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Luke 1:1–24:53

Luke

About one third of the Gospel is a chiastically shaped journey narrative, moving Jesus inexorably towards his chosen fate in Jerusalem.

The Gospel journey narrative (Luke 9:51–19:40)

Victor M. Wilson, Divine Symmetries

Paired segments are well balanced in length; the center at 13:33 falls at verse 200 of 410. The third passion prediction (18:31–34) intrudes between C' and B' as an intentional, darkly ironic asymmetry.

  1. A
    Departure/rejection9:51–56
  2. B
    Following Jesus9:57–10:24
  3. C
    The way to eternal life10:25–42
  4. D
    Prayer11:1–13
  5. E
    Signs of the kingdom of God11:14–28
  6. F
    Faith among foreigners11:29–36
  7. G
    Stumbling blocks: too much law11:37–12:3
  8. H
    True riches: the Spirit12:4–34
  9. I
    When the Master returns12:35–59
  10. J
    Be changed or lost; cost of discipleship13:1–9
  11. K
    Bringing the exiled home: grace and the Kingdom13:10–30
  12. L
    "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets"13:31–35"it is impossible for a prophet to be killed outside of Jerusalem"; opens with "that fox" Herod (cf. 9:58) and closes with "Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord" (cf. 19:38)
  13. K′
    Bringing the exiled home: grace and the Kingdom14:1–24
  14. J′
    Be changed or lost; cost of discipleship14:25–35
  15. I′
    When the Lost are returned15:1–32
  16. H′
    False riches: love of money16:1–31
  17. G′
    Stumbling blocks: too little faith17:1–10
  18. F′
    Faith among foreigners17:11–19
  19. E′
    Signs of the Kingdom of God17:20–37
  20. D′
    Prayer18:1–14
  21. C′
    The way to eternal life18:15–30
  22. B′
    Following Jesus18:35–19:27
  23. A′
    Arrival and acceptance19:28–40

A/A' Departure and Arrival

Victor M. Wilson, Divine Symmetries

Departure and arrival form a neat inclusion around the journey, the genuine hostility of Samaria contrasting with the pretense of welcome in Jerusalem.

  1. A
    Departure9:51–56(1) departing for Jerusalem; (2) disciples sent ahead to a village; (3) instructions: make ready for arrival; (4) Jesus rejected going to Jerusalem; (5) disciples wish to condemn villagers; (6) Jesus denies the request
  2. A′
    Arrival19:28–40(1) arriving in Jerusalem; (2) disciples sent ahead to a village; (3) instructions: make ready for arrival; (4) Jesus welcomed arriving in Jerusalem; (5) Pharisees seek to condemn disciples; (6) Jesus denies the request

B/B' Following Jesus: sacrifices for the Kingdom

Victor M. Wilson, Divine Symmetries

  1. a
    Following unconditionally9:57–623 pledges to discipleship, 3 responses of Jesus
  2. b
    Instructions to the 7010:1–20on hospitality and giving from poverty
  3. c
    Blindness and faith10:21–24"Blessed are the eyes that see"
  4. c′
    Blindness and faith18:35–43a blind man sees in Jericho
  5. b′
    Zacchaeus19:1–10on hospitality and giving from wealth
  6. a′
    Serving unconditionally19:11–27parable: a rich man trusts 3 servants to be faithful

C/C' The Way to Eternal Life

Victor M. Wilson, Divine Symmetries

The outer panels (a/a') speak to love of neighbor; the central panels (b/b') illustrate love of God.

  1. a
    Parable: "What must I do to inherit eternal life?"10:25–37the good Samaritan; sacrifice and the use of possessions
  2. b
    Narrative: Martha and Mary10:38–42rebuke and affirmation; simplicity and the Kingdom
  3. b′
    Narrative: Jesus is brought children18:15–17rebuke and affirmation; simplicity and the Kingdom
  4. a′
    Parable: "What must I do to inherit eternal life?"18:18–30the rich ruler; sacrifice and the use of possessions

Passion Prediction #3: 12 disciples … 12 points (Luke 18:31–34)

Victor M. Wilson, Divine Symmetries

The third and most detailed of three passion predictions (cf. 9:21–27; 9:43–48); the one obvious imperfection in the symmetry of the journey.

  1. 1going up to Jerusalem18:31
  2. 2everything written will be accomplished18:31
  3. 3will be handed over to the Gentiles18:32
  4. 4will be mocked18:32
  5. 5insulted18:32
  6. 6spat upon18:32
  7. 7after they have flogged18:33
  8. 8killed18:33
  9. 9will rise18:33
  10. 10but the disciples understood nothing18:34
  11. 11it was hidden from them18:34
  12. 12did not grasp18:34

D/D' How to Pray

Victor M. Wilson, Divine Symmetries

Two examples of persistence in prayer (b/b') are enclosed within two examples of how to pray (a/a').

