Dr. J. Vernon McGee's Notes and Outlines

Luke was the "beloved physician" of Colossians 4:14. He used more medical terms than Hippocrates, the father of medicine. The choice of Luke by the Holy Spirit to write the third Gospel reveals that there are no accidental writers of Scripture. There was a supernatural selection of Luke. There were "not many wise" called, but Luke belongs to that category. He and Paul were evidently on a very high intellectual level as well as a spiritual level. This partially explains why they traveled together and obviously became fast friends in the Lord.

Dr. Luke would rank as a scientist of his day. He wrote the best Greek of any of the New Testament writers, including Paul. He was also an accurate historian. According to Sir William Ramsay, Dr. Luke was a careful historian of remarkable ability.

A great deal of tradition surrounds the life of Dr. Luke, which is needless for us to examine in a brief analysis. He writes his Gospel from Mary's viewpoint, which confirms the tradition that he got his information for his Gospel from her. Surely he conferred with her. Also there is every reason to believe that he was a Gentile. Most scholars concur in this position. Paul, in Colossians, distinguishes between those "who are of the circumcision" (Colossians 4:11) and the others who are obviously Gentiles. Luke is in the list of Gentiles (Colossians 4:14). Sir William Ramsay and J. M. Stifler affirm without reservation that Luke was a Gentile.

References to Luke: Colossians 4:14; 2 Timothy 4:11; Philemon 24; also the "we" section of Acts -- Acts 16:10-17; 20:6; 21:18; 27:1; 28:16.

Theme: "Behold the Man"

Jesus is the second man but the last Adam (1 Corinthians 15:45, 47). God is making men like Jesus (1 John 3:2), therefore Jesus is the second man -- for there will be the third and even the millionth. He is the last Adam, as there will not be another head of the human family. Jesus was "made like his brethren" (Hebrews 2:17) that His brethren might be made like Him.

The Scientific Approach

Each Gospel presents Jesus from a different viewpoint. Matthew emphasizes that Jesus was born the Messiah. Mark emphasizes that Jesus was the Servant of Jehovah. Luke stresses the fact that Jesus was the perfect Man. John presents the fact that God became a man, but not from the scientific approach.

Dr. Luke states that he examined Jesus of Nazareth, and his findings are that Jesus is God. He came to the conclusion as John, but his procedure and technique were different.

Special Features

Although the Gospel of Luke is one of the synoptic Gospels, it contains many features omitted by Matthew and Mark.

Dr. Luke gives us the songs of Christmas.
Dr. Luke has the longest account of the virgin birth of Jesus of any of the Gospels. In the first two chapters he gives us an unabashed record of obstetrics, and a clear and candid statement of the virgin birth is given. All the way from Dr. Luke to Dr. Howard Kelly, gynecologist of Johns Hopkins, there is a mighty affirmation of the virgin birth, which makes the statements of pseudo-theologians seem rather puerile when they unblushingly state that the virgin birth is a biological impossibility.
Dr. Luke gives us 20 miracles, and 6 of them are recorded in no other Gospel.
He likewise gives us 23 parables, and 18 of them are found nowhere else. The parables of the prodigal son and the good Samaritan are peculiar to the third Gospel.
He also gives us the very human account of the walk to Emmaus of our resurrected Lord. This proves that Jesus was still human after His resurrection. Dr. Luke demonstrates that the resurrection was not of the spirit but of the body. Jesus was "sown a natural body . . . raised a spiritual body" (1 Corinthians 15:44). A definite human sympathy pervades this Gospel, which reveals the truly human nature of Jesus as well as the big-hearted sympathy of this physician of the first century who knew firsthand a great deal about the suffering of humanity.

