LUKE TRAVEL NARRATIVE
I. Divide and Title
A. Segmental Divisions
9.51-11.13 Jesus sends the seventy
11.14-13.30 Renewed opposition and Jesus continues to teach
13.31-15. Jesus with the Pharisees
16.1-19.27 Jesus teaches on the kingdom
19.28-21.4 Jesus enters and claims the Kingdom
21:5-38 Jesus predicts the destruction of Jerusalem
B. Paragraph Divisions
9:51-56 Journey to Jerusalem begins
9:57-62 The cost of discipleship
10:1-24 Jesus sends the 72
10:25-37 Parable of the Good Samaritan
10:38-42 Jesus visits Mary and Martha
11:1-13 The Lord’s prayer
11:14-28 Jesus answers critics
11:29-32 Warning about unbelief
11:33-36 Teaching of the lamp
11:37-54 Jesus criticized religious leadership
12:1-12 Jesus deals with hypocrisy
12:13-21 Parable of the rich fool
12:22-34 Warnings about worry
12:35-48 Warnings about being prepared for the coming of Christ
12:49-53 Warnings about division
12:54-59 Warnings of the future
13:1-9 The call to repent
13:10-17 Jesus heals a crippled woman
13:18-21 Teachings on the Kingdom
13:22-30 Entry to the Kingdom
13:31-35 Jesus grieves over Jerusalem
14:1-14 Jesus heals a man with dropsy
14:15-24 Parable of the feast
14:25-35 Cost of Discipleship
15:1-7 Parable of the lost sheep
15:8-10 Parable of the lost coin
15:11-31 Parable of the lost son
16:1-15 Parable of the manager
16:16-18 Teachings on divorce
16:19-31 Rich man and Lazarus
17:1-10 Forgiveness and faith
17:11-19 Jesus heals the ten lepers
17:20-37 The coming Kingdom
18:1-8 Parable of the persistent widow
18:9-14 Parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector
18:18-30 The rich young man
18:31-34 Jesus blesses the children
18:35-43 Jesus heals a blind beggar
19:1-10 The story of Zacchaeus
19:11-27 Parable of the King’s servants
19:28-44 The Entry
19:45-48 Jesus clears the Temple
20:1-8 Religious leaders question Jesus’ authority
20:9-19 Parable of the wicked tenants
20:20-26 Questions about taxes
20:27-40 Questions about the resurrection
20:41-47 Jesus confronts religious leaders
21:1-4 The poor widow
21:5-24 Jesus tells about the future
21:25-33 Jesus tells about the return
21:34-38 Jesus teaches about being watchful
II. Structural Analysis
A. Recurrences
1. Healings: One of the key themes that runs through the Travel narrative is the fact that Jesus performed healings and had compassion on those who were ill. This compassion becomes one of the trademark features of the ministry of Jesus and word of these miracles spread all over the country side and Jesus was usually swarmed by people wanting to see this man. It is clear why the author makes such great use of these narratives in the text because they were such an important part of Jesus’ ministry.
Evidence: 13.10-17, 14.1-14, 17.11-19, 18.35-43
2. Teachings: Luke has recorded the majority of Jesus’ teaching ministry in this section of His book and this seems to add weight to the overall ministry because of the concentration of teaching that occurs. Jesus calls on the people to be watchful because God is at work in the lives of His people and they do not see it. These teachings occur in three key areas; discipleship, warnings and parables. It is also significant to see that Luke has the most unique aspects of his gospel in this section and many of those unique accounts appear in the realm of teaching.
a. Discipleship: Jesus was active in the teaching and discipling of those who followed Him and in this section of the book Luke shows how Jesus was in the process of preparing His disciples for ministry. This preparation allows the reader to see how Jesus acted and responded to the people and how He expected His disciples to respond to people.
Evidence: 11.1-13, 13.18-21,22-30, 14.25-35, 16.16-18,19-31, 17.1-10,20-37
b. Warnings: Jesus gives many strong warnings to show the people that they were not as righteous as they believed and that they were facing some of the same problems and wrath that the pagan nations were facing. The righteousness of the leaders was that of a legalistic and deterministic nature. Thus, they would ignore some of the law to obey the tradition.