  1. a
    Teach us to pray11:1–4the Lord's Prayer
  2. b
    Parable: persistence in prayer11:5–13a friend at midnight
  3. b′
    Parable: persistence in prayer18:1–8the persistent widow and the judge
  4. a′
    How to pray: 2 contrasting prayers18:9–14parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector

E/E' Signs of the Kingdom

Victor M. Wilson, Divine Symmetries

At the core of this doublet stands the demand for a sign; the sign is already among you. Hinge: "Blessed are those who hear the word of God and obey it!" (11:28).

  1. 1Crowd
    Demand for a sign from heaven11:16
  2. 2Jesus
    "The kingdom of God has come to you"11:20
  3. 1′Pharisees
    "When is the kingdom of God coming?"17:20
  4. 2′Jesus
    "The kingdom of God is among you"17:21

F/F' Faith among Foreigners

Victor M. Wilson, Divine Symmetries

These two panels reaffirm the universal intent of the Gospel; they are aimed not at the religious leaders but at the crowd.

  1. F
    Nineveh and the Queen of Sheba11:29–36(1) Ninevites sought mercy and repented; (2) the Queen of Sheba came to listen; (3) Israel is not grateful
  2. F′
    The ten lepers17:11–19(1) outcast lepers seek mercy; are healed; (2) a foreigner alone returns to thank Jesus; (3) 9 Israelites (implied) are not grateful

G/G' Stumbling Blocks

Victor M. Wilson, Divine Symmetries

  1. G
    Too much Law11:37–12:3(1) woes directed at Pharisees; (2) 6 woes (11:42–52); (3) burden of too much law; (4) Pharisees: ask much, give little; (5) beware, "yeast of Pharisees" (12:2)
  2. G′
    Too little Faith17:1–10(1) woe to all who impede faith; (2) forgive 7 times? No, 70 x 7 (17:4); (3) power of little faith: mustard seed (17:5–6); (4) servants: give much, expect little; (5) beware those who cause others to stumble

I/I' When the Master Returns

Victor M. Wilson, Divine Symmetries

3 teachings: when the master returns; 3 parables: when the lost are found. Both panels deal with reconciliation, with reunions.

  1. 1
    Parable: the master's return12:35–40servants alert to the master's coming
  2. 2
    Parable: faithful/unfaithful slaves12:41–48diligent care of the master's possessions
  3. 3
    Teaching: stresses on the kingdom12:49–59a house divided and reconciliation
  4. 1′
    Parable: the lost sheep15:1–7a shepherd alert to a lost sheep
  5. 2′
    Parable: the lost coin15:8–10diligent search for lost possessions
  6. 3′
    Parable: prodigal son(s)/loving father15:11–32a house divided/reconciliation

J/J' Be Changed or Lost; the Cost of Discipleship

Victor M. Wilson, Divine Symmetries

In J', a cross, a tower, and salt's loss of potency parallel images in J, but the cost of discipleship moves beyond repentance to renunciation.

  1. J
    Two historical incidents and a parable13:1–9(1) portent of the crucifixion: "Galileans whose blood Pilate mingled with their sacrifices"; (2) cost of discipleship: "unless you repent you will all perish"; (3) a ruler and a conflict: governor Pilate; (4) Siloam, a tower that fell; (5) parable: a fig tree that does not produce; (6) if the tree does not bear fruit, "cut it down"
  2. J′
    A teaching, two parables and a similitude14:25–35(1) "whoever does not carry the cross … cannot be my disciple"; (2) "whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother cannot be my disciple"; (3) a ruler and a conflict: a king; (4) "which of you, intending to build a tower?"; (5) salt that has lost its taste; (6) if the salt has lost its taste, "throw it away"

K/K' Invitations to the Kingdom: Bringing the Exiled Home

Victor M. Wilson, Divine Symmetries

These texts turn social convention on its ear: the cast down and the small are exalted, the exalted humbled.

  1. a
    Religious leaders: on treating people with dignity13:10–16(1) Sabbaths: teaching on the Lord's day (13:10); (2) miracles: a crippled woman healed (13:11–13); (3) accusations: "does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his donkey …?" (13:15–16); (4) "his opponents were put to shame" (13:17)
  2. b
    2 x 2 parables: the small exalted13:18–21(1) kingdom is like a mustard seed: from the small, great things (13:18–19); (2) kingdom is like yeast: from a little, much (13:20–21)
  3. c
    Parables on the messianic banquet: seeking entry to the kingdom13:22–30the in are out, the out are in
  4. a′
    Religious leaders: on treating people with dignity14:1–6(1) eating a meal on the Sabbath (14:1); (2) a man with dropsy healed (14:2–4); (3) "if one of you has a child or an ox that has fallen into a well …?" (14:5); (4) "they could not reply to this" (14:6)
  5. b′
    2 x 2 parables: the exalted humbled14:7–14(1) banquet invitations: humbled exalted, the exalted humbled (14:7–11); (2) dinner invitations: invite the friendless poor (14:12–14)
  6. c′
    Parables on the messianic banquet: invitations to the Kingdom14:15–24the invited are out, the outcast are in