Verse-by-Verse Commentary
The Book of Luke
Luke presents Jesus as the Savior of the whole world, with special tenderness toward the poor, women, outsiders, and sinners. The most detailed and carefully researched of the Gospels, it was written so that we may know the certainty of what we believe. This commentary walks through it verse by verse.
About This Commentary
The Gospel of Luke was written by Luke, a physician, companion of Paul, and the only Gentile author of Scripture, who also wrote the Book of Acts. Addressed to Theophilus, it is the most detailed and carefully researched of the Gospels, drawing on eyewitness testimony to give an orderly account. Luke presents Jesus as the Savior of all people, showing His compassion for the poor, the outcast, women, and sinners, and giving us many of the best-loved parables, including the prodigal son and the good Samaritan.
This commentary covers Luke verse by verse, with the Greek words that sharpen the meaning, verified background, and an Apostolic reading. Luke roots the gospel in history so we may know its certainty, and unfolds the mystery of the incarnation: the child conceived by the Holy Spirit is the Son of God, Immanuel come to save. References are given at the foot of each chapter.
All 24 chapters of Luke are now complete, from the announcements of John's and Jesus' births to the resurrection and ascension of our Lord.
Author
Luke, a physician and companion of Paul; the only Gentile writer of Scripture.
Setting
An orderly account written for Theophilus and all readers.
Key Themes
Jesus the Savior of all, compassion for the lost, careful history.
Famous Parables
The prodigal son (15) and the good Samaritan (10).
Translation
King James Version (KJV) throughout.
The Chapters
Luke Commentary
The chapters below are available now. The rest are being written and will open here as they are finished and verified.
Luke 1:1-80
That Holy One, the Son of God
Luke's orderly account opens with the announcements of John's and Jesus' births, the virgin conception by the Holy Spirit, and Mary's song magnifying the Lord her Savior.
Read Chapter 1 →Luke 2:1-52
Unto You Is Born a Saviour, Which Is Christ the Lord
The birth of Jesus in Bethlehem and the manger, the angels and shepherds, 'unto you is born this day a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord,' the presentation in the temple with Simeon and Anna, 'mine eyes have seen thy salvation... A light to lighten the Gentiles,' and the boy Jesus about His Father's business.
Read Chapter 2 →Luke 3:1-38
All Flesh Shall See the Salvation of God
The preaching of John the Baptist and fruits worthy of repentance, John's witness to the mightier One who baptizes with the Holy Ghost and fire, the baptism of Jesus and the Father's voice, 'Thou art my beloved Son,' and the genealogy traced back to Adam, the son of God.
Read Chapter 3 →Luke 4:1-44
The Spirit of the Lord Is Upon Me
The temptation of Jesus overcome by 'It is written,' His manifesto at Nazareth from Isaiah, 'The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor,' the rejection at Nazareth, and the casting out of the unclean spirit at Capernaum, 'the Holy One of God.'
Read Chapter 4 →Luke 5:1-39
From Henceforth Thou Shalt Catch Men
The miraculous catch of fish and the call of Peter, 'from henceforth thou shalt catch men,' the cleansing of the leper by the touch of Christ, the forgiveness and healing of the paralytic, 'the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins,' the call of Levi, and the new wine of the gospel.
Read Chapter 5 →Luke 6:1-49
Be Ye Therefore Merciful
The Son of man Lord of the sabbath, the healing of the withered hand, the choosing of the twelve apostles after a night of prayer, the Sermon on the Plain with the Beatitudes and woes, 'Love your enemies,' 'Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful,' and the two builders who hear and do, or hear and do not.
Read Chapter 6 →Luke 7:1-50
God Hath Visited His People
The faith of the centurion, 'I have not found so great faith,' the raising of the widow of Nain's son, 'God hath visited his people,' John the Baptist's question and Christ's witness to him, and the sinful woman who washed His feet with tears, 'Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.'
Read Chapter 7 →Luke 8:1-56
Thy Faith Hath Made Thee Whole
The parable of the sower and the good ground that bears fruit with patience, the true family who hear the word and do it, the stilling of the storm, the Gadarene demoniac restored 'in his right mind,' the woman with the issue of blood, and the raising of Jairus' daughter, 'Maid, arise.'
Read Chapter 8 →Luke 9:1-62
Take Up His Cross Daily
The sending of the twelve, the feeding of the five thousand, Peter's confession 'The Christ of God,' the call to take up the cross daily, the Transfiguration and His 'decease' at Jerusalem, the healing of the demon-tormented boy, and the cost of following as He 'stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem.'
Read Chapter 9 →Luke 10:1-42
Go, and Do Thou Likewise
The sending of the seventy into the great harvest, 'rejoice, because your names are written in heaven,' the Son who reveals the Father, the parable of the good Samaritan, 'Go, and do thou likewise,' and Mary and Martha, 'one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part.'
Read Chapter 10 →Luke 11:1-54
Lord, Teach Us to Pray
The Lord's Prayer, the friend at midnight and 'Ask, and it shall be given you,' the Father who gives the Holy Spirit, the finger of God and the binding of the strong man, the sign of Jonah, the single eye, and the woes on the Pharisees and lawyers.
