263 Luke's Liberation from Racism Part 2

In this episode we continue discovering the addition to the gospel story that Luke includes. He includes the story of the barren fig tree that was given three more years, the invited guests included more than just the jews who had been invited first but had chosen not to come, the lost sheep and coin were both searched for and celebrated when found. It is fascinating that Luke includes these stories when the other gospel writers had left them out.

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SHOW NOTES

Here are many of Luke’s unique additions to the gospel story.

1. Matthew traces Jesus’ lineage back to Abraham (1:1-17) the first Jew. Luke traces it back to Adam, the first generic man (3:23-38). In this way Luke makes God the father of all people and by implication salvation is then available to all people.

2. Matthew 13:55-57 and Mark 6:1-6 state the reason the Nazarenes could not believe

Jesus’ miracles was because they had grown up with him but this is a superficial reason. Only Luke explains in detail why the Nazarenes wanted to execute Jesus. It was because Jesus stated that God loved Gentiles (4:25-27) as much as he loved Jews.

3. When Jesus sends out the 12 disciples Matthew restricts their ministry to the Jews (10:5-6). Luke has no restrictions. They are sent to all (9:2).

4. James and John are rebuked for wanting to call down fire on the inhospitable Samaritans (Luke 9:51- 56). They are not using the confrontation on Mount Carmel but the supernatural execution of 100 soldiers sent to arrest Elijah (2 Kings 1). Jesus points out to James and John they are unaware of the spirit that is driving them in this desire.

5. The Good Samaritan—Three Jewish leaders passed by a neglected, wounded Jew on the roadside. It was a despised Gentile who attended to him (Luke 10:25-37). This was a shocking indictment for the Jews. A despised Gentile was kinder than they were to one of their own.

6. Jesus challenges Jewish tradition about personal sin being the cause of personal suffering (Luke 13:1- 5). Jesus was suggesting that the Greeks and Romans had a better picture of God than the Jews in this respect.

7. The Barren Fig Tree represented the Jewish nation (Luke 13:6-9). The tree was “dead” as indicated by having leaves but no fruit. In the same way God’s chosen people were “dead.” They made great claims but lacked mercy and compassion in their actions towards fellow Jews and despised Gentiles. This would be revealed in their satanic execution of the most innocent, kind man who ever lived.

8. The Invited Guests to a feast Jesus attended were jockeying for the best seats and Jesus predicts the first will be last (Luke 14:7-15). This stung the Jews because they had been chosen first through Abram.

9. The Great Banquet does not have Jews in positions of honour. Matthew has a similar story but it does not end the way Luke ends his “‘For none of those I first invited will get even the smallest taste of my banquet’” (Luke 14:24). The Jews claimed they were the first to be invited through Abraham.

10. The Lost Sheep/The Lost Coin represented Gentiles in Jewish thinking since they were the chosen through Abraham. That the Gentiles were looked for and found (Luke 15:1-10) was scandalous in their eyes.