Luke

Luke's Gospel contracts with the other Gospels - the energy of Mark, the mystical poetry of John, the specifically Jewish focus of Matthew. He writes with the dignity and calm of contemporary historians.

Luke moves in a richer, more sophisticated world than do the other evangelists. This may be why he puts such stress on the dangers of wealth and on God's blessing for the poor.

Acceptance of the Gospel means a complete reversal of worldly standards of success. And throughout his Gospel, Luke shows by constant little touches his awareness that the Good News of Jesus will spread beyond the people of Israel - as he will narrate in his second volume, The Acts of the Apostles.

Henry Wansbrough OSB is Master of St Benet's Hall, Oxford, and editor of The New Jerusalem Bible.Besides lecturing and broadcasting both in England and in the USA, he is a regular contributor to BRF's 'New Daylight' Bible reading notes.He is the only English member of the Pope's Biblical Commission.

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