Week 25 Study Page - Malachi & Luke 1-10
Week #25 Study Page
Malachi (1-4)
Luke 1-10
Suggested Daily Reading Breakdown
Sunday – Malachi 1-2
Monday – Malachi 3-4
Tuesday – Luke 1-2
Wednesday – Luke 3-4
Thursday - Luke 5-6
Friday - Luke 7-8
Saturday – Luke 9-10
Degree of difficulty: 4 out of 10 (explanation:). This week's reading is only 14 chapters long (our average pace is 23/week)! However, we're not really taking it easy on you. Luke has some of the wordy-ist chapters in the Bible. If you measure by word-count, this week's reading is of average length. Malachi is a fun prophet to read because it seems to be consciously written at the end of the Old Testament Story, and looks forward to a new age. Malachi is roughly contemporaneous with Ezra and Nehemiah (see OT timeline below, which is something readers likely miss out on completely, because if you're reading cover-to-cover there are 22 books in-between those two! Malachi is the perfect companion to Ezra-Nehemaih. I think that it is sad that they are so seldom read together. Malachi completes the picture of a resistant and unfaithful people even after God had miraculously provided for them to be returned from Exile in Babylon and had blessed the reestablishment of worship in the Temple and the city of Jerusalem. in both the end of Nehemiah and into Malachi, you get the sense that, after a while, the re-established people of Israel consider God, His temple, and His worship, to be a lot of burdensome work without much reward. They seem to have forgotten all of God's miraculous provision, and Malachi attempts to point that out to them in response to all their complaining.
Luke, as mentioned above, has really long chapters. Our reading in the Gospel this week will keep a pretty orderly path through chapter 4, but then the episodic nature of the Galilean ministry will take over and you will be presented with a fast-paced assortment of miracles and teaching intended by Luke to show us the character, power, and intentions of the Savior. Like Matthew, the first Gospel that we read, Luke's timeline records the beginning of Jesus ministry as taking place exclusively in Galilee (that is well-north of Jerusalem, along the Jordan river, past Samaria) and then records a dramatic moment/change (9:51) where Jesus sets out, resolutely, for Jerusalem to fulfill his mission as Savior. When you're reading through, it may seem like you lose vision of the storyline in chapters 5-9, that is actually ok, those chapters are more of a collection than a narrative. just flip through the episodes and let each one inform you about who Jesus is and what he is here to do. More on Luke's gospel below.
About the Book(s)
Malachi
Date of Authorship: Malachi was written to the Israelite community in Jerusalem which had returned from Exile. Most OT Scholars place the date somewhere between 467 and 444 BC. (recall the Ezra returned in 458 and Nehemiah returned in 445). I side with those who theorize that Malachi was written just before the return and reforms of Ezra and Nehemiah - 467-458 BC (contrary to the timeline shown in the picture above). Malachi does not seem to be aware of any reform-effort in Jerusalem, so i think it is likely that Malachi's prophetic voice prepared Israel to respond so enthusiastically to the reforms of Ezra and Nehemiah described in those books.
Author: The name Malachi literally means "my messenger" leading some to wonder whether this is a proper name or a generic title for a prophet. Some ancient Jewish and Christian writers considered this book to be the work of Ezra (Targum, Jerome, & the Babylonian Talmud), but that theory is not well supported. We know very little about Malachi the man. While this would be the only time the proper name "Malachi" appears in the Old Testament, it is not unusual for Hebrew names to have the i ending meaning "my _______."
Purpose: Malachi speaks to a grumbling community who seem to be annoyed and dissatisfied by God. the structure of the book is organized around complaints of the people that Malachi is responding to. Malachi's response to the Israelite people reminds them of the great love that God has shown for Israel above other peoples, His incredible and miraculous provision for thiem, their own unfaithfulness that continues to this day, and a promise to purge or cull the people of God to bring about righteous followers
Luke
Date of Authorship: The Gospel of Luke was likely written in the mid-late 60's AD. during or Just after Paul's (second) imprisonment in Rome. This date would place it just a couple years before the authorship of Matthew, and no more than 10 years after the authorship of Mark, which most New Testament scholars believe both Matthew and Luke used to write their own Gospel accounts.
