Luke is unique among the bible authors because he is the only gentile. He was a native of Antioch in Syria where the first gentile church was founded and where the followers of 'the way' were first called Christians. Luke writes mainly for Gentile readers, he avoids Aramaic and Hebrew phrases, preferring to use Greek instead so to be more easily understood. Luke was a doctor by profession and as medicine had been developing for at least 400 years beforehand we know that doctors at that time received careful training. It is interesting that Luke a man who would have been skeptical about anything outside of the physical realm is called to report the supernatural. Luke was clearly observant and analytical, his objective was to provide an accurate and reliable account rather than announce the good news of salvation. Luke was also an historian, he was meticulous in his attention to detail and archaeological findings have subsequently confirmed Luke's accounts. He would have been dependent for his information about Jesus on eyewitnesses.
Luke is the most popular but least well known of the gospels. Many people love the parts that are unique to luke. The parable of the Good Samaritan, The prodigal son, Jesus meeting with Zacchaeus , Mary and Martha, The persistent widow, The barren fig tree, The dying thief and the two on the road to Emmaus. When Luke overlaps with other gospel writers the other accounts tend to be fuller although Luke does provide extra details in his writings on salt. The book of Luke falls into five sections 1) Jesus's years before his ministry starts. 2) Galilean ministry 3) His journey to Jerusalem including his teachings and 4) Last days in Jerusalem 5) Resurrection and Ascension.
Luke begins with the birth stories which are told from Mary's perspective whilst the stories in Matthew have their focus on Joseph. Luke seems more humanly interested, bringing out the more intimate details of conception, delivery and the use of nappies (swaddling bands) Luke carries the genealogy of Mary's side which goes back even further to Adam. Legally Jesus is a descendant of David through Joseph (as recorded in Matthew) but his physical descent is traced back through Mary also to King David. So Jesus is a royal prince twice over. Luke records indirectly that Jesus is born at the time of the feast of tabernacles which would have taken place in September, this was the time that the Jews were expecting the Messiah.
Luke records the only story of the first 30 years of Jesus's life. At the age of 12 at his Bar mitzvah (which means able to do good deeds) or coming of age. Up to the age of 12 parents are punished for any wrongdoing of their children but thereafter he becomes responsible for his own behaviour and the keeping of Gods commandments. He is taken to the synagogue where he reads from the law of Moses. At this point he is considered a man and becomes a partner with his father in whatever trade or profession he worked. When Jesus visited Jerusalem he would have traveled up with Mary before his coming of age as the women went ahead days in advance to prepare the tents and cooking for the men but then he would have returned afterwards with his father Joseph. It was understandable then on their return that each would have thought Jesus to be with the other. When they realised they went back to search for him and found Jesus in the temple where the first recorded words of Jesus are spoken. "didn't you know that i was in my fathers house" It is clear that Jesus knew exactly who he was at the age of 12 and that Mary had not told him as she refers to Joseph as " your father"
At the baptism of Jesus Luke tells us that Jesus receives the Holy Spirit after prayer and talks about 'baptism in the spirit' more than any other new testament writer. Luke gives a shorter version of the sermon on the mount but expands the 'blessed ares' to include 'woe to you's'. In addition to the parables that are unique to Luke the book also includes accounts of the miraculous catch of fish , the mission of the seventy and the ascension which links his gospel directly to the book of Acts. Luke is also interested in the miracles of Jesus with five out of the six he describes being healing's. Luke seems particularly interested in people as you may expect of a doctor, among the characters he mentions are The anointing prostitute, The woman touching the hem, The meal at Mary and Martha's, The tax collector up a tree, The crippled woman, The ten lepers, The widows offering and the Dying priest'.
The Samaritans were regarded as outcasts by the Jews because they were the result of Jewish intermarriage with gentiles during the exile. Jews would take a long detour east of the Jordan river to avoid having to pass through Samaria. Jesus however shows them in a positive light. The only leper of the ten healed who came back to say thank you was a Samaritan with the nine remaining Jews having taken their blessing completely for granted. Luke records how James and John wanted to call down fire from heaven onto the Samaritans because they had been rude to Jesus but he also records how John and Peter later came back to Samaria to pray that the Samaritans might receive a different kind of fire, the fire of the holy spirit. Luke also tells the story of the good Samaritan.
