Function and Purpose of the Five Major Travel Notices in Luke: The Structure of the Lukan Journey Section Reconsidered

The limits of the Lukan journey section are not the only predicament for the central part of the Gospel of Luke. For decades scholars have tried to outline what seems to be a collage of heterogeneous episodes and find a reason behind the so-called major travel notices. The present study argues that the placement of five major travel notices in the Gospel of Luke (9:51; 13:22; 17:11; 18:31; 19:28) in their current context is deliberate and has a purpose. Their connection to passages which highlight the universal aspect of salvation reveals Luke’s editorial intentions. Therefore, the purpose of these travel notices is more than a simple reminder of Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem. They serve to highlight the universal dimension of salvation and the imminence of the events that will take place in Jerusalem. For this reason, the five travel notices can be considered major turning points in the gospel and can help to outline the whole journey section.