If the best way to understand the Christian faith is to read the Gospels, then the next most important books to read must be those which aid in the understanding of those Gospels. This is the aim of Ryle’s Expository Thoughts on the Gospels . Within a year of publishing Mark in his Expository Thoughts on the Gospels series, J. C. Ryle had, in 1858, completed the Gospel of Luke. This was a much more ‘substantial’ commentary than the earlier ones on Matthew and Mark, and comprehensive ‘explanatory notes’ were appended to the author’s ‘thoughts’ on each passage of
Photographs
A copy in the collection, so you can check your own against it.
1:1-4. St Luke’s general introduction to his Gospel
1:5-12. History of Zacharias and Elisabeth, and vision of Zacharias in the temple
1:13-17. The angel’s announcement of John the Baptist’s birth, and description of his ministry
1:18-25. Unbelief of Zacharias and consequent punishment
1:26-33. The angel’s announcement to the Virgin Mary that she should be the mother of our Lord
1:34-38. The Virgin Mary’s question to the angel, and his answer
1:39-45. The Virgin Mary’s visit to Elisabeth
1:46-56. The Virgin Mary’s song of praise
1:57-66. The birth of John the Baptist
1:67-80. The prophecy and song of praise uttered by Zacharias
2:1-7. The birth of Christ at Bethlehem
2:8-20. The angel’s announcement of Christ’s birth to the shepherds
2:21-24. Circumcision of Christ and presentation in the temple
2:25-35. Simeon, his history, praise, and prophecy
2:36-40. Anna the prophetess, and her history
2:41-52. Christ found sitting among the doctors
3:1-6. Time when our Lord’s early ministry began,— preaching of John the Baptist
3:7-14. John the Baptist,—his mode of addressing those who came to hear him
3:15-20. Effect of John the Baptist’s ministry,—his testimony to Christ,—his imprisonment
3:21-38. Christ’s baptism,—the genealogy of the Virgin Mary, (the daughter of Heli), traced up to Adam
4:1-13. Christ’s temptation in the wilderness
4:14-22. Christ preaching in the synagogue of Nazareth
4:22-32. Unbelief and wickedness of the people of Nazareth
4:33-44. A devil cast out in the synagogue of Capernaum, —Simon’s wife’s mother healed of a fever,— Christ’s habits of retirement,—Christ’s purpose in coming upon earth
5:1-11. Christ’s readiness to every good work,—miraculous draught of fishes
5:12-16. A man full of leprosy healed,—Christ’s diligence about private prayer
5:17-26. A man sick of the palsy, let down through the tiling, and cured
5:27-32. The calling of Levi and Matthew, and the feast he made on the occasion
5:33-39. Christ the bridegroom,—new wine and new bottles
6:1-5. The disciples plucking corn on the sabbath day, —Christ Lord of the Sabbath
6:6-11. The man with a withered hand cured,—doing good on the sabbath defended
6:12-19. Christ’s prayer before ordaining the twelve apostles, —names and position of the apostles
6:20-26. Those whom Christ calls blessed,—those of whom he says ‘woe unto you.’
6:27-38. The nature and extent of Christian charity,— the rule for doubtful cases,—the example of God,—the reward of charity
6:39-45. Warning against false teachers,—importance of a blameless life,—fruit, the only test of character
6:46-49. The two builders and the two foundations
7:1-10. The centurion’s servant at Capernaum healed
7:11-17. The widow’s son at Nain restored to life
7:18-23. The message with which John the Baptist sent his disciples to Christ, and the answer which they received
7:24-30. Christ’s high testimony to John the Baptist
7:31-35. Christ’s description of the men of his generation, and their childish folly exposed
7:36-50. Story of the woman who was a sinner, who stood behind our Lord, and anointed his feet in the house of Simon the Pharisee
8:1-3. The holy woman who accompanied our Lord and his twelve apostles in their journeys, and ministered unto him
8:4-15. Parable of the sower
8:16-21. Spiritual privileges to be diligently used,—who were Christ’s mother and brethren?
8:22-25. The storm on the lake, and the miraculous calm
8:26-36. The man who had devils, in the country of the Gadarenes, healed
8:37-40. Christ rejected by the Gadarenes,—Christ’s commands to the man who had been healed in their country
8:41-48. The woman who had an issue of blood, healed by touching the hem of Christ’s garment
8:49-56. The daughter of Jairus restored to life
9:1-6. Christ’s first commission to the twelve disciples when he sent them to preach
9:7-11. Herod perplexed by Christ’s works,—the importance of occasional retirement,—Christ’s readiness to receive
9:12-17. Five thousand men fed with five loaves and two fishes
9:18-22. Various opinions about Christ, Peter’s clear confession,—Christ foretells his own death
9:23-27. Necessity of self-denial and carrying the cross, —value of the soul,—danger of being ashamed of Christ
9:28-36. The transfiguration of Christ
9:37-45. The devil cast out of the young man whom the disciples could not cure
9:46-50. The pride of Christ’s disciples rebuked,— bigotry and illiberality reproved
9:51-56. Christ’s steady adherence to his great work,— unholy zeal of James and John reproved
9:57-62. Christ’s followers must submit to hardships,— must let the dead bury their dead,—must not look back
10:1-7. Christ’s appointment of the seventy disciples, and instructions with which they were sent forth
10:8-16. Further instructions given by Christ to the seventy disciples
10:17-20. Return of the seventy elated with success,— solemn warning given to them by Christ
10:21-24. Christ rejoicing,—sovereignty of God in saving sinners—privileges of those who have the gospel
10:25-28. The lawyer’s question to Christ,—the rule of faith, —the summary of duty
10:29-37. Parable of the good Samaritan
10:38-42. Christ at the house of Martha and Mary,— over-carefulness reproved,—one thing needful, —the good part commended
