Expositor's Bible: The Gospel of St Luke

In Short

Henry Burton’s The Gospel of St. Luke offers a reflective commentary on the third Gospel, examining its themes of divine mercy, human redemption, and the sanctification of ordinary life. Burton explores the narrative from the announcements of John the Baptist and Jesus to the agony of Gethsemane and the quiet victory of the Resurrection. He highlights Luke’s focus on the poor, the outcast, and the universal scope of the Gospel message. Lasting as a standard volume in The Expositor’s Bible series, the work endures because it balances spiritual insight with thoughtful literary analysis, bridging biblical text and human experience.

The Story

The volume opens by establishing the four Gospels as complementary reflections of a single Christ, describing them as four distinct lights that weave together a whole vision of divine truth. Burton then turns directly to the narrative arc of Luke’s text, beginning in the quiet shadows of the Jerusalem Temple. Here, the aged priest Zacharias receives the angelic announcement of John the Baptist's birth. Confused by the promise, Zacharias falls into unbelief and is struck mute, carrying a secret silence until the promise comes to pass. From the temple courts, the story moves north to Nazareth, an obscure, forgotten town that Burton identifies with the prophetic branch, or Netser, destined to bear holy fruit.

As the narrative unfolds, divine revelation meets ordinary people in their daily labor. Angels announce the birth of Christ not to high priests or kings, but to humble shepherds tending their flocks by night. Burton stresses that sacred callings do not require retirement from the world; rather, the temple of work stands right alongside the temple of worship. This theme continues as Jesus begins His public ministry, passing through towns, teaching in synagogues, and calling fishermen like Peter, James, and John from their nets to become fishers of men. Along the way, Jesus meets both intense faith and deep doubt. Even John the Baptist, imprisoned in Herod’s dungeon, experiences a crisis of faith and sends messengers to ask if Jesus is truly the Messiah. Jesus responds not with direct claims, but by pointing to His works: the blind see, the lame walk, and the poor hear good news.

Throughout His travels, Jesus exposes the boundaries of human self-righteousness while uplifting the humble. At a dinner hosted by Simon the Pharisee, a penitent woman washes Jesus’s feet with tears and perfumes them with ointment, receiving forgiveness while the proud host sits in quiet judgment. Jesus uses parables—such as the Sower, the Good Samaritan, and the Prodigal Son—to show that God’s kingdom welcomes those who recognize their own spiritual poverty. His journey leads steadily toward Jerusalem, where the narrative reaches its climax in the dark quiet of Gethsemane. There, Jesus experiences intense agony, submitting His will completely to the Father while His disciples fall asleep. Betrayed and condemned, He dies on the cross as a voluntary sacrifice, taking upon Himself the sin of the world and opening the way to God. The narrative concludes with the transformation of grief into joy on the first Lord’s day, as the empty tomb reveals a conquered death.

How It Unfolds

The prophetic dawn The narrative begins with the angelic vision given to Zacharias in the Temple, promising a son who will prepare the way for the Messiah. Suspicious of the message, the old priest is struck mute as a sign, entering a season of silent expectation.

The hidden home in Nazareth Burton turns to Nazareth, noting how an obscure and disregarded town fulfills ancient prophecy. Within this quiet setting, the Christ-life takes shape, showing how divine plans often begin in humble, overlooked places.

The call among the workers The Gospel revelation reaches working people first, from shepherds in the field to fishermen by the sea. Jesus calls His first disciples from their daily labors, changing their common work into a mission to gather human souls into the kingdom.

The battle of wills In the wilderness, Jesus faces direct temptation from Satan, refusing to bend the Father's will to suit His own needs. His absolute obedience stands in sharp contrast to human failure, setting the moral foundation for His entire ministry.

The ministry of mercy Moving through Galilean synagogues and homes, Jesus offers healing, forgiveness, and parables to all who seek Him. He defends the outcast, commends the faith of a Roman centurion, and offers peace to a penitent woman at a Pharisee’s table.