Outline

Birth of the Perfect Man and His Family, Chapters 1-3
1. Announcement of the births of John and Jesus; the birth of John, Chapter 1
  1. Purpose of Gospel, vv. 1-4
    (Periodic sentence)
  2. Gabriel appears to Zacharias and announces the birth of John, vv. 5-25
  3. Gabriel appears to Mary and announces the virgin birth of Jesus, vv. 26-38
  4. Mary visits Elisabeth, vv. 39-56
    (Hail Mary and Magnificat)
  5. Birth of John (Zacharias' Benedictus), vv. 57-80
2. Birth of Jesus; His reception; His circumcision; His journey to Jerusalem at twelve years of age, Chapter 2
  1. Birth of Jesus at Bethlehem in a stable, vv. 1-7
  2. Reception of Jesus: angels announce His birth to shepherds; shepherds visit stable, vv. 8-20
  3. Circumcision of Jesus and purification of Mary, vv. 21-24
  4. Incident in temple concerning Simeon, vv. 25-35
    (Nunc Dimmittis, vv. 29-32)
  5. Incident in temple concerning Anna; return to Nazareth, vv. 36-40
  6. Visit of Joseph, Mary, and Jesus to Jerusalem when Jesus was twelve, vv. 41-52
    (Dr. Luke says He was growing normally in body, mind, and spirit -- v. 52)
3. Ministry of John the Baptist; baptism of Jesus; genealogy of Mary, Chapter 3
  1. Ministry of John, vv. 1-20
  2. Baptism of Jesus, vv. 21-22
    (Trinity -- v. 22)
  3. Genealogy of Mary, vv. 23-38
    (Mary was also descended from David, v. 31 -- see Matthew 1)
Testing of the Perfect Man; Rejection by His Hometown, Chapter 4 ("Tempted like as we are," Hebrews 4:15)
1. Temptation of Jesus, vv. 1-13
2. Jesus returns to Galilee and Nazareth; rejected by His hometown, vv. 14-30
  (Jesus quotes from Isaiah 61:1-2 in v. 18)
3. Jesus moves His headquarters to Capernaum; continues His ministry, vv. 31-44
Ministry of the Perfect Man in Area of Galilee, Chapters 5-9
1. Jesus calls disciples for the second time; cleanses lepers; heals man with palsy; calls Matthew; gives parables on new garment and wine skins, Chapter 5
2. Jesus defends disciples for plucking grain on sabbath; heals paralyzed man on sabbath; chooses twelve; gives Sermon on the Plain, Chapter 6
3. Jesus heals centurion's servant; restores to life son of widow of Nain; commends John the Baptist; goes to dinner at Pharisee's house; gives parable of two debtors, Chapter 7
4. Jesus gives parables: sower, lighted candle, personal relationships; stills storm; casts out demons at Gadara; heals woman with issue of blood; restores to life daughter of Jairus, Chapter 8
5. Jesus commissions and sends forth the twelve; feeds 5000; announces death and resurrection; transfigured; casts out demons from an only son; sets His face toward Jerusalem; puts down test for discipleship, Chapter 9
Ministry of the Perfect Man on Way to Jerusalem, Chapters 10-18
1. Jesus sends forth the seventy; pronounces judgment on Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum; gives parable of Good Samaritan; enters home of Mary and Martha, Chapter 10
2. Jesus teaches disciples to pray by using parables of the persistent friend and a good father; accused of casting out demons by Beelzebub; gives parables -- unclean spirit leaving a man, sign of Jonah, lighted candle; denounces Pharisees, Chapter 11
3. Jesus warns of leaven of Pharisees; gives parables of rich fool, return from wedding, testing of servants in light of coming of Christ; states He is a divider of men, Chapter 12
4. Jesus teaches men not to judge but repent; gives parable of fig tree; heals woman with infirmity; gives parables of mustard seed and leaven; continues to teach as He goes toward Jerusalem; weeps over Jerusalem, Chapter 13
5. Jesus goes to dinner at home of Pharisee; gives parables of impolite guests, the great supper, building a tower, king going to war, salt that loses its tang, Chapter 14
6. Jesus gives parable of lost sheep, lost coin, two lost sons (prodigal son), Chapter 15
  (The obedient Son is the One giving the parable.)
7. Jesus gives parable about unjust steward; answers covetous Pharisees; speaks on divorce; recounts incident of rich man and Lazarus (poor man), Chapter 16
8. Jesus instructs His disciples on forgiveness, faithful service; heals ten lepers (one Samaritan returns to give thanks); speaks on spiritual nature of kingdom and His coming again, Chapter 17
9. Jesus gives two parables on prayer; blesses little children; confronts rich young ruler with five of Ten Commandments; heals blind man on entering Jericho, Chapter 18
Ministry of the Perfect Man in Jericho and Jerusalem, Chapters 19-21
1. Jesus enters Jericho and home of Zacchaeus; conversion of Zacchaeus; gives parable of ten pounds; enters Jerusalem; weeps over city; cleanses temple, Chapter 19
2. Jesus authority challenged; gives parable of vineyard; questioned about paying tribute to Caesar; silences Sadducees about resurrection; questions scribes, Chapter 20
3. Jesus notes how people give, commends widow; answers question in Olivet Discourse, "When shall these things be?" Chapter 21
Betrayal, Trial, and Death of the Perfect Man, Chapters 22-23
(Our Kinsman-Redeemer)
1. Judas plots with chief priests to betray Jesus; Jesus plans for last Passover and institutes Lord's Supper; announces His betrayal, position of apostles in future kingdom; Peter's denial, warns disciples of future; goes to Gethsemane; betrayed by Judas; arrested and led to high priest's house; denied by Peter, mocked, beaten, brought before Sanhedrin, Chapter 22
2. Jesus brought before Pilate and Herod; Barabbas released; Jesus foretells destruction of Jerusalem and prays for His enemies; Jesus crucified; mocked by rulers, soldiers, one thief; other thief turns to Jesus and is accepted by Him; dismisses His spirit; placed in new tomb of Joseph of Arimathaea, Chapter 23
Resurrection of the Perfect Man, Chapter 24:1-48
1. Jesus raised from the dead; leaves Joseph's tomb, vv. 1-12
2. Jesus goes down road to Emmaus, reveals Himself to two disciples, vv. 13-34
3. Jesus goes to the assembled disciples, reveals Himself to the eleven; gives commission to go, vv. 35-48
  (He is still a man; emphasizes the importance of the Word of God)
Ascension of the Perfect Man, Chapter 24:49-53
Jesus promises to send Holy Spirit; ascends to heaven in attitude of blessing His own

A special thanks to Thru the Bible Radio Network for permission to create and post this version of Dr. J. Vernon McGee's Notes and Outlines. Visit Thru the Bible on the Web at www.ttb.org.

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