Evidence: 11.29-32, 12.22-34,35-48,49-53, 21.5-24,25-33,34-38
c. Parables: Jesus taught the people in many unique ways but this must be the most well known. Jesus used parables to instruct the people in how they needed to live their lives and what God expected of them. It was these story sermons that created the most confusion and frustration among the Jewish leadership. Many of the leaders either could not understand the teaching or they took personal offense to the teaching because they understood all too well what Jesus was saying.
Evidence: 10.25-37, 12.13-21, 14.15-24, 15.1-7,8-10,11-31, 16.1-15, 18.1-8,9-14, 19.4-27
3. Son of Man language: This is a specific term that Jesus uses to describe Himself and His role as the Messiah. It becomes a strong theme that Jesus weaves into His ministry in this section and it is from this that we find Jesus showing the true role of the Messiah and it was not what the people were expecting because they wanted a political Messiah to free them from Roman rule.
Evidence: 9.22,26,44,58, 11.30, 12.10,40, 17.22,24,30, 18.8,31, 19.10,21.27,36,
4. Ministry to the Outcasts: In this section it becomes all too clear that the nation of Israel had left the common people to their own devices and did not have any concern for their well being. Luke gives special attention to the social and economic identity to those whom Jesus was among. This shows the social and ethical responsibility that God expects of His people.
These social outcasts were the recipients of Jesus’ love, attention and mercy. It is with these people that Jesus spent much of His time and He gave them a sense of belonging and worth. This was a key part of the ministry of Jesus. All of the people were a part of the people of God and Jesus attempted to communicate this to the entire community of Israel.
Evidence: 9.37-43, 10.25-37, 13.10-17, 14.1-14, 15.1-7,8-10,11-31, 16.19-31, 18.1-8,9-14,35-43, 19.1-10, 21.1-4
5. Geographic Change: Luke sites the frequent and noticeable change of geography that takes place throughout the ministry of Jesus and this plays an important role in the way that the reader understands the events and teachings of Jesus. This concept of movement becomes very clear as Jesus begins and completes His final journey to Jerusalem and it is though the act of travel that Jesus finds people that are in deep need of His love and grace. The movement also allows us to see how Jesus interacted with the people and how He saw their needs.
6. Opposition: Luke gives details about the general and specific reactions about how the religious leadership opposed the ministry and work of Jesus. Jesus taught the people with authority and gave them new hope in God. The leaders served a role that looked for the wrong that anyone did and condemned them for it.
Evidence: 11.14-28,37-54, 12.1-12, 13.31-35, 14.15-24, 15.1-7,8-10,11-31, 16.16-18,19-31, 18.9-14
7. The Kingdom: Luke provides an array of teachings on the various aspects of Kingdom and presents the specific teachings of Jesus that revealed the true nature of God’s Kingdom. This becomes a cornerstone of the Travel Narratives teaching material and provides the readers with the understanding of what the Kingdom is and who will be allowed to enter it.
Evidence: 13.18-21,22-30, 14.15-24, 16.19-31, 17.20-37, 19.11-27
Travel Narrative Unique Points:
A large part of the interpretation problems of the Travel Narrative may be from the massive amount of unique material that exists within the narrative section. It is this aspect of this section that tends to make things difficult my own personal examination of this book.
Evidence: 10.1-24,25-37,38-42, 11.37-54, 12.1-59, 13.1-9,10-17,18-21,22-30,31-35, 14.1-14,15-24, 15.1-7,8-10,11-31, 16.1-15,16-18,19-31, 17.1-10,11-19,20-37,18.1-8,9-14, 19.1-10,11-27
B: Relationships
1. Collection: Luke builds a series of collections that communicate the message and ministry of Jesus and reveals to the reader a basis for belief. These collections are teachings, parables or items of ministry action.
Warnings: 12.22-59,
Parables: 15.1-31, 18.1-14,
Action Narrative:
2. Climax: Luke reveals the climax of the section with a distinct encounter of Jesus with Zacheaus, a crooked tax collector. Jesus calls to Zacheaus and eats with him to offer Zacheaus hope, love and redemption. Jesus gives him the opportunity that he needed to find God and in the process finds salvation. “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.” Luke 19.9-10.
