Luke (2 Volumes)

Summary

Luke gives us a richly textured account of the life, teaching, death, and resurrection of Jesus, written with an evident concern for historical grounding, theological clarity, and the formation of confident disciples. A commentary on Luke therefore needs to do several things at once. It must respect Luke’s careful narrative shaping, it must take seriously the historical and cultural setting, and it must help us trace the Gospel’s movement toward the saving work of Christ. Darrell L. Bock’s two volume treatment has long been valued for precisely that combination of breadth and detail. It is technical work, but it is technical work that aims to serve careful teaching and preaching.

Because Luke is lengthy and densely packed, preachers can easily lose the thread. We might become absorbed in details, or we might flatten the Gospel into a generic story of Jesus doing good things. Bock helps us avoid both errors. He regularly draws attention to Luke’s emphases, such as God’s sovereign plan, the ministry of the Spirit, the reversal themes that lift up the humble and confront the self secure, and the patient movement toward Jerusalem where Jesus fulfils His mission. Luke is not merely reporting events. He is persuading us that God has acted decisively in Jesus to save His people and to establish His kingdom.

For ministry use, a two volume commentary also creates space. It allows for close engagement with difficult passages and careful discussion of interpretive options without being forced into oversimplification. When we are preaching through Luke, those details matter. They shape the confidence with which we speak, and they protect us from careless readings that can easily become popular but unfaithful.

Strengths

One clear strength is comprehensiveness. Luke’s narrative includes parables, travel sections, conflict stories, miracle accounts, and teaching that is unique in the Synoptics. Bock gives sustained attention to each unit. That is particularly valuable where familiar passages can be mishandled. For example, Luke’s parables are often pulled into moral lessons detached from the Gospel’s larger burden. A careful commentary keeps them in their narrative and theological setting, and that strengthens both our preaching and our people.

Another strength is attention to Luke’s theological themes. Bock repeatedly helps us see what Luke is emphasising about the character of God, the identity of Jesus, and the nature of true discipleship. Luke’s Gospel is full of grace, but it is not sentimental. It confronts pride, exposes false security, and calls for repentance and faith that shows itself in costly following. When we see that clearly, our sermons avoid the trap of presenting Jesus as merely an inspiring teacher. We are led to proclaim Him as the saving Lord who demands our whole life.

Bock also offers careful handling of historical and cultural questions. Luke is often discussed in relation to sources, context, and purpose. While we do not need to be consumed by debates, we do need enough grounding to answer real questions that arise in the minds of our congregations. A technical resource helps us here. It gives us confidence to address objections, clarify misunderstandings, and show that the Christian faith is rooted in real history and coherent testimony.

Limitations

The primary limitation is the time cost. Two volumes of technical work are not for a quick glance. Pastors in busy seasons may struggle to consult it as fully as it deserves. We will likely use it selectively, focusing on the passages that most require careful attention. Another limitation is that technical discussion can sometimes feel distant from the warmth of Luke’s narrative. Luke wants us to marvel at the mercy of God and the beauty of Christ. Bock provides the scaffolding for that, but we still need to do the homiletical work of turning detailed study into clear proclamation and heartfelt appeal.

How We Would Use It

We would treat Bock as a primary technical anchor for a preaching series through Luke. After mapping the wider movement of the Gospel and placing each passage within its immediate context, we would consult this commentary to confirm interpretive decisions, clarify key terms, and trace Luke’s thematic emphases. It is particularly helpful when preaching longer narrative units, where we need to keep the main point in view and resist the temptation to preach every detail equally.

We would also use it for training. Luke is a wonderful Gospel for shaping new preachers, because it combines narrative, doctrine, and strong calls to discipleship. A careful technical guide can help pastors in training see how patient exegesis fuels faithful preaching, and how careful context work protects the Gospel’s meaning.

Closing Recommendation

This is a substantial, technical, and widely useful resource for serious work in Luke. If we are prepared to give it time, it can strengthen our grasp of Luke’s message and deepen our preaching of Christ in a Gospel that is both historically grounded and spiritually searching.