A sermon on 2 Timothy 4:1-8 for the Feast of St. Luke, Evangelist. Delivered by Pastor Caleb Strutz at Resurrection Lutheran Church in Winter Haven, Florida.

2 Timothy is likely the last letter that Paul wrote. After being freed from his first imprisonment, Paul found himself arrested in Rome a second time, and this time his prospects were much darker. As he writes to encourage the young pastor, Timothy, he speaks of his departure, he knows that his martyrdom is around the corner. Although there is a profound sense of loneliness and a far darker tone in this epistle, we still see the final note of victory as Paul writes to his protege, encouraging him in his work.

But where’s Luke, whom we are celebrating today, in this lesson? Well, just a couple verses later, as Paul concludes his letter, he describes how three of his co-workers have left him. He writes, “Only Luke is with me” (v. 11). We see Luke standing beside the apostle Paul as he writes this letter and we see Luke’s ministry reflected in its content. Paul exhorts Timothy, “do the work of an evangelist.” Now, when we refer to St. Luke as an “evangelist,” we ues that word to mean that he wrote the Gospel of Luke, he is one of the four evangelists. But that same word can also be used to describe the office of anyone who preaches the Gospel, as Timothy did, as Luke did, as pastors do today.

So as we see Paul’s encouragement to do the work of an evangelist, today, on the feast of an evangelist, we see the great difficulties that come with proclaiming true doctrine. But we also see why it’s worth it: the reward of righteousness. In closing, we will look to Luke that we may be encouraged by his example in proclaiming the Gospel.

I. The Difficulties of Doctrine

The first thing that Paul emphasizes to Timothy is the great difficulties that come with preaching pure doctrine. Now, elsewhere in Scripture, we’ve looked at the warnings against false prophets and false teachers, warning the people of God to beware of wolves in sheep’s clothing. But here, Paul is speaking to a faithful pastor, so he knows that’s not a concern. Instead he poses this from the other direction: warns him of what will happen when the sheep don’t want a faithful shepherd.

This serves as more than a heads up to pastors today, but is a tool for congregations and laity for self-examination. He warns, “the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine.” The sheep are supposed to know the shepherd’s voice and follow His Word (Jn 10:4), but they don’t always want to.

The trio of words that Paul uses, “Convince, rebuke, exhort,” two of those are pretty negative. This word “convince” means to convict or refute, to expose and call out sin. That doesn’t always go over well. “Rebuke” means to correct, to lead away from sin. That’s not always so easy.

We all struggle with sinful desires and it hurts to be told no. Our sinful nature has itching ears, it doesn’t want the truly soothing balm of the Gospel, it wants that itch to be scratched. But the more you scratch it, the worse it gets and the more it itches.

Do you listen to your pastor because he tells you what you want to hear? I hope not. We have to talk about uncomfortable things. When your pastor tells you something you don’t want to hear, is your problem with him or God’s Word? We want to train our ears as best we can to the truths of God’s Word, but that itch never goes away. We’re always looking for an exception or a way out or a way to soften the blow. Paul knew how hard the work of an evangelist is. Those who preach the Gospel are going up against a sinful nature, which “will not endure sound doctrine.”

II. The Reward of Righteousness

But even in the midst of this rather grim assessment of the work laid out before Timothy, even as Paul sees his own death coming, we hear the unmistakable note of victory and triumph. As Paul sets the work before Timothy, he looks back at his own: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” Amidst all the dangers and difficulties that comes with sound doctrine, Paul recognizes how the truth of God’s Word has prevailed and has carried him through his ministry.

So as he approaches his death, he can look forward to “the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.” This crown is not one earned by righteousness, but the free gift of Christ’s righteousness. His perfect life of obedience to His Father’s will covers over our sinful, itching ears. This crown is not a prize to be earned, but the reward of God’s grace, freely given to you now, by faith, and to be sealed in eternity.

We see why this sound doctrine is so important. Through the truth of God’s Word, not by fables, we come to know Christ. Through convincing and rebuking, we see our sin and, more importantly, we see our great need for a Savior. Through the message of the Gospel, that good news, we see what Christ has done for us as our substitute and sacrifice, winning for us the crown of righteousness by His holy life and innocent death, giving it to us through the means of grace, by Word and Sacrament, promising us the final victory by His victorious resurrection.

This “evangel,” this good news about Christ grants us victory and hope in the darkest hour, gives us the medicine that we need for our souls, gives us the encouragement to live lives in light of this truth.

III. Looking to Luke

And as we do this, who better to look to this day than the example of St. Luke? Luke is an interesting figure, we know next to nothing about him, but in the few places in Scripture when he is named, we see him extolled for great virtues, worthy of emulation. And these virtues can serve as a mirror image for the warnings we see Paul give in 2 Timothy.

First, Luke was learned. Paul tells us that Luke is a physician, a doctor, a man of education (Col 4:14), and we see this reflected in his writings. At the beginning of his Gospel, he describes how he set forth “an orderly account” built on eyewitness testimony (1:2-3). He was not given to fables, as Paul warned. Although he himself was not an apostle and never met Christ, he was a diligent student of Christ and put that learning to good use in his Gospel and in the book of Acts.

Second, Luke was lowly. He never mentions himself by name, not in his Gospel, even in the introduction, and even as he pops in and out of the events of Acts, it’s very discreet, simply switching from “they” to “we” without any fanfare. While those who reject sound doctrine “heap up for themselves” false teachers, Luke’s lowliness and his humility even as he writes two great books of the New Testament are a worthy example.

Third, Luke was lovable. Paul mentions him as “Luke the beloved physician” (Col. 4:14). Rather than being led astray by sinful desires, as Paul warns, Luke was transformed by the love of His Savior so that he became known, even in Paul’s time, as “the brother whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches” (2 Cor 8:18).

Fourth and finally, Luke was loyal. We see him in 2 Timothy staying by Paul’s side when all others have abandoned him. Even as his teacher faces death, Luke remains with him, a man of courage and resolve.

Like St. Luke, may you be learned, always desiring to learn more about your Savior and His Word. May you be lowly, humbling yourself and exalting your Lord. May you be lovable, both receiving the love of Christ and sharing it with others. May you be loyal, a faithful servant of your King.

St. Luke, the Evangelist, is the only Gentile to have written a book of the Bible, and he wrote two! How blessed we have been through the work of this evangelist. Without Luke, we would not have the good Samaritan, the prodigal son, the rich man and Lazarus, the Pharisee and the tax collector—all accounts unique to his Gospel. And what would Christmas be without Luke 2? We give thanks to God for the writings and example of St. Luke. From Luke, the Evangelist, we have the sound doctrine which Paul extols. From Luke, the Physician, we have received the medicine of forgiveness and grace which our Savior gives to you. Amen.