Evidence: 19.1-10
3. Orientation: Luke provides the readers with a general introduction to this section by telling them that Jesus is beginning His journey to Jerusalem for the Passover. It this announcement that sets the stage for the coming action and ministry of Jesus. Luke prepares the reader for the rest of the section through this statement.
Evidence: 9.51
4. Interrogation: Luke shows how the exchange of questions leads to the teachings of Jesus and the fact that Jesus makes use of these questions reveals the nature of His ministry and mission to share the truth with the people.
Evidence: 10.25-37,
5. Concession: The author builds several key examples of Jesus turning the basic assumption of righteous around and showing how traditional righteousness does not the same as true righteousness. It is this fact that makes the teachings of Jesus so deeply radical in nature and shows us how the truth of God impacts human traditions.
Evidence: 15.1-31, 18.9-14,15-17
III. Identify Strategic Area
A. Window Passage: The key passage for the section seems to the same as the book 19.1-10. Jesus shares with Zacheaus the purpose and the power of His ministry. This reveals the truth of salvation for Zacheaus and for all who would accept Jesus as Lord of their lives. The power of Jesus is found in the gift of salvation for all people and the redemption of the lost is key to the message of Christ.
B. Reasons for Selection: This passage seems to mark one of the high points of Jesus’ compassionate ministry and reveals to everyone that there is no such thing as a soul too lost for the love of God. Jesus brought Zacheaus new life and new hope because he was redeemed back into the community of God’s people. It is this task that Jesus calls His people back to and returns them to the care and love of God.
IV. Contextualize
A. Paragraph Fit: The strategic area falls near the end of the Travel Narrative when Jesus arrives in the city of Jerricho. It is here that He has His encounter with Zacheaus, the city tax collector and Zacheaus has a deep desire to see Jesus. This desire is filled when Jesus calls to Zacheaus and announces that He will be joining him for a meal. The rest is history as Jesus eats with Zacheaus and share s the overwhelming love of God and Zacheaus is saved and redeemed.
1. Recurrences and Relationships
a. Recurrences
1. Son of Man language: This is a specific term that Jesus uses to describe Himself and His role as the Messiah. It becomes a strong theme that Jesus weaves into His ministry in this section and it is from this that we find Jesus showing the true role of the Messiah and it was not what the people were expecting because they wanted a political Messiah to free them from Roman rule.
Evidence: 9.22,26,44,58, 11.30, 12.10,40, 17.22,24,30, 18.8,31, 19.10,21.27,36,
2. Ministry to the Outcasts: In this section it becomes all too clear that the nation of Israel had left the common people to their own devices and did not have any concern for their well being. Luke gives special attention to the social and economic identity to those whom Jesus was among. This shows the social and ethical responsibility that God expects of His people.
These social outcasts were the recipients of Jesus’ love, attention and mercy. It is with these people that Jesus spent much of His time and He gave them a sense of belonging and worth. This was a key part of the ministry of Jesus. All of the people were a part of the people of God and Jesus attempted to communicate this to the entire community of Israel.
Zacheaus was clearly a part of this group of society outcasts that the rest of the community had deemed as being sinners. Zacheaus was clearly hated due to his role as a Roman tax collector and this was seen as a sinful occupation due to the nature of the stealing that most tax collectors were guilty of in their work.
Evidence: 9.37-43, 10.25-37, 13.10-17, 14.1-14, 15.1-7,8-10,11-31, 16.19-31, 18.1-8,9-14,35-43, 19.1-10, 21.1-4
3. Geographic Change: Luke sites the frequent and noticeable change of geography that takes place throughout the ministry of Jesus and this plays an important role in the way that the reader understands the events and teachings of Jesus. This concept of movement becomes very clear as Jesus begins and completes His final journey to Jerusalem and it is though the act of travel that Jesus finds people that are in deep need of His love and grace. The movement also allows us to see how Jesus interacted with the people and how He saw their needs.