The agony and the cross The narrative darkens as Jesus enters Gethsemane, enduring intense mental agony and bloody sweat while submitting to His Father’s path. On Calvary, He lays down His life as a voluntary sacrifice, bearing human sin in dark solitude.

The quiet victory The narrative finishes with the dawning light of the Resurrection on the first Lord’s day. The veil of the temple is torn, death is defeated, and the path into God's presence opens to all.

The People

• Jesus Christ: The central focus of the commentary, who seeks to accomplish the Father's will by offering Himself as a voluntary sacrifice for humanity. He moves through human life identifying with the poor and outcast, while enduring temptation, grief, and the agony of the cross to bring eternal redemption.

• Zacharias: A righteous priest who desires a child but falters when an angel promises him a son in his old age. His temporary unbelief brings upon him a divine seal of silence, leaving him to quietly ponder the unfolding mystery until John's birth.

• John the Baptist: The prophetic voice crying in the wilderness who points others to the Lamb of God. When imprisoned by Herod, he experiences deep dejection and doubt, sending disciples to question Jesus before being reassured by the works of mercy he hears reported.

• Simon the Pharisee: A religious leader who invites Jesus to dinner but fails to show Him common hospitality. He views the penitent woman with judgment, missing the nature of divine forgiveness until Jesus gently exposes his coldness of heart.

• Simon Peter: A fisherman called from his nets to follow Jesus, who struggles with the weakness of his human nature. Though he promises to follow his Master unto death, he falls asleep during Jesus's agony in Gethsemane, demonstrating his need for spiritual growth.

In Its Own Voice

"The temple of Worship and the temple of Work are not separated by indefinable spaces; they are contiguous, leaning upon each other, while they both front the same Divine purpose."

Burton explains that ordinary earthly labor is not distinct from holy service, but rather forms an essential part of a life devoted to God.

"To go before God is to go without God, and to go without Him is to go against Him; and as to the angels bearing Him up in their hands, that depends altogether upon the path and the errand."

Reflecting on the wilderness temptations, Burton stresses that divine protection belongs only to those who walk obediently within God's chosen path.

"Bank it up, give it no outlet, and your wealth becomes a stagnant pool, breeding malaria and burning fevers; but open the channel, give it an outlet, and it will bring life and music to a thousand lower vales..."

Burton warns against the spiritual dangers of holding wealth selfishly, arguing that material goods are meant to be held in trust for others.

What It's Really About

Burton’s commentary centers on the complete reconciliation between God and humanity through Jesus Christ. The author argues that true religion does not exist in isolated ritual or rigid legalism, but in the transformation of the human heart through faith, love, and obedience. By examining Luke’s Gospel, Burton highlights how the divine breaks into everyday human life—sanctifying ordinary labor, welcoming the outcast, and dismantling human self-sufficiency.

The work explores the persistent conflict between self-will and divine surrender. Whether analyzing the silence of Zacharias, the doubts of John the Baptist, or the agony in Gethsemane, Burton shows that spiritual life requires placing human desire under the higher will of God. Wealth, power, and religious status are portrayed as potential traps that harden the heart, whereas spiritual poverty opens the door to divine mercy and lasting peace.

Why Read It Today

The Gospel of St. Luke offers a thoughtful, deeply reflective study for readers seeking a traditional nineteenth-century devotional commentary. Burton writes with clear, expressive prose that avoids academic dryness, making complex theological concepts accessible to a general reader. His emphasis on finding spiritual purpose within daily work and routine life remains relatable, offering a grounded perspective on balancing spiritual devotion with practical duty.

Readers should be prepared for the characteristic style of late-Victorian religious writing. The text contains frequent biblical citations, formal vocabulary, and traditional theological phrasing that reflects its period. Burton assumes a high degree of familiarity with both the Old and New Testaments, frequently drawing connections between obscure Hebrew words and Gospel passages. Despite these period features, the book’s warm tone, keen psychological insights into biblical figures, and gentle moral wisdom provide a rewarding experience for anyone interested in classic biblical exposition and commentary.