Read Chapter 11 →Luke 12:1-59
Seek Ye the Kingdom of God
The warning against hypocrisy and the fear of God who cares for the sparrows, confessing Christ before men and the Holy Ghost who teaches, the parable of the rich fool, 'seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you,' the call to watchfulness and the faithful steward, and the fire, division, and discerning of the time.
Read Chapter 12 →Luke 13:1-35
Except Ye Repent
The Galilaeans slain by Pilate and the tower in Siloam, 'except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish,' the barren fig tree spared one more year, the woman loosed on the sabbath from the bond of Satan, the mustard seed and the leaven, 'strive to enter in at the strait gate,' and the lament over Jerusalem, 'how often would I have gathered thy children together... and ye would not!'
Read Chapter 13 →Luke 14:1-35
Compel Them to Come In
The healing of the man with dropsy on the sabbath, the lesson of the lowest room, 'he that humbleth himself shall be exalted,' the call to feast the poor who cannot repay, the parable of the great supper with its excuses and 'compel them to come in, that my house may be filled,' and the full cost of discipleship, 'whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.'
Read Chapter 14 →Luke 15:1-32
This My Son Was Dead, and Is Alive Again
The three parables of the lost and found: the shepherd who leaves the ninety and nine to seek one lost sheep, the woman who sweeps the house for one lost coin, 'joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth,' the prodigal son who comes to himself and returns to a father who runs to meet him, 'this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found,' and the elder brother whom the father also entreats.
Read Chapter 15 →Luke 16:1-31
Ye Cannot Serve God and Mammon
The parable of the unjust steward and the wise use of 'the mammon of unrighteousness,' 'he that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much,' 'ye cannot serve God and mammon,' the covetous Pharisees rebuked, 'that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God,' and the rich man and Lazarus, the 'great gulf fixed,' and 'if they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.'
Read Chapter 16 →Luke 17:1-37
Thy Faith Hath Made Thee Whole
The warning against offences and the call to forgive a repentant brother again and again, faith as a grain of mustard seed and 'we are unprofitable servants,' the cleansing of the ten lepers and the one thankful Samaritan, 'thy faith hath made thee whole,' 'the kingdom of God is within you,' and the sudden day of the Son of man as in the days of Noe and Lot, 'the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left,' 'Remember Lot's wife.'
Read Chapter 17 →Luke 18:1-43
God Be Merciful to Me a Sinner
The persistent widow and the unjust judge, 'men ought always to pray, and not to faint,' the Pharisee and the publican, 'God be merciful to me a sinner,' who went home justified, the little children and 'whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein,' the rich young ruler and 'the things which are impossible with men are possible with God,' the third foretelling of the passion, and the blind man of Jericho, 'Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.'
Read Chapter 18 →Luke 19:1-48
To Seek and to Save That Which Was Lost
Zacchaeus the chief publican called down from the sycomore, 'This day is salvation come to this house,' 'for the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost,' the parable of the pounds and 'Occupy till I come,' the triumphal entry, 'Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord,' the weeping over Jerusalem 'because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation,' and the cleansing of the temple, 'My house is the house of prayer.'
Read Chapter 19 →Luke 20:1-47
The Stone Which the Builders Rejected
The challenge to Jesus' authority and the question of John's baptism, the parable of the wicked husbandmen and the beloved son, 'the stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner,' the trap over tribute, 'Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar's, and unto God the things which be God's,' the Sadducees and the resurrection, 'he is not a God of the dead, but of the living,' and David's Lord, 'how is he then his son?'
Read Chapter 20 →Luke 21:1-38
Your Redemption Draweth Nigh
The widow's two mites, 'this poor widow hath cast in more than they all,' the foretelling of the temple's fall, 'there shall not be left one stone upon another,' the warnings of deceivers, wars, and persecutions, 'in your patience possess ye your souls,' the desolation of Jerusalem and 'the times of the Gentiles,' the coming of the Son of man, 'look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh,' the parable of the fig tree, and the call to 'watch ye therefore, and pray always.'
Read Chapter 21 →Luke 22:1-71
This Cup Is the New Testament in My Blood
The plot and Judas' betrayal, the Last Supper and the new covenant, 'This is my body which is given for you... This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you,' the dispute over greatness, 'I am among you as he that serveth,' Peter warned, 'I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not,' the agony in Gethsemane, 'not my will, but thine, be done,' the betrayal with a kiss and the arrest, and Peter's denial, 'the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter.'
Read Chapter 22 →Luke 23:1-56
Father, Into Thy Hands I Commend My Spirit
The trial before Pilate and Herod, 'I find no fault in this man,' the release of Barabbas and the delivering up of Jesus, the way to Calvary and the weeping women, the crucifixion between two thieves, 'Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do,' the penitent thief, 'To day shalt thou be with me in paradise,' the darkness and the rent veil, and the death of Jesus, 'Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit,' and His burial in a new tomb.
Read Chapter 23 →Luke 24:1-53
He Is Not Here, but Is Risen
The empty tomb and the angels, 'Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen,' the road to Emmaus and the Lord who 'expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself,' known 'in breaking of bread,' the appearance to the eleven, 'handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones,' the opening of their understanding, the Great Commission, 'that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations,' and the ascension from Bethany.
Read Chapter 24 →