Author: Luke was a physician and a Christian convert who traveled and ministered with the apostle Paul. While we're not told directly, it seems like Luke is a Gentile (omitted from Colossians 4:10-14) , which would make him unique among all other Bible authors. Luke is also the Author of the book of Acts, where you will occasionally find him speaking in the first-person because he was a witness to many of the events of Paul's missionary Journeys described in the second half of the Book. He does not, however, speak in the first person in his Gospel, because he was not an eyewitness to Jesus ministry? so where does the Gospel of luke come from?
Provenance: Although Luke did not personally witness the ministry of Jesus, he produces the gospel that is regarded as best conforming to the modern-western expectations of historical literature. Furthermore, there are elements of Luke's Gospel that only appear in this account; including The Good Samaritan, the Prodigal Son, Jesus' encounter with Zacchaeus, and many of Jesus' words on the cross, including his promise of paradise to the thief on the cross. Luke tells us at the beginning of his Gospel that he had researched the account of Jesus life and attempted to produce an orderly account. He displays an almost certain familiarity with the gospel of Mark, and seems to also be working from more earlier sources be they verbal or written. Many have speculated that Luke would have had extensive opportunities to research the subject while Paul was imprisoned in Caesarea (Palestine) for two years, from 57-59 AD. During that time, it is likely that Luke was collecting written evidence, listening for authentic oral accounts in the Christian community, and interviewing eyewitnesses. One can imagine Luke traveling with Paul in the short number of years in-between Jesus earthly ministry and when the Gospels were written and circulated, and deciding to take all of these early accounts of Jesus ministry(some of them likely partial and episodic) and edit together an authoritative birth-to-resurrection account for Theophilus (Luke 1:3) and also for use in ministry.
Purpose: Luke does us a favor and explicitly states the purpose of his Gospel in 1:3-4. We'll discuss the themes of the Gospel of Luke below
"since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught."
As you Read Notes
Malachi 3:16 the "Scroll of Remembrance"
In Malachi 3 the names of the faithful remnant were written down in God's presence and they were promised deliverance from the day of the Lord. This scroll seems to be the image returned to in the New Testament with the book of life which is mentioned once in Philippians and six times in the book of Revelation.
The expression "scroll of remembrance" is found only here in Scripture, although the idea of God having a book in which he recorded entries is found elsewhere (e.g., Exodus 32:32; Psalm 139:16; Isaiah 4:3; 65:6; Ezekiel 13:9). Ancient Near Eastern kings often had a record written of the most important events in their reign. It was believed both in Israel and in the ancient Near East that deity kept books as well.
Malachi 3:5 "The Prophet Elijah"
Malachi ends with a very self-aware conclusion seemingly for all of the Old Testament. Malachi 3:4 seems especially disconected from the prophetic message and appropriate for the final words of the Old Testament canon. This parting message features the promise of Elijah who is to proceed the "great and dreadful day of the Lord" We'll see Elijah show up in three different passages of our Luke reading this week. It is not that Elijah would be reincarnated, but rather someone would come who does what Elijah did. This person was John the Baptist. In our Luke reading, John's father Zachariah is told by the angel Gabriel in the temple that his son would "go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah." Now would be a good time to recall what Elijah's function was as a prophet. He appeared when Israel was subsumed in Idolatry of the Canaanite God baal, and he turned the people's hearts against Baal back to the Lord at Mt. Carmel. Absolute in his demands for the worship of Yahweh, Elijah's imposing presence in the vestibule of the future age intimated a day of pure and absolute worship of Israel's God
Themes in Luke
There are four gospels, each telling the story of Jesus life and ministry in their own particular way. these accounts - while each describing the same historical events - are each shaped by their author, provenance, and audience. God inspired each of their accounts through the Holy Spirit so that we could have a complete, 360-degree understanding of the person and ministry of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Luke's gospel is an indispensable part of the testimony of Jesus. below are four particular themes of Luke's Gospel.
