A Jewish Bible Companion (Part 17 of 0)

A Reading Plan for the Gospel of Luke (8) – Part eighteen

Up to now our study of Luke has focused on parallels to the Torah. These parallels suggest that Luke intended his gospel to be read as a series of weekly portions that line up with the corresponding weekly portions from the Torah. We have also seen that he provides readings appropriate for one-day, Gentile celebrations of the major Jewish festivals: Passover, Pentecost, Trumpets, Atonement, Tabernacles, and Hanukkah. Readings suited to these festivals come at the correct intervals in Luke. Such connections between the annual Jewish reading plan and our reading plan for Luke, as set forth in these studies, give us some confidence that we are not far from Luke’s original plan.

Luke’s purpose in providing a series of weekly readings that line up with the Torah readings is to show that the gospel story was a fulfillment of the law (Lk. 1:1 RV; 16:17). This fulfillment is not a vague, random fulfillment discussed occasionally in his gospel. Rather, it is a detailed, foreordained, fulfillment which Luke describes every week, week in and week out.

But Luke has more in mind than this. He also wants to show that the gospel story is a fulfillment of the prophets. Like the fulfillment of the law, this is not a haphazard fulfillment. Again, the fulfillment is proven with definitive, detailed parallels, this time to the Former Prophets (Joshua, Judges, Samuel and Kings).

God willing, this will be the rust of several articles discussing the parallels between Luke’s gospel and the Former Prophets. As we shall see, there are several lengthy sequences of detailed parallels.

The Reading Plan for the Former Prophets

Recall that each week, after the reading from the Torah was complete, the Jews would read a portion from the prophets. While the sequence of prophetic readings is an apparent hodge-podge, actually, they have been carefully chosen to align with the weekly Torah readings. They do not, however, even come close to covering the whole content of the prophetic books.

It is possible, or perhaps even probable, that originally each of the prophets was read in a sequence of its own throughout a year. That is, each year the Jews would read one of the five “books” of prophecy: either the Former Prophets, or Isaiah, or Jeremiah, or Ezekiel, or the Twelve minor prophets. For that year, they would read that single prophet in a sequence of weekly readings that would take them through the entire book. It would be similar to what we do today, only with weekly portions instead of daily portions. From year to year they would rotate through the prophetic books.

In the articles for the 4/93 and 5/93 Tidings, I gave a reading plan for the Former Prophets or Histories and discussed parallels between these readings and the Torah readings. The parallels for Joshua and Judges were impressive. The readings for Joshua not only had detailed parallels back to Genesis, but they also lined up perfectly with the readings from Genesis. The readings for Judges also had detailed parallels back to Genesis.

Luke and the Former Prophets

Now let’s turn to Luke and his parallels to the Former Prophets. In this article, we discuss parallels in Luke’s first two weekly readings, that is, in his readings for weeks 5 and 6 (see the reading plan for Luke in the 11/93 Tidings). As we will see, both readings are filled with allusions to the Former Prophets.

Luke proves that John and Jesus fulfill the Former Prophets in at least three different ways. Specifically, in the Former Prophets, there are

  1. Two angelic visitations to announce God’s intentions:
    1. To Gideon (Jdg. 6 in week 5) and
    2. To Manoah and his wife (Jdg. 13 in week 7);
  2. Two divine conceptions and births:
    1. Samson to Manoah and his wife (Jdg. 13 in week 7) and
    2. Samuel to Hannah (1 Sam. 1-2 in week 9);
  3. The forerunner and the Savior-King:
    1. Samuel (1 Sam. 1, etc.) and
    2. David (1 Sam. 16, etc.).

