St. Luke’s Gospel has been called the loveliest book in the world, because the author is clearly a story-telling artist, with an eye for vivid detail.Luke was a doctor by profession, a Greek and a Gentile; he is the only New Testament writer who is not a Jew. In Luke more than in any of the other three Gospels, Jesus is shown as the Saviour of the world, Jew and Gentile, saint and sinner alike. Keeping that in mind, let us now look at a number of unique characteristics of Luke’s Gospel:

1. In his first four verses he claims that his work is based on the most careful research, indeed with an historian’s care. As the constant companion of St. Paul - they spent two years together in prison in Caeserea - Luke must have met all the Apostles, and clearly had them re-tell their stories to him in detail.

2. Luke wrote mainly for the Gentiles, whereas Matthew wrote mainly for the Jews. Matthew often quotes the Old Testament in his efforts to convince the Jews that Jesus is the Messiah promised them by its prophets. Luke never quotes it because the Gentiles were not familiar with or over-concerned about the Old Testament. When tracing the descent of Jesus, Matthew takes it back to Abraham, the founder of the Jewish race, whereas Luke takes it back to Adam, the founder of the human race. Luke is the easiest of the Gospels to read because it is written not for Jews but for people very much like ourselves.

3. It is the Gospel of prayer, because Luke shows Jesus at prayer at all the great moments of his life. Check this in 3:21; 5:16; 6:12; 9:18; 9:29; 11:5-13; 18:1-8; 22:32; 23:46.

4. Luke gives a very special place to women. For instance we would have no Christmas story at all if it were not for the first two chapters of his Gospel. He must have sat at the feet of Our Lady herself to have obtained such a vivid and detailed account of those momentous events.

5. In Luke the words "praising God" occur more often than in all the rest of the New Testament put together. This praise reaches its peak in the three great hymns which are sung so regularly in the daily recitation of the Breviary - the Magnificat (1:46-55), the Benedictus (1:68-79) and the Nunc Dimittus (2:29-32)

6. The outstanding characteristic is that it is universal - Luke insists that redemption is for all. As you study Luke’s Gospel, consider how much poorer the Church would be without these events and parables found only in Luke:

7:36 - ff - The woman who washed Jesus feet with her tears.
10:22 - ff - The parable of the Good Samaritan followed by the story Of Martha and Mary.
12:16 - ff - The Parable of the Rich Fool.
15:11 - ff - The Prodigal Son.
16:19 - ff - The Rich Man and Lazarus.
18:9 - ff - The Pharisee and the Tax Collector.
19:1 - ff - Jesus and Zaccheus.
23:39 -ff - The Repentant Thief.