In this segment of the narrative Jesus has just arrived in the city of Jerricho during His trip to Jerusalem for the Passover. It is important to the narrative to see that Jesus is still in the midst of His travels when He arrives in Jerricho and His trip is not yet over.
b. Relationships
1. Climax: Luke reveals the climax of the section with a distinct encounter of Jesus with Zacheaus, a crooked tax collector. Jesus calls to Zacheaus and eats with him to offer Zacheaus hope, love and redemption. Jesus gives him the opportunity that he needed to find God and in the process finds salvation.
This unique aspect of Luke’s gospel reveals a great point in the character of Christ; He truly saw the potential in all people to be children of God. It is this ability to see the good in those who were less than ‘saints’ that separates Jesus from the entire Jewish community because He chose to seek those who were lost rather than condemn them. “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.” Luke 19.9-10.
Evidence: 19.1-10
2. Concession: The author builds several key examples of Jesus turning the basic assumption of righteous around and showing how traditional righteousness does not the same as true righteousness. It is this fact that makes the teachings of Jesus so deeply radical in nature and shows us how the truth of God impacts human traditions.
A prime example of this is Jesus receiving Zacheaus into the kingdom and redeeming him back into the fellowship with the people of Israel because he was once again a Son of Abraham. This act was far from what anyone would have expected for Zacheaus but the fact remains that Jesus did what was not expected in much of His ministry and this is one of the finest examples of compassion and love.
Evidence: 15.1-31, 18.9-14,15-17, 19.1-10
2. Passage Flow: The author has developed a clear line of thought that defines the method and means of Jesus’ ministry on the road to Jerusalem. The main flow into this section comes from the Early ministry narrative that begins the ministry of Jesus. It is there that Jesus declares the purpose and plan of His ministry to the disciples.
The Travel Narrative then flows into the Jerusalem Ministry narrative where Jesus enters Jerusalem and does His final week of ministry with the people. This section is highlighted by a series of teachings and warnings that Jerusalem will one day be destroyed. Those who will be faithful must be prepared for the coming day when Christ will return to judge the quick and the dead.
B. Key Insights
1. Luke shows how Jesus seems to shift the focus of His teaching by beginning to warn the people about the coming days when they will face destruction and urges them to keep the faith. Jesus increases His usage of parables to instruct the people and He places a key focus on the love of God for each and every individual, including those who would be seen as outcasts.
2. Jesus continues to minister to those who are not seen as a key part of the mainstream society and as He reaches out to those who are left out of the Jewish society; He gives them the opportunity to rejoin the family of God.
3. Jesus begins to empower others to do the work of ministry as He sends out the 72 to minister to the people and from this we see the development of the disciples into a core of faithful followers. This training is to be the basis of the future church and it from here that Jesus will base the future of His church.
V. Investigate
A. Selection of question or area for study: In this passage there seems to be a clear understanding that the concept of salvation is important to the overall interpretation of the section and the passage. The concept of salvation and what it meant to the people of God will be the key aspect of this study.
B. Data Collection:
1. Old Testament Understandings: The Old Testament is filled with the various aspects of salvation and how it impacts the whole O.T. One key constant for the understanding of true salvation is that it can only come from God and one of the deepest and most profound areas that this theme occurs in the O.T. is in the Psalms. It is interesting to note that this was a strong part of the Jewish society because the Psalms were actively used in the worship of God. The Psalms present four distinct aspects of the concept of salvation; Cause for joy, Strength of the people, Quality of God’s character and Divine promise of God.
a. Cause for Joy: The Psalms record the writers showing a deep appreciation for the salvation that God brings to His people and it is the highest of all appreciation to show joy in the midst of God’s salvation. God brought great joy to His people through the act of saving them from the various problems that they may have had and it is this joy that comes through the writing of the Psalmists.
Evidence: 9.14, 13.5, 35.9, 96.2
b. Strength of the People: The source of much of the encouragement of the nation of Israel was the fact that God was in the process of delivering them from the problems and tribulations of this world. God was the source of strength for the people and it is here that we see the Psalms show the whole picture of God’s grace to His people.
Evidence: 18.2, 27.1, 28.8, 62.1,2,6, 69.29, 85.7, 95.1, 98.1, 118.14,21
c. Quality of God’s character: The aspect of salvation reveals something of the character of God to His people and it is this aspect of the Psalms that present a clearer picture of who God is and how He wants to relate to His people.
