Luke 1:1-25

I decided to include the answer to the questions I had with the question, this time.  I am a little behind in studying the rest of Luke 1.  But here is what I have for Luke 1:1-25.  I will get right on the rest of the chapter in the next couple of days.  Please make comments to correct any information you may see that is incorrect or to post questions you have that we may research together.

1.     What is the focus or emphasis of Luke's Testimony?

The Joseph Smith translation identifies Luke as a “messenger of Christ.”  Matthew emphasized royalty in his testimony, whereas Luke is structured on love and tenderness, especially towards women and children, the poor and dispossessed and most particularly sinners.

It is important to realize there were many accounts about Christ circulated at the time which were based on eyewitness testimony,

2.     Was Luke an eyewitness to Christ's ministry?  Luke was not an eyewitness.  It is speculated he may have associated with Mary and the daughters of Philip, Cleopas, and we know he associated with Paul.  Cleopas was one of the two disciples who met Jesus during the Road to Emmaus appearance. Luke journeyed with Paul on several missionary journeys.  Some of these people would have been able to give eyewitness accounts.

3.     Was this gospel the only book written by Luke? He also wrote Acts.  This gospel was the first part of the early history of Christianity.  Luke’s gospelis the longest and with his book, Acts, makes him one of the most prolific New Testament writers.  The doctrine he teaches has been termed salvation history and also contains many of the beloved stories of all time.  Of course, the nativity is but one of these.

4.     Do we know his occupation? It is believed he was a physician.

5.     How did he die? We believe from tradition he died a martyr for his faith and testimony.

6.     What can be surmised from the preface to his gospel?  Verses 1-4 gives us the purpose he had for writing his testimony.  Taken with the Joseph Smith translation, we learn several things;

·        Joseph changed “Forasmuch” to read “As I am a messenger of Jesus Christ and knowing. . . Also the word “believed” in Greek means “fulfilled.  This makes it clear Luke is setting forth those things fulfilled among us.

·        Luke intends to give a more ordered account or narrative than others have given to this point of Jesus’ birth and life.

7.     Who is Theophilus in verse 3?  Theophilus means “friend of God,” and could thus represent all Christians in all ages.

8.     Do we know who else might have written their eyewitness accounts or shared their testimonies?  In reading verse 2 there is an indication that others had delivered eyewitness reports.  These were also given by ministers or evangelists. We could logically include Mark as one of the early evangelists.  We don’t really know what other accounts he may have used.  He certainly had before him many accounts that he had organized.

9.     What do we learn about Zacharias in verse 5?  He is a priest living in the days of Herod.  He had a wife named Elisabeth, who was a daughter of Aaron.  It mentions Abia.  The name refers to the head of the eighth of the 24 courses into which David divided the priests.  She was a descendant of Aaron.

10. What characteristics are shared about Zacharias and Elisabeth in verse 6? They were extremely righteous.

11. What made this couple so righteous? They kept the commandments, the ordinances, and they were blameless.

12.  What does it mean to be blameless?  Blameless defines a person’s private and public life as a reflection of the transforming work of God's grace in salvation.  By growing in discernment and avoiding a critical spirit, we can become "pure and blameless" in an age marked by wickedness. The Hebrew word is tamin. The root meaning is whole, integrated, as we put all of our energy into one pursuit. The call is for whole-heartedness. With the single mindedness of an athlete, we make it our aim to please God. This is what both Zacharias and Elisabeth did.  Their aim was to please God in all things and they put all of their energy into this one pursuit.

13. Why did they have no children?  The woman was usually seen as the cause of a couple not having children.  We know she was barren and well stricken with age and beyond her years of child bearing age and conversely, Zacharias was also stricken with age.

14. What was Zacharias doing when he was visited by an angel?  He was at the temple performing the duties of the priest.  He was to burn incense while the people prayed outside.  It is interesting to note the angel appeared by standing on the right side of the altar of incense.  Is this significant or symbolic?

15. Is it significant that the angel who appeared to Zacharias stood on the right side of the altar of incense?  How or why?  See http://ac3askanything.blogspot.com/2016/01/in-luke-110-11-why-does-gabriel-appear.html  This gives a pretty good explanation.  The right side to the Jews was the favored side or blessed side.

