Deck 7: Jesus, the Rejected Prophet: The Gospel According to Luke

Question 1

Do a comparative analysis of Matthew's and Luke's temptation narratives. What do these tell us about the author's emphases? (The instructor might provide the narratives [Matt 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-13] to the students for analysis.)

Answer 1

The temptation narrative in Matthew and Luke are almost identical and were taken from Q. Jesus experiences the same temptations in each Gospel, but the order is different. Both begin with Jesus being tempted to turn stones to bread. The second temptation in Matthew is to jump from the top of the Temple; the second temptation in Luke is to worship Satan. The third temptation is switched in these Gospels. By ending the narrative with Jesus at the Temple, Luke underscores the importance of Jerusalem.

Question 2

In what ways does Luke depict Jesus as a rejected Jewish prophet?

Answer 2

Throughout Luke's Gospel, Jesus is portrayed as a prophet of God; he fully expects to be rejected as Jewish prophet and die as a Jewish prophet. He begins his ministry by publicly referencing his prophetic status in the synagogue of his hometown. By comparing Jesus' persecution to that of God's other prophets, Luke focuses on the appropriate response to a prophet's message: repentance. Jesus' death, according to this Gospel, does not itself bring salvation. Salvation comes to the people when they realize the unjustness of Jesus' death and repent.

Question 3

Discuss the distinctive features of Luke's passion narrative. How does Luke understand the meaning of Jesus' death? How is Luke's explanation of Jesus' death different from that of Mark and Matthew?

Answer 3

There are several important differences between Luke's and Matthew's/Mark's passion narratives. Luke's story focuses on Jesus' innocence and the unjust execution of an innocent man. Perhaps the most noticeable difference is the introduction of a trial before Herod. In addition to Pilate's declaration of Jesus' innocence (three times), Luke offers another verdict of innocence from a different leader, Herod. Now both gentile and Jewish authorities have declared Jesus innocent of charges. Luke also lists the specific charges leveled against Jesus. A careful reader will notice that all of the charges are false. Like other prophets, Jesus knows that he must die and does so willingly. On the cross, Jesus does not cry out "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?" but "Into your hands I commend my spirit." After Jesus' death, the centurion does not confess that Jesus was the Son of God (as in Mark and Matthew) but that Jesus was innocent.

Question 4

Discuss the ways Luke ties Jesus to the Jerusalem Temple. Why is Jesus' connection to Jerusalem so important for Luke's message?

Question 5

Which of the following analyzes the similarities and differences between texts, irrespective of their sources?

A) genre criticism
B) comparative method
C) four-source hypothesis
D) Markan priority

Question 6

The Gospel of Luke was probably written _____.

A) before Mark
B) before Matthew
C) about the same time as Mark
D) after Mark

Question 7

The Gospel of Luke came to be attributed to a man who was thought to be _____.

A) a tax collector
B) a Roman governor
C) a disciple
D) a companion of Paul

Question 8

Luke differs from the other Gospels because _____.

A) it is not a biography
B) it focuses on Peter
C) it has a sequel
D) an angel appears to Joseph

Question 9

Luke's Gospel begins with _____.

A) Jesus' baptism
B) the Sermon on the Mount
C) a preface
D) an angel appearing to Joseph

Question 10

Luke's author states that _____.

A) he is an eyewitness to Jesus' ministry
B) he used written sources
C) he used only eyewitness reports
D) he used Q

Question 11

A reasoned defense of a person's beliefs is called _____.

A) an apology
B) biography
C) prophecy
D) narrative

Question 12

Scholars think that Luke's Gospel might be dedicated to any of the following except _____.

A) Theophilus
B) the church
C) the beloved of God
D) Pilate

Question 13

In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus' birth narrative parallels that of _____.

A) Moses
B) Abraham
C) Samuel
D) Paul

Question 14

In Luke, the hometown of Jesus' parents is _____.

A) Bethlehem
B) Nazareth
C) Jerusalem
D) Caesarea

Question 15

All of the following are parts of Luke's birth narrative except _____.

A) Magi
B) shepherds
C) a census
D) Gabriel's appearance to Mary

Question 16

Which of the following stories is only found in Luke?

A) the Magi
B) the virgin birth
C) Jesus' birth in Bethlehem
D) Jesus teaching in the Temple when he was twelve years old

Question 17

In Luke, the resurrected Jesus tells the disciples to _____.

A) remain in Jerusalem
B) hurry to Bethlehem
C) go to Galilee
D) return to the Garden of Gethsemane

Question 18

Luke's genealogy culminates with _____.

A) God
B) Abraham
C) David
D) Moses

Question 19

In Luke's temptation narrative, Jesus' final temptation is _____.

A) turning stone into bread
B) turning water into wine
C) jumping from the top of the Temple
D) worshiping Satan

Question 20

In one of his sermons in Luke, Jesus compares himself to _____.

A) Moses
B) a prophet
C) David
D) Paul

Question 21

From the beginning, Luke's Jesus expects to be _____.

A) recognized
B) followed
C) rejected
D) king

Question 22

In Luke, when people reject Jesus, _____.

A) they reject God
B) they reject the Pharisees
C) they embrace the Law
D) it means nothing

Question 23

In Jewish tradition, a prophet was _____.

A) clairvoyant
B) wrong
C) a messenger of God
D) a magician

Question 24

Jesus knows that as a prophet, all of the following will happen to him except that _____.

A) he will suffer.
B) he will die.
C) he will become the High Priest.
D) he will be rejected.

Question 25

When it is time for Jesus to die in Luke, he _____.

A) is resistant
B) is angry with God
C) feels abandoned by God
D) is ready

Question 26

All of the following are said at Jesus' crucifixion in Luke except _____.

A) "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?"
B) "Father forgive them."
C) "Into your hands I commend my spirit."
D) "Surely this man was innocent."

Question 27

According to Luke, Jesus' death _____.

A) atones for humanity's sins
B) encourages people to repent
C) serves as a sacrifice
D) is meaningless

Question 28

In the Gospel of Luke, the Temple curtain tears _____.

A) before Jesus dies
B) after Jesus dies
C) to show people they have full access to God
D) when Jesus is resurrected

Question 29

When Jesus raises the son of a widow from the dead in Luke, it is reminiscent of _____.

A) what he had also done as a child
B) the prophet Elijah
C) the prophecies at the beginning of the book
D) the miracles of Moses

Question 30

According to Luke, the most grievous sin is _____.

A) following the Law
B) being Jewish
C) denying the virgin birth
D) killing God's prophet

Question 31

Luke suggests that the gospel came to the gentiles because _____.

A) the Jews rejected it
B) God broke his promise to the Jews
C) the Jews were never God's chosen people
D) the gentiles were better than the Jews

Question 32

Luke does not believe the end of the age will come immediately because _____.

A) Jesus was wrong
B) the gospel must be spread throughout the world
C) Jesus is not yet in power
D) God has rejected all of humanity

Question 33

Which of the following is not related to Luke's social interests?

A) the delay of the end of time
B) Luke's attention to women
C) Luke's particular version of the Beatitudes
D) Luke's genealogy

Question 34

The Infancy Gospel of Thomas _____.

A) combines the birth narratives of Matthew and Luke
B) reports Jesus' birth from Thomas' point of view
C) tells stories about Jesus' childhood
D) reports the birth of Jesus' disciple, Thomas