Evidence: 40.10,16, 67.2, 70.4, 71.15, 74.12, 119.155
d. Divine Promise of God: The Psalms record the promise that God has given to His people that He will come to them when they call upon His name. It is this fact the reveals something of the faith issue for the people of Israel because they had the opportunity to call on God for His might and strength in times of need. The people had to be reminded of who it was that they served and who was their God. The promises of God to aid His people in times of need comes only when they are faithful to Him.
Evidence: 14.7, 35.3, 37.39, 50.23, 51.12, 53.6, 62.7, 69.13,27, 85.9, 91.16, 98.2,3, 116.13, 119.41,81,123,166,174, 132.16, 149.4
2. New Testament Understandings: The concept of salvation is key to understanding the message of the New Testament and is essential to the mission of Jesus Christ. Thus, salvation has vast importance in the study of the New Testament and since it is such a large theme this study will be limited to the Lukan genre of Luke’s gospel and Acts.
In these works of Luke there are two major ideas or themes that surface to shed new light on the understanding of salvation; the reality of salvation for God’s people and the arrival of salvation in Jesus Christ.
a. The reality of salvation for God’s people: The concept of salvation is found only in God and this ideal moves on with the person of Jesus because He is heralded as being the Savior of Israel. This changes the image of salvation from an act of God being waited for to God’s action in the process of taking place for the people. Jesus is salvation come to earth in human form and is the representative of God’s love, mercy and grace to a dying people.
Evidence: Lk. 1.69,71,77, Acts 4.12
b. The arrival of salvation in Jesus Christ: The promise of God to deliver His people is now at hand and is found in Jesus Christ. The message and ministry of Jesus was to show the people the way back to right relationship with God and He is the sacrifice that can make that relationship real for all people.
Evidence: Lk. 2.30, 19.9, Acts 13.26,47, 28.28
VI. Consult
A. Word Study: Salvation
1. Old Testament Concepts
a. Hebrew Terms: The key term in the Hebrew language is Yasa and it is from this word that the understanding of salvation is derived. The primary usage was to show how the people were expecting God to save them from various things. The majority of these occurrences come from God saving the people from a specific situation or event. The Old Testament rarely refers to salvation in a religious or spiritual sense.
b. The role of God and Humans in salvation: The role of God is seen as the savior of the people and this is the constant understanding of the O.T. writers. There is also the role of the people in the work of salvation because of the faith factor that is involved in the method of salvation. When there is no faith or trust in the LORD there would be no basis God to come to the aid of His people because the relationship was flawed. The relationship between the people and God becomes the primary factor in the work of salvation.
2. New Testament Concepts
a. Greek Terms: The key Greek term that is used for save or salvation is Sozo. This term and its cognates refer to two clear understandings of what it means to be saved. The first understanding comes from the ideal that a person is saved from a specific situation and Luke often used the term during various miracles that Jesus had performed; specifically in the healing accounts. The second understanding comes from the ideal of God’s divine action in Christ to save humanity from the results of sin and death. These accounts may include the Greek soteria or soterios.
b. The role of God and humans in salvation: In the N.T. God has provided the means of salvation for all of His people and He wants to see all come to be in right relationship with Him. Salvation has been given as a gift through the work and sacrifice of Christ but it is important to point out that there can be no salvation without the essential aspect of faith and trust in Christ as Lord. Where there is no faith there can be no salvation.
B. Commentary: NICNT on Luke 19.1-10
1. Comment:
Verses 1 and 2. Jesus is on the road to Jerusalem and is nearly there when He travels through Jericho. Jericho was a key city on the main road to Jerusalem and it was a place where there were several key Roman offices. The main office that we hear about is that of the tax collectors. It is here that we first hear the name Zacchaeus
Verses 3 and 4: Luke communicates a great deal about Zacchaeus in just a few small words; he was a chief publican or tax collector and he was rich. This shows his occupation and his social status. Tax collectors were hated in the Jewish society and often made themselves rich by stealing from the people in over charges on the tax collected. It is clear that Zacchaeus has heard about Jesus and the things that He had been doing through the land of Israel. Zacchaeus wished to see Jesus as He passed through Jericho and since the crowd had not allowed him to see Jesus; so he climbed a tree to see.
