4
The faith of the apostles is increased, Luk 17:5-10
XIII. On the borders of Samaria and Galilee, He cures ten lepers, Luk 17:11-19
XIV. He answers the question as to the time of the coming of the kingdom of God, Luk 17:20-37
He recommends continual and humble prayer, Luk 18:1-2; Luk 18:9-14
XV. He blesses little children, Luk 18:15-17
He answers the rich ruler, Luk 18:18-27
And Peter, Luk 18:28-30
XVI. He foretells the Passion a third time, Luk 18:31-34
XVII. Nigh Jericho, a blind man given sight, Luk 18:35-43
XVIII. In Jericho, salvation is conferred on Zaccheus, Luk 19:1-10
An answer is given as to the sudden appearance of the kingdom of God, Luk 18:11-28
4. His acts at Jerusalem.
A. The first days of the great week.
1. His royal entry into Jerusalem, Luk 19:29-44
2. In the temple,
α. The abuse of it corrected and chastised, Luk 19:45-46
β. Its right use restored, Luk 19:47-48
And vindicated, Luk 20:1-8
3. Discourses in the temple:
α. The parable concerning the husbandmen, Luk 20:9-19
β. The answer concerning the tribute-money, Luk 20:20-26
And concerning the resurrection, Luk 20:27-40
γ. The question concerning David’s Lord, Luk 20:41-44
δ. The disciples warned of the Scribes, Luk 20:45-47
ε. The widow’s offering praised, Luk 21:1-4
4. The end foretold, of the temple, of the city, of the universe, Luk 21:5-6; Luk 21:8-9; Luk 21:25-26; Luk 21:28-29
5. The covenant of His adversaries and the traitor, Luk 22:1-6
B. Thursday.
a. The preparations for the Passover made by Peter and John, Luk 22:7-13
b. The Supper, and words spoken at it, Luk 22:14-23
c. Who is the greatest? Luk 22:24-30
Peter and the rest of the disciples are admonished, Luk 22:31-32; Luk 22:35-38
d. On the Mount of Olives:
1. Jesus prays to the Father, is strengthened by an angel, and rouses His disciples Luk 22:39-46
2. Is betrayed: is unseasonably defended [by Peter’s sword] against His assailants. Bears Himself holily, Luk 22:47-53
e. Being seized, He is led into the high priest’s house, Luk 22:54
Peter denies Him and weeps, Luk 22:55-62
The Lord is mocked, Luk 22:63-65
C. Friday.
α. His Passion and Death. His acts,
1. In the Council, etc., Luk 22:66-71
2. In the Governor’s hall, Luk 23:1-5
3. Before Herod, Luk 23:6-12
4. Again in the Governor’s hall, Luk 23:13-14; Luk 23:17-25
5. On the way to the cross, Luk 23:26-32
6. At Golgotha; where we have the description of-
a. The cross itself; and Jesus’ prayer for their forgiveness, Luk 23:33-34
b. The parting of His garments, Luk 23:34-35
c. The taunts uttered against Him, and among these the inscription on the Cross Luk 23:35-39
d. One of the robbers, however, converted, Luk 23:40-43
e. The miraculous portents, and the death of Jesus, Luk 23:44-46
f. The spectators, Luk 23:47-49
β. His burial, Luk 23:50-53
D. The preparation and the Sabbath, Luk 23:54-56
E. The Insurrection: it becomes known-
a. To the women, Luk 24:1-12
b. To two going into the country, and to Simon, Luk 24:13-35
c. To the rest also, Luk 24:36-37; Luk 24:44-45
F. The instruction of the apostles; the Ascension of our Lord; the joyous alacrity of the apostles, Luk 24:46-53
-Ἡρώδου, of Herod) All the particulars are set down clearly: the names, the times, and the places. [Not a few of the false prophets-for instance, Mahomet-without premeditated foresight, have by slow and imperceptible degrees gained over parties of retainers, and afterwards deceived both themselves and others: accordingly, the circumstances of their birth and their condition, in their early years, are in the case of such impostors unknown, unworthy of trust, and fictitious. But the conception of Jesus Christ, His nativity, His infancy, His boyhood, etc., are supported as to their credibility by signally striking proofs. From eternity God hath definitely foreordained them, and hath by His ancient prophets declared them, and confirms their fulfilment subsequently by the instrumentality of irrefragable witnesses.-Harm., p. 59.]-τῆς Ἰουδαίας, of Judea) The theatre or scene of all the events.-ἱερεὺς, priest) not the high priest, but one from among the regular courses of priests.-ἐξ ἐφημερίας Ἀβιά, of the course of Abia) The priests were divided into twenty-four courses or classes: and the course of Abia was the eighth, according to 1Ch 24:10 [Abijah = Abia]. Ἐφημερία in the usage of the LXX. answers to the Hebrew מחלקת, sometimes also משמרת. Each course in its order had the discharge of the priestly duties devolving on it for seven days, from Sabbath to Sabbath. [Hence it is allowable to infer that Zacharias discharged his turn of duty from the 2d of September to the 9th of September: see Ord. Temp., pp. 230, 231 (Ed. ii. pp. 200, 201): and the 2d of September that year among the people of Israel corresponded to the I. Tisri. Behold how, at the commencement of the year,[4] simultaneously with the angel’s message which was brought to Zachariah, the New Testament took its commencement.-V. g.]
[4] By the express direction of Moses the year began with Nisan (Exo 12:2, Num 9:1). But this was the ecclesiastical year regulating the festivals; whereas the civil year began, as it begins now, with the month Tisri. The reason which the Rabbins assign for the month Tisri beginning the year is, that it was the month in which creation took place. If this be true, it is appropriate that the New Creation has its first commencements on the same month as the Natural Creation.-ED. and TRANSL.