John and Jesus fulfill each of these pairs. Luke’s record of the announcement and birth of John to Zacharias and Elisabeth read in week 5 (Lk. 1:5-25 the promise of John) and week 7 (Lk. 1:57-80 the birth of John) is written to demonstrate that these events were a fulfillment of the angelic visitation to Gideon (Al), of the divine conception and birth of Samson (B1), and of Samuel as the forerunner to David (Cl). Furthermore, Luke’s record of the announcement and birth of Jesus to Mary read in week 6 (Lk. 1:26-56 the promise of Jesus) and week 8 (Lk. 2:1-40 the birth of Jesus), shows that these events were a fulfillment of the angelic visitation to Manoah and his wife (A2), the divine conception and birth of Samuel (A3), and of David (C2).

Week 5: The Announcement of John

Luke’s reading for week 5 is Luke 1:5-25, the angelic visit to Zacharias to announce the upcoming birth of John the Baptist. This reading has parallels to the Former Prophet readings for weeks 5, 7, and 9.

Parallels to Gideon

The Former Prophet reading for week 5 is Judges 6-9, Gideon and Abime­lech, which includes the angelic visitation to Gideon (Jdg. 6).

  • 5a. An angel appeared unto him — In both readings, the appearance of an angel is key. “There appeared unto [Zacharias] an angel of the Lord” (Lk. 1:11). “There came an angel of the Lord…And the angel of the Lord appeared unto [Gideon]” (Jdg. 6:11-12).
  • 5b. Fear not — “When Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias” (Lk. 1:12-13), which is the same comfort given to Gideon, “The Lord said unto [Gideon]…Fear not” (Jdg. 6:23).
  • 5c. Filled with the Spirit — “[John the Baptist] shall be filled with the Holy Spirit” (Lk. 1:15) like “The Spirit of the Lord came upon Gideon” (Jdg. 6:34).
  • 5d. How will I know this? — “Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this?” (Lk. 1:18) recalls Gideon’s requests concerning the fleece (Jdg. 6:36-40). Both require reasons to believe the words of the angel.

Parallels to Manoah and his wife

Luke’s reading for week 7 is Luke 1:57-80, the birth of John, and it is read alongside Judges 13-16, which includes the birth of Samson. Samson is a type of John the Baptist, so it is natural for Luke to bring forward references to the angelic visit in which that upcoming birth was proclaimed.

  • 5e. Barren — “[Zacharias and Elisabeth] had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren” (Lk. 1:7) just like “[Manoah’s] wife was barren” (Jdg. 13:2).
  • 5f. An angel appeared — “There appeared unto [Zacharias] an angel of the Lord” (Lk. 1:11) just as “the angel of the Lord appeared unto [Manoah’s wife]” (Jdg. 13:3).
  • 5g. She will bear a son — The angel told Zacharias that his wife would “bear a son” (Lk. 1:13) just as the angel had told Manoah’s wife that she would “bear a son” (Jdg. 13:3,7).
  • 5h. No wine or strong drink — The Nazarite John the Baptist would “drink no wine nor strong drink” (Lk. 1:15 RV)just as the Nazarite Samson would “drink no wine or strong drink” (Jdg. 13:4,7,14; cp. Num. 6:3).
  • 5i. Filled with the Spirit — “[John the Baptist] shall be filled with the Holy Spirit” (Lk. 1:15) recalls “the Spirit of the Lord began to move [Samson]” (Jdg. 13:25).
  • 5j. He had seen a vision — “[The people] perceived that he had seen a vision” (Lk. 1:22) parallels “Manoah knew that he was an angel of the Lord” (Jdg. 13:21).

Parallels to Hannah

Samuel, whose birth is told in the Former Prophet reading for week 9, is also a type of John the Baptist.

  • 5k. No child, barren — “[Zacharias and Elisabeth] had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren” (Lk. 1:7) just as “Hannah had no children…the Lord had shut up her womb” (I Sam. 1:2,5,6).
  • 5l. Thy prayer is heard — “The angel said to [Zacharias]…thy prayer is heard” (Lk. 1:13) just as Eli had said to Hannah, “The God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him” (I Sam. 1:17).
  • 5m. Jo-Hannah — “Thou shalt call his name John” (Lk. 1:13). In Greek “John” is “Jo-Hannah”, that is “Yah-Hannah,” an explicit reference to Hannah (I Sam. 1-2).
  • 5n. Nazarite — The Nazarite Samuel (I Sam. 1:11; cp. Num. 6:5) is a type of the Nazarite John the Baptist (Lk. 1:15 RV; cp. Num. 6:3).

