Stormcrow
Member
I've written this in several posts along the way, but I think it needs to be addressed in its very own thread. I don't have time to put everything that needs to be written in this OP, so will add as time permits.
The first thing that needs to be addressed is the most obvious: Luke was a Gentile, a Macedonian whom Paul converted on one of his missionary journeys (I'm "thumbnailing" this here. Feel free to explore further on your own).
Now some will disagree over the significance of this fact, but I think it's important when reading any of the synoptic gospels.
So when we read Luke's gospel - especially those passages that deal with the "end times" - we need to keep these things in mind.
Luke was perfectly suited to make the gospels of Matthew and Mark clearly understandable to both Gentiles and us, living 2,000 years later.
So why is this important? Because there is so much confusion about what Christ said as recorded in Matthew 24 and reading Luke's account of the Olivet Discourse - gathered after the fact when learning what all the apostles might have had to say about it - can really lift the fog over Matthew's words!
This is nowhere better exemplified than in what Matthew wrote here:
{15} "Therefore when you see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand)... Matthew 24:15-21 (NASB)
Matthew - a Jew - was writing to an audience - other Jews - that would've understood this allusion to Daniel. The unfortunate truth is that when this passage from Matthew is read today, many people think they know to what Matthew is referring in Daniel. However, when we read Luke's version, we can really know!
{20} "But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then recognize that her desolation is near. Luke 21:20 (NASB)
It's clear when reading the context of both Matthew 24 and Luke 21, they are referring to the same thing! The difference is that while Matthew assumes his readers know about what he's writing, Luke explains the allusion to Daniel in such a way that everyone gets it!
More later. Have to go. Don't take my word for it. Check it for yourself.
The first thing that needs to be addressed is the most obvious: Luke was a Gentile, a Macedonian whom Paul converted on one of his missionary journeys (I'm "thumbnailing" this here. Feel free to explore further on your own).
Now some will disagree over the significance of this fact, but I think it's important when reading any of the synoptic gospels.
- Luke was not one of Christ's earthly disciples.
- He was not there on the Mount of Olives.
- His gospel was written after Matthew and Mark had written both of theirs.
- He was a physician: a man of learning, not a tax collector or any of the Gallilean fishermen Christ recruited.
So when we read Luke's gospel - especially those passages that deal with the "end times" - we need to keep these things in mind.
Luke was perfectly suited to make the gospels of Matthew and Mark clearly understandable to both Gentiles and us, living 2,000 years later.
So why is this important? Because there is so much confusion about what Christ said as recorded in Matthew 24 and reading Luke's account of the Olivet Discourse - gathered after the fact when learning what all the apostles might have had to say about it - can really lift the fog over Matthew's words!
This is nowhere better exemplified than in what Matthew wrote here:
{15} "Therefore when you see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand)... Matthew 24:15-21 (NASB)
Matthew - a Jew - was writing to an audience - other Jews - that would've understood this allusion to Daniel. The unfortunate truth is that when this passage from Matthew is read today, many people think they know to what Matthew is referring in Daniel. However, when we read Luke's version, we can really know!
{20} "But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then recognize that her desolation is near. Luke 21:20 (NASB)
It's clear when reading the context of both Matthew 24 and Luke 21, they are referring to the same thing! The difference is that while Matthew assumes his readers know about what he's writing, Luke explains the allusion to Daniel in such a way that everyone gets it!
More later. Have to go. Don't take my word for it. Check it for yourself.