Verses 5 and 6: In the process of Jesus travel through Jericho He sees Zacchaeus and tells him to come down from the tree. Jesus tells Zacchaeus that He wanted to go to his home for the day. Zacchaeus came down from the tree and greeted Jesus and took Him to his home.
Verses 7 and 8: The Jews in the crowd heard Jesus’ request and were outraged because He was going to spend the day in the house of a sinner. It was unheard of for any teacher to ‘lower’ themselves by entering the house of sinners and Zaccheaus was part of a despised class of people that were commonly hated throughout the Jewish society. The visit of Jesus had brought change to the heart of Zacchaeus and he vowed to make amends for all that he had stolen from the people of Jericho. This change of heart shows the nature of repentance and reveals the way to find salvation.
Verses 9 and 10: In these verses Jesus states that salvation has come to the home of Zacchaeus and that he has been redeemed back into the community of God’s people. Jesus extended love and grace to a hated man who was a ‘sinner’ in the eyes of his peers. It is this act of grace that makes this the high point of the section and a key part of this gospel account.
2. Personal Response: This comment shows the basic flow of the passage and gives some detail about who Zacchaeus was but there seems to be something missing from the comment about this man. The author does a wonderful job of giving detail to the basics of the text but does not seem to dig deeper into the social and cultural implications of the text. This tends to leave the text foggy and unclear on some very important points. In defense of the author the closing statements wrap the passage up extremely well by making the link between the acceptance of Jesus into your life as the true key to salvation.
VII. Present
1. Jesus is on a mission: The opening of the section reveals that Jesus is about to begin His trip to the Passover celebration in Jerusalem. The events of this section take place during this trip and reveal something of the nature of His character and compassion. It has already been established that there is a coming event of His death and it will come from the Jewish leadership. Jesus knows full well what it means to go to Jerusalem; it was the hornets nest of religious leadership. Jesus was swiftly headed for opposition and possibly death but that was part of His mission and He was determined to complete that work.
2. Jesus is in ministry: During the trip Jesus is actively engaged in the lives of those who are around Him and He takes the opportunity to do ministry among the people. He teaches the people and trains the disciples to do ministry. He invested Himself in the people that, in whom, God saw value and worth. Jesus went to the unreachable and the untouchables of society and offered them hope and healing.
3. Jesus is not politically correct: Jesus did not bow to the whims of the religious leadership. Instead He openly confronted their religious nature and their lack of compassion for a people who deserved to know God’s love. He attacked the righteous traditions with scriptural truth. Jesus held out the love of God to every person who wanted to know the richness of relationship with God. Jesus was far from religious in the eyes of the Jewish leadership and was clearly a threat to the structure of Jewish religion because He would not hold the dead, traditional piety of the educated and the arrogant.
VIII. Apply
A. Author’s Expectations: The author would have expected the readers to see the true nature of Christianity as being a bearer of love and compassion rather than a hindrance to the work of God. Those who are more concerned with status and power will never see the rich warmth and grace that God has to offer because they are too wrapped up in their traditions and regulations. Luke wants to show the fact that Jesus showed genuine love and compassion to every person He encountered.
B. Motivation for Action: Luke shows the way that Jesus ministered to the people of Israel and he may have wanted the reader to see the need to minister in the same fashion. It is important to see that every person was of value to God and they deserved the chance to have a dynamic and life changing relationship with Him. Jesus loved every person enough to share the good news of God’s love and every believer ought to love others enough to share this good news!
C. Modern day application: Jesus embodied the love and compassion of God and carried it to a needy and dying people. It is this message and aspect of His ministry that we are to embrace. Jesus expects the church to reach out to people who are in need and to minister to those who are hurting. It is the suffering of others that should be our prime motivation for doing ministry and when the church can work to help this hurting world; we will show the love of Jesus.
D. Christian Truth: The concept of salvation is the cornerstone of Christian theology and is the basis for the system of belief that forms Christianity. The human need for salvation provides the set understanding of theology and ministry. God has shown us the grace that we need to live through the love and sacrifice of Jesus Christ. He is the true source of salvation and any other imitation means nothing.
