Luke : Saving a Fallen World (Welwyn Commentary Series | WCS)

by Michael Bentley

Publisher:

Evangelical Press

, 1992

Overview

At the heart of Luke's Gospel is the truth that God sent his Son to seek and to save what was lost. More than any of the other Gospel writers, Luke shows us the Lord dealing with individual people and how their lives were changed as a result of their personal encounter with him. These people came from all ranks of society: the rugged fisherman, the poor widow, the wealthy tax collector, the ruler of the synagogue, the Roman centurion. As the only New Testament writer who was not a Jew, Luke consciously writes his account for Gentiles as well as Jews, showing that the message of the Gospel is for all kinds of people in this fallen world.

Contents

Top Highlights

“He wanted everyone to know that they could hear the message of God if only they had ears to listen. Jesus often pleaded for people to hear, understand and put into practice what he said. In addition to the nine times this command to hear is mentioned, Luke also repeats these words of Jesus in 14:35. And John takes it up in the last book in the Bible. He tells us that the Lord said, ‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches’ (Rev. 2:7, 11, 29; 3:6, 13, 22).” (Page 122)

“‘Will he find in those believers faith that perseveres in prayer and loyalty?” (Page 243)

“Whenever a king announced that he was going to undertake a long journey, servants would be sent before him to prepare the way. They would literally mend the roads, or see that someone else repaired them. And they would make sure that every member of each local population showed enthusiasm for the ruler when he passed by. John the Baptist had a similar task. He was to ‘prepare the way of the Lord’. He had to prepare the people to receive the Messiah.” (Page 43)

“This is a song of hope. Elizabeth’s song (1:42–45) was a song of love. Mary’s song (1:46–55) was a song of faith; and now Zechariah sings a song of hope.¹⁰ This was not a vague hope. It was not just a wish for the future. Zechariah sang of a confident hope which was sure and certain. It was something he looked forward to, because it was the fulfilment of God’s promise to, and for, his people.” (Page 28)

“He was called to be a herald of the King, a voice calling in the desert to ‘prepare the way for the Lord’ (3:4). John was the fulfilment of Isaiah’s prophecy which had been made some 700 years earlier (Isa. 40:3–5). His task was to make straight paths for the Lord. People’s lives were wrong; they were crooked. They needed to be put right, and John’s task was to call people back to moral ways.” (Page 45)

Product Details

• Title: Saving a Fallen World: Luke Simply Explained
• Author: Michael Bentley
• Series: Welwyn Commentary Series
• Publisher: Evangelical Press
• Print Publication Date: 1992
• Logos Release Date: 2011
• Pages: 336
• Era: era:contemporary
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
• Subject: Bible. N.T. Luke › Commentaries
• ISBNs: 9780852343005, 0852343000
• Resource ID: LLS:WCS63LU
• Resource Type: Bible Commentary
• Metadata Last Updated: 2023-01-28T00:27:03Z

About Michael Bentley

Michael Bentley worked as a bookshop manager and served in the British army before his call to the ministry. He has a diverse background, which includes freelance religious reporting for national and religious radio and television, being a Religious Education teacher, and holding pastorates in Surrey, South East London, and Berkshire. He is also closely involved with his local community as a member of various committees and councils. His hobbies include singing second bass in the Bracknell Choral Society. Now retired, he still preaches regularly and has a ministry of writing, with some thirteen books in print including Opening Up Amos from the Opening Up Commentary Collection (30 Vols.), and Face2face: David, part of the Face2face Collection. He lives in Bracknell with his wife, Jenny, and has five children and eight grandchildren.