16. How did Zacharias respond to the angel?  He was not only troubled, but also fearful.

17.  How did the angel respond to Zacharias and what was Zacharias told by the angel? He tried to allay the fear. He told him not to fear him and then told Zacharias his prayer had been heard and Elisabeth would have a son named John.  He told him further the couple would have joy and gladness.  He explained many would rejoice at John’s birth

18. What do we learn about John in verse 15 that would make him so great in the  

            Lord's sight? He would not drink wine or strong drink and would be filled with  

           the Holy Ghost even before he was born.  He would turn many of the children

           of Israel to the Lord.  He would go before Christ in the spirit and power of

           Elias.

   

19. How did Zacharias react to this good news the angel gave to him?  He doubted  

by saying, “I am an old man and my wife is too old to have a baby.  How can this happen?”  There is a doctrine here.  Nothing is impossible for God.

20.  Who is the angel and how is he able to speak for God and why did the angel appear to Zacharias? Gabriel was the angel and stood in God’s presence.  He was sent by the Lord to declare these glad tidings—an answer to a prayer.

21. What happened to Zacharias and why? He was struck dumb because he did not believe.  He would remain in this condition until John was born.

22. When Zacharias emerged from the temple what did the people believe had happened to their priest? They perceived he had had a vision.  He had been in there much longer than expected.

23.  How did Elizabeth react to conceiving a child at long last? She was delighted that the Lord had blessed her by taking away the reproach in not having the ability to bear a child.  In their culture to not have a child was to be subject to criticism and pity.

24. What does the name Zechariah or Zacharias mean?  Anciently the name was a religious plea of the nobility to invoke renewed divine aid. 

25. What was the priesthood order of Abia?  Zechariah was a part of the priesthood order of Abia or Abijah.  There were 800 priests in the division of Abijah—far more priests than there were duties.  The priests were chosen by lot to burn incense in the temple.  This might occur only once in a priest’s lifetime.

26.  What was the purpose of burning incense?  Prayer was offered morning and night.  The burning of the incense corresponded to prayer times.  The purposes were two fold—to honor God and it symbolized that the expressed prayers of the people were ascending to heaven.

27. Why did the Lord’s angel appear to Zacharias and how did this relate to the priesthood order held by Zacharias?  The priesthood was given to Aaron with a promise it would be passed down to his posterity “throughout all generations.”  Zacharias knew this as did the Jews.  Joseph Smith explained that since Zacharias had no children the promise of God must fail.  Thus Zacharias went into the temple to wrestle with God according to the order of the priesthood to obtain a promise of a son. (Words of Joseph Smith, 235)

28. What are angels and what are their duties?  Angels are ministers of Christ.  They prepare the way for men to have faith in Christ.  They speak by the power of the Holy Ghost the words of Christ.

29. How can we have angels minister to us?  We must have sufficient faith.  When angels minister to men, then it is evidence that such are the Lord’s people and kingdom.  To have sufficient faith means we have confidence and trust in Jesus Christ and that leads us to obey Him to the best of our ability.  Zacharias and Elisabeth had sufficient faith—exhibited by enduring patience and hope.

30. Since John would be refraining from wine or strong drink, what vow was he taking upon himself?  In ancient Israel some sons were dedicated to God.  Their vow was to abstain from wine, cutting their hair, and they were to have no contact with the dead.  We read about someone in the Old Testament who took this vow—Samson.  Consecrated sons were called Nazarites.  Their vow might be life-long or for a short, defined period.

31. What is the purpose of becoming a Nazarite?  This vow was for the purpose of attaining to purity and worthiness for laboring in the work of God.  It sounds like a commitment made by everyone who becomes a missionary.

32. What is meant by the spirit and power of Elias?  The priesthood of Elias or the Priesthood of Aaron or the spirit of Elias was to prepare the way for a greater revelation of God.  When God sent a man to prepare for a greater work, he held the keys of the power of Elias.  This was called the doctrine of Elias.

33.  How does the doctrine of Elias relate to John's mission?  He was limited to preaching and baptizing.  He knew who held the keys of power and who did not.  He acted only within the bounds to which he was authorized.

34.  In this chapter Zacharias and Elisabeth were waiting for a son, who would allow the continuance to hereditary priesthood blessings.  Israel was also waiting the Lord’s long-promised coming—a Messiah.   How does waiting for blessings better prepare us to receive them?  (How would you answer this?)

35. Have you ever waited on the Lord?  Can you record the circumstance in your journal?

36. What has helped you remain faithful during times requiring patience?

37. Who was the angel Gabriel, and why was he sent on this mission to Zacharias?  Joseph Smith tells us Gabriel is Noah and stands next to Adam in the priesthood.  He was the father of all living in his day and was given dominion just as Adam was given dominion in his day.