The Poor - Luke shows us Jesus particular concern, attention to, and even preference for the outcasts of society who are often described by Jesus as the "poor" in this gospel even though this category includes tax collectors who would have been financially well-off, but outcasts none the less. Paying attention to this theme as you read through this week's 10 chapters, will be a real eye-opener to how thoroughly it pervades this Gospel. Luke often pictures these outcasts as particularly responsive to the message of Jesus. Several of the teachings and stories that appear only in Luke's Gospel (not in the other 3) have to do with money, and the perils of wealth: John's admonition (3:10-14), the parable of the rich fool (12:13-21) the parable of the shrewd manager (16:1-13), the parable of the rich man and Lazarus (16:19-31) Jesus' encounter with Zachaeus (19:1-10). This Bible Project video does a good job of highlighting Jesus' focus on the outcasts in this book.
Emphasis on Gentiles - Luke himself was a gentile, so it should be of no surprise that Jesus' interactions with gentiles play a large roll in his account. Jesus is depicted as a Savior for all peoples from the beginning of Luke's Gospel. This is poignantly shown by the genealogy in Luke 3; whereas Matthew's Gospel only traces Jesus' lineage as far back as Abraham, Luke goes all the way back to Adam and Seth. Importantly, in a key moment of Luke's Gospel, when Jesus announces his ministry in Nazareth, He brings up God's grace in the Old Testament to gentiles like the widow of Zarephath and Naaman the Syrian
Salvation - Luke uses the verb "save" more than any other book in the New Testament. and this role of Jesus is featured in what is considered to be a key verse of Luke's Gospel, Jesus final comment in the Zacchaeus episode: "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost" (Luke 19:10). This theme is especially present in the birth narrative where it is repeatedly mentioned as the purpose of Jesus' arrival. If you set out to circle or underline each appearance of the words "save" or "salvation" this week your pen will stay very busy.
God's plan - The whole story of Jesus according to Luke is in the context of God's promises in the Old Testament to his people Israel (1:54-55, 68-79, 2:29-32). What happens in the ministry of Jesus (according to Luke) happens because God is working out a program that he had set in place long ago. Notice the frequent use of the phrase "it is necessary" in Luke's account: 2:49, 4:43, 9:22, 13:33, 17:25, 19:5, 22:37, 24:7.
Luke's Thesis Statement Luke 4:18-19
Luke records an opening scene to Jesus ministry in his hometown of Nazareth. Here Jesus reads a passage from the Old Testament that serves as a thesis statement for what will follow in the remainder of Luke's Gospel. This is undoubtedly one of the most important passages in the Gospel of Luke. Jesus quotes Isaiah 61 to announce that his mission here is one of rescue. He has been sent by God to lead a new exodus (a theme returned to in the transfiguration (Luke 9) wherein God's people are set free. When the Jews of the synagogue doubt Jesus stunning announcement that he is the Lord's anointed, He brings up the gentiles shown God's grace in the Old Testament, and is nearly killed for it. this is a pattern that will be repeated throughout the book.
Luke 7:18-35 John's Uncertainty and Jesus Response
John's question to Jesus in Luke 7 has always seemed surprising to me. Not only was John the Baptist the prophesied Elijah, but he was present for Jesus baptism in Luke 3 when the Spirit descended on him like a dove, and a voice from heaven declared Jesus to be God's son - how could he not know? His question in this passage is an important reminder that John was a human like all the other prophets and, like the disciples, he may have struggled to understand the larger-than-life purpose that Jesus was here to accomplish. Jesus had to respond to John in code (it is less pronounced in Luke, but the other gospels clearly show that Jesus resisted others declaring his true identity until the proper time - the triumphal entry), but his answer shows that Jesus is completely aware of who he is and what he is here to do. Jesus' response is a combination of passages from Isaiah which promise a new age that include Isaiah 29:18-19, 35:5 and 61:1 the latter being the same verse that Jesus quotes in the Nazareth synagogue in Luke 4.
Luke 9:51: The Structure of Luke
Luke divides Jesus ministry geographically with a few important markers. Most of our reading this week occured in Galilee, in the region shown in the adjacent map. Luke 9:51 marks the end of the Galilean ministry , which spanned 6 chapters and begins the journey to Jerusalem which is the longest section of Luke's Gospel;
1-3 Birth Narrative
4-9a Galilean Ministry - beginning with Jesus sermon at the synagogue in Nazareth
9b-19a Road to Jerusalem - beginning with Luke's narration in 9:51
19:b-24 Jerusalem Ministry - beginning with the triumphal entry