Abraham, Elijah, and David! Oh My!
Getting Started – Part 3
Why So Many Old Testament References?
In the previous post, we explored some of the literary techniques Luke used to tell his incredible story. One of these techniques is Old Testament allusions. Luke makes many references or allusions to things from the Old Testament, especially in the first two chapters.
If you’re not familiar with the Old Testament, these may have slipped past your radar, or they may have left you feeling a little confused. Luke is a brilliant author. He wasn’t trying to confuse his readers. So we have to assume these references were very important to Luke’s audience, even if they make us feel a little lost.
Who Was Luke’s Audience?
It also seemed good to me, since I have carefully investigated everything from the very first, to write to you in an orderly sequence, most honorable Theophilus, that you may know the certainty of the things about which you have been instructed.
Luke doesn’t identify himself in the opening of his book, but he does identify his patron, Theophilus. No one really knows who Theophilus was, but scholars agree that he was probably a wealthy Gentile (non-Jewish) believer who sponsored Luke’s research and writing.
Scholars also agree that Theophilus was not the only intended audience for the book. Luke’s gospel account was read widely by Gentiles who had been taught the good news about Jesus and the Kingdom of God.
Question to Consider
If Luke is writing to Gentiles, why does he refer to so many Old Testament Prophets, Patriarchs, and Kings?
Allusions abound
The first two chapters of Luke alone are replete with references to Israel, the Old Testament, and Jewish religion and practice:
- The first scene opens in the Temple in Jerusalem with a Jewish priest offering incense (Luke 1:8-10).
- An angel appears, quoting an Old Testament prophecy about the children of Israel and the prophet Elijah (Luke 1:16-17, Malachi 4:5-6).
- There are multiple references to the fathers of Israel, like Abraham and Jacob/Israel (1:16, 33, 55, 68, and 73), to king David (1:27, 32, 69; 2:4, 11), and to the prophets (1:17, 70).
- Luke also incorporates Jewish religious practices (like circumcision in 2:21) into the story, and talks about obedience to the Mosaic Law, or “the Law of the Lord” (2:22-24).
Jesus was born into a Jewish context, and Israel is where the story takes place. But Luke seems to go out of his way to emphasize ancient Old Testament history, people, and prophecy. He begins the book in a very Israel-centric way.
Sitting in our 21st century context, it’s hard for us to grasp why Luke does this. Wouldn’t it have confused his Gentile readers? If Luke is trying to communicate that Jesus’ Kingdom is for everyone, not just the Jews, Why doesn’t he avoid references to the Old Testament? Why does he emphasize the “Jewishness” of Jesus?
Go Back in Time
To understand this, we’ll have to get into the minds of Luke’s original audience. In the first century, Christianity was a sect of Judaism. Remember, the first Christians were almost all Jews. Jesus was the Jewish Messiah, the One who had been promised to God’s people of Israel. Gentile believers, like Theophilus, were baptized into this faith, which they understood to be Judaism, or a sect of Judaism. That’s why there is so much arguing about which Jewish Laws (like circumcision) they have to follow in order to be a Christian (e.g. Acts 15:1). They have come to believe in the Jewish Messiah and they now associate themselves with the Jews.
But the Jews by and large rejected their Messiah, especially the Jewish religious leaders. In fact, this is a theme that Luke develops throughout the book. You’ll see the religious leaders grow in hatred of Jesus until their resentment reaches a murderous pitch. Even after the resurrection of Jesus, the religious establishment of Judaism rejected this Messiah and the growing sect of Jesus followers, or Christians, as they were later called.
Where does that leave the Gentile believers? They thought they converted to a sect of Judaism. They were baptized into the new faith, just as all Gentile Jewish converts were baptized in years past. But the leaders of Judaism are saying it’s all a lie. Have they been following a false religion? Is this Jesus movement really just a cult?
Rejection is Part of God’s Plan
Into this context of doubt and confusion Luke writes his narrative. He researches everything carefully. Luke, himself, is an eye witness of some of the events in the book of Acts. He interviews other eye-witnesses and uses written records to put together the facts. He wants the Gentile believers to be certain of their faith.
The Jews, by and large, may have rejected Jesus but that doesn’t mean that Jesus is not the Jewish Messiah. In fact, as Paul explains, this was God’s good plan: when the Jews rejected Jesus, God opened up His Kingdom to all the world (Romans 11). God’s Kingdom is not just a Jewish thing, but a global thing (Luke 24:47). (Don’t forget that Luke was a close companion of Paul, so Paul’s teachings about these things might help inform our reading of Luke.)
All Those Old Testament References Point to Jesus
Luke wanted his readers to be certain of what they had been taught: that Jesus was the Messiah King promised to the Jews; his death on the cross purchased salvation for ALL who would believe in Him; and his resurrection from the dead meant that they, too, could hope in eternal life. “ALL who believe in Him” includes Luke’s readers, Gentiles who have chosen to follow Jesus, the Jewish Messiah.
God made a promise to Abraham, the father of the nation of Israel. He promised him:
“...all the peoples on earth will be blessed through you [Abraham]…”
I think Luke has in mind that this promise was fulfilled with the coming of the Messiah King (1:54-55, 72-73). As salvation through repentance and forgiveness of sins is proclaimed in Jesus’ name throughout the world (24:47-48), “all the peoples of the earth” are being blessed. They are blessed as they come to know the One True God, the God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob, through His Son, Jesus the long awaited Christ.
Conclusion
Luke quotes extensively from the Old Testament because Christianity is not independent from Judaism. It is built upon the foundation of the history of the nation of Israel, which God, in His mercy, gave us to help us understand the Gospel. It helps to be aware of this so you can appreciate the Old Testament references as you study. They are meant by Luke to bless and enrich you, to build your faith.
If you are not familiar with the Old Testament, we want you to be able to access the richness of what Luke is doing. The Deeper Riches: Luke homework will take you right to many of these Old Testament references, and help you explore what they mean. I will also blog through some of these things as we journey through Luke together.
May God bless your study of the book of Luke. May he open up your mind to understand what is written concerning Jesus throughout all the Scriptures.
[Jesus] told them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.
Quotes from The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers.
Commentaries Consulted:
NIV Cultural Backgrounds Bible (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 2016)
Darrell L. Bock, The NIV Application Commentary: Luke (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1996)
R. T. France, Luke (Teach the Text Commentary Series) (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2013)
Leave a Reply