Week 6: The Announcement of Jesus

Luke’s reading for week 6 is Luke 1:26-56, the angelic visit to Mary to announce the upcoming birth of Jesus. This reading has parallels to the Former Prophet readings for weeks 6, 7, and 9.

Parallels to Jephthah’s daughter

The Former Prophet reading for week 6 is Judges 10-12, Jephthah, which includes the “offering” of Jephthah’s virgin daughter. Jephthah’s daughter is a type of Mary.

  • 6a. A virgin — Mary was a virgin (Lk. 1:27) and Jephthah’s daughter was a virgin (Jdg. 11:37-38).
  • 6b. She knew no man — “Mary said unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?” (Lk. 1:34 RV) paralleling Jephthah’s daughter, who also “knew no man” (Jdg. 11:39).
  • 6c. Let it be unto me according to thy word — Jephthah’s daughter had said, “Do to me according to that which hath proceeded out of thy mouth” (Jdg. 11:36). Similarly, “Mary said…be it unto me according to thy word” (Lk. 1:38).

Parallels to Manoah and his wife

The announcement of Jesus to Mary also parallels the announcement of Samson to Manoah and his wife.

  • 6d. An angel appeared unto her — The angel Gabriel appeared unto Mary (Lk. 1:26) just as the angel had appeared unto Manoah’s wife (Jdg. 13:3).
  • 6e. From whence — Mary wonders what the angel’s “manner” of salutation is (Lk. 1:29). Vine says that the Greek word translated “what manner” literally means “from what country.” Though she wondered, apparently Mary did not ask the angel where he was from, providing a parallel to Manoah’s wife, who told Manoah that she “asked him not whence he was” (Jdg. 13:6).
  • 6f. Conceive and bear a son — Gabriel tells Mary that she would conceive and bear a son (Lk. 1:31) just as the angel had told Manoah’s wife that she would conceive and bear a son (Jdg. 13:3,5,7).
  • 6g. Let thy words come to pass — “Mary said…be it unto me according to thy word” (Lk. 1:38) using language similar to that used by Manoah, “Let thy words come to pass” (Jdg. 13:12).

Parallels to Hannah

Mary’s song (Lk. 1:46-55) has many parallels back to Hannah’s song (I Sam. 2:1-10). Perhaps Mary was following up on Hannah’s inspired hints. “I rejoice in [Jesus]” (I Sam. 2:1). “He shall…exalt the horn of his [Christ]” (I Sam. 2:10). “The barren hath born seven” (I Sam. 2:5), but Hannah had at most six children (v. 21), leaving at least one more to be born to Mary. The parallels are well-known, but we list some of them here.

  • 6i. Thou hast found grace with God — The angel said to Mary that she had “found grace with God” (Lk. 1:30 RV) recalls Hannah’s (Heb. “grace”) request of Eli, “Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight” (I Sam. 1:18).
  • 6j. Handmaid — Mary’s “Behold, the handmaid of the Lord” (Lk. 1:38) recalls Hannah’s vow (I Sam. 1:11).
  • 6k. Look upon thy handmaiden — Mary’s “He hath looked upon the low estate of his handmaiden” (Lk. 1:48 RV) parallels Hannah’s “If thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid” (I Sam. 1:11).
  • 6l. Holy is his name — Mary’s “Holy is his name” (Lk. 1:49) echoes “There is none holy as the Lord” (I Sam. 2:2).
  • 6m. Strength — “He hath shewed strength with his arm” (Lk. 1:51) recalls “They that stumbled are girded with strength” (I Sam. 2:4).
  • 6n. Proud — “He hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts” (Lk. 1:51) parallels “Talk no more so exceeding proudly” (I Sam. 2:3).