EVENING SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 2/9/2026
7:17 PM
My
Worship Time Focus: PT-1
“Luke’s Prologue”
Bible
Reading & Meditation Reference: Luke
1:1-4
Message of the verses: “Inasmuch as many have undertaken to
compile an account of the things accomplished among us, just as they were
handed down to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and
servants of the word, it seemed fitting for me as well, having investigated
everything carefully from the beginning, to write it out for you in consecutive
order, most excellent Theophilus; so that you may know the exact truth about
the things you have been taught. (NASB)
“Last evening I began my study on the Gospel of Luke
and knowing that it will take me years in order to get through it, but it
seemed to me that this is the book that the Lord wanted me to study at this
time. This morning I had the privilege
of listening to one of two messages that John MacArthur preached on these four
very important verses and learned things that I perhaps had forgotten
about.
John MacArthur begins his commentary
on the gospel of Luke by talking about stories, stories that have been talked
about throughout the history of the world, and many of those stories were true
as people would read them and for some of them they knew the stories were true,
but then there were others who probably were not true at all. He then states “But there is one enduring and
true story that stands above all the rest:
the life of Jesus Christ. It is,
as the title of a mid-twentieth-century Hollywood retelling of His life
proclaimed “The Greatest Story Ever Told,” and I am one who believes this and
also have the desire to tell His story as I pen these Spiritual Diaries so that
the Holy Spirit can send them around the world for people to read them.
What we will be looking at as we
begin this study in the Gospel of Luke is the compelling and glorious story of
how God purposed way before there was and earth or stars, that is in eternity
past to save lost sinners from eternal hell.
You have to realize that God is eternal and it was for His reasons in
eternity past to have this plan of sending His only Son into the world to save
sinners from eternal hell through the birth, life, death, and resurrection of
His Son, Jesus Christ. Paul wrote to the
Romans, was “delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised
because of our justification” (Rom. 4:25).
The also John wrote similarly “He Himself is the propitiation for
our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world” (1 John
2:2). Now it was only because “God
displayed [Jesus] publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith” that
He could “demonstrate His righteousness” (Rom. 3:25) and both “be
just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus” (v. 26). Now it was because “all have sinned
and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23), the gospel message of
salvation from sin and judgment in Christ alone completely transcends the
limitations of culture and time and definitively determines every person’s eternal destiny
(cf. John 3:36; 8:24; 14:6; Acts 4:12).
(cf. John 3:36; 8:24; 14:6; Acts 4:12).
36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life;
whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains
on him.”
“24 I told you that you would die in your sins,
for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.’”
“6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the
truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
“12 And there is salvation in no one else, for
there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.’”
John MacArthur writes “Accordingly, the central them
of both the Old and New Testaments is the Lord Jesus Christ (cf. Rev. 19:10).”
(cf. Rev. 19:10)
“10 Then I fell down at his feet to worship him,
but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and
your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God.” For the testimony of Jesus is
the spirit of prophecy.”
“Just
before His ascension He told the disciples, ‘These are My words which I
spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written
about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled”
(Luke 24:44). It is the “Scriptures” ( the Old
Testament), Jesus declared to the hostile Jewish leaders, ‘That testify
about Me’ (John 5:39). The New
Testament Epistles unpack all the theological riches of salvation in Christ,
while the book of Revelation chronicles Christ’s second coming in glory (cf.
Matt. 24:30).”
(cf. Matt. 24:30)
30 Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son
of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the
Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.”
I think that those who read these Spiritual Diaries
would realize that all of the books of the Old and New Testaments, that the
Gospels most are the ones that clearly focus on the life and the ministry of
Jesus Christ. Now the gospel of Luke is actually the longest, and most thorough
and complete of the four Gospels as Luke covers approximately forty pages,
while Matthew thirty-seven, Mark twenty-three, and John twenty-nine. Now including the book of Acts, Luke’s
accurate inerrant, comprehensive narrative of the life of Jesus and its impact
spans more than sixty years. Think about
that for a moment, Luke’s writing cover over sixty years. His narrative begins with the birth of Jesus’
forerunner, John the Baptist, and it concludes with the apostle Paul’s first
imprisonment and ministry of the gospel in Rome. So altogether, Luke’s writings make up more
than one fourth of the New Testament. I
have to say that God surely used Luke for a very long time, and because his
writings are in the Word of God they have been read for over 2000 years.
God used Luke’s writings, but very
little is known about him, as he is only mentioned three different times in the
Word of God, and none in the books that he penned. (Col. 4:14; 2 Timothy 4:11; Philem. 24).”
(Col. 4:14; 2 Timothy 4:11; Philem. 24)
14 Luke the beloved physician greets you, as does
Demas.”
“11 Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him
with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry.”
“24 and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke,
my fellow workers.”
Notice that all of these references
are at the end of these three epistles where Paul did this in most all of his
letters. What we can see from this is
that Luke was content to remain in the background and allow the majesty of
Christ, who pervades his writing, to be the focus. We can see from his writings
that Luke’s accurately recorded history and theology establish his readers’ understanding
of the Lord’s life and ministry.
There is something else that needs
to be written about concerning these first four verses that constitute the
prologue of Luke’s gospel which is actually in the Greek one long section and
it was, as MacArthur writes “crafted in the polished style of a Greek literary
classic.” The remainder of the gospel
was written in the koine Greek which was used in common, everyday
speech, which was used in most of the New Testament writings, but to my
knowledge is not used any more. There is
a story to tell about that language which goes back to the time of Alexander
the Great who actually combined many of the Greek languages spoken during his
time and put them all together and that is why it is called common Greek.
MacArthur writes “Luke’s prologue
thus marks his gospel as a serious literary and historical work, commanding the
respect of even the most sophisticated, well-educated Gentile readers.
“Despite his anonymity four elements
of the evangelist’s identity appear implicitly and explicitly in the prologue. Luke revealed as a physician and historian,
and as a theologian and pastor.”
In tomorrow evenings SD we will look
at “Luke The Physician And Historian.”
2/9/2026
8:47 PM
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