The Gentiles are mentioned frequently particularly as Luke himself is a gentile. He mentions that the widow of Zarapeth and Naaman the Syrian who he said had more faith than all the people of Israel which then provoked the locals to attempt to take Jesus's life. He also mentions Simeon who said that Jesus would be a "light to the gentiles". Luke also tells of the sending out of the seventy which included gentiles, a number that the Jews regarded as being symbolic of the nations as found in Genesis 10. Luke interestingly also includes the ministry of Jesus east of the Jordon river in Perea unlike the other gospel writers who choose to omit Jesus' ministry in non-Jewish territory.
Luke is also interested in outcasts, in those people to whom others showed contempt. He records the healing of the ten lepers and the calling of the tax collector Zacchaeus who was despised for his collusion with the Romans and for the taking of illegal commission. Jesus not only meets with Zachaeus but tells him that salvation has come to his house which would have been most unpopular with onlookers. Luke also records the involvement of Shepherds who were regarded as thieves, lowly, untrustworthy and parasites on society. At that time a shepherds testimony was not regarded as legitimate in a court of law. The shepherds are recorded as visiting Jesus after his birth and Jesus describes himself as the good shepherd caring for the flock. Luke also includes the story of the ex prostitute who anointed Jesus's feet, a model response of his forgiveness.
Women appear prominently in Lukes gospel. Mary and Martha, the woman touching the hem of his garment, the weeping of women as he carries the cross, Mary Madeleine being told to tell the disciples that he is risen. Many of the wealthy women who supported Jesus are named and luke includes the names of ten women who are not mentioned anywhere else in the Gospels including three in his parables.
The poor are mentioned almost to the point of bias recording Jesus's words "Blessed are the poor"" and "woe to you who are rich" Luke portrays poverty as a blessing rather than that viewed by the people of Israel who thought it a curse and sign of Gods disapproval. He records Mary and Joseph bringing pigeons to the temple for sacrifice at the birth of Jesus, this is the cheapest possible sacrifice under levitical law reflecting their poverty but out of their poverty greatness emerged. A number of other teachings touch on poverty and wealth, inviting the poor to a banquet, giving when asked and the torment of the rich man in hell.
Sinners were another group that luke mentions. In those days a sinner was somebody who did not keep the laws of Moses of which there were 613. The pharisees hated Jesus because he mixed with those who had not kept the laws. Luke is a very human gospel showing concern for those who could not help themselves. He uses the word compassion a lot pointing out that Jesus came to seek and save the lost.
Luke has a particular interest in Angels. Angels announced the birth of John the baptist to Elizabeth and the name of Jesus to Zechariah and his birth to Mary. He records the ministry of the angels to Jesus at his temptation in the wilderness and when he prays in the Garden of Gethsemane. The Holy Spirit too is mentioned more than in Mark and Matthew combined which is why it is sometimes called the charismatic gospel. The holy spirit is shown at the conception of Jesus filling both Elizabeth and Zechariah as John the baptist would also later be filled. The holy spirit fell on Jesus at his baptism and entered him after his temptation in the dessert when Jesus prayed to his father to receive its power. The gospel finishes with Jesus telling his followers to wait in Jerusalem to receive the Holy Spirit. Luke also writes about Jesus praying, more than in any other gospel, recording both his first and last prayer. Jesus prayed both at his baptism and on the cross "Father into your hands i commend my spirit". Luke uses more words rooted in the word joy than any other book in the new testament and is the only one to use the word laughter. Joy is very much linked with the idea of praise and worship and records the Joy of the repentant sinner in heaven. His gospel finishes on a note of joy with the asencion of Jesus going up into heaven and the disciples all go to the temple giving praise to God.
Summary and references - Unlocking the bible - David Pawson and The bible book by book - Cris Rogers