Luke 3

CHAPTER 3THEME: Ministry of John the Baptist; baptism of Jesus; genealogy of MaryLuke, with a true historian’s approach, dates the ministry of John the Baptist with secular history. He places the emphasis upon John’s message of repentance as the condition for the coming of the Messiah. From the Mosaic system of washing in water, which was a common custom of immersion in that day, John baptized those who came to him as merely a preparation (a moral reformation) for the coming of Christ. Christ would baptize by the Holy Spirita real transformation. The genealogy in this chapter is Mary’s, which reveals two facts. First, it goes back to Adam, the father of the human family. Jesus was truly human. Matthew, in presenting Jesus as king, traces the genealogy back only as far as Abraham. Luke, in presenting Jesus as man, goes back to Adam. In the second place, Mary was descended from David through another than SolomonDavid’s son Nathan (cf. v. Luk_3:31; 1Ch_3:5).

Luke 3:1

MINISTRY OF JOHN THE BAPTISTThis chapter contains a great deal of detail; Luke is a stickler for accuracy. Six characters are identified in this verse which allow us to date the time. Caesar Augustus was emperor when the Lord Jesus Christ was born, but when John began his ministry Tiberius Caesar was emperor. Secular history, which must supply us with the details, tells us that Tiberius was brilliant but brutal. He was clever but cunning. He was inhuman and profane. He attempted to master the world. Next the names of the puppet rulers are given.

Luke 3:2

Annas and Caiaphas were the high priests. Why were there two high priests? Two high priests reveals the power of Rome over the religion of Jerusalem in that day. Annas was the power behind the throne, but Caiaphas was the one Rome put out in front. The normal experience for John would have been to serve in the temple as his father had. He should have been a leader in the temple, but he despised it. Instead he went into the wilderness and renounced his priesthood. He did not wish to serve in a corrupt system, and so he became a prophet. That is the picture: John was a priest and he became a prophet. John the Baptist is one of those striking characters who appear from time to time. He reminded the people of Elijah because of certain similarities in their methods. He also reminded the people of One who was one day going to appearthe Messiah. John the Baptist was a paradoxical person. He was truly an unusual man. Luke has told us of his miraculous birth. It was attended by a visitation from the angel Gabriel. His entire boyhood was passed over, and the next event in his life was the beginning of his ministry. He was a priest, a prophet, and a preacher. He was a priest by birth because he was the son of Zacharias, but he was called by God to be a prophet.

Luke 3:3

John preaches the baptism of repentance. He is the last of the prophets. He is actually an Old Testament character who walks out onto the pages of the New Testament. He is picturesque, unshaven, and shaggy, wearing camel’s hair clothes. He is different in his dress, his diet, and his looks. He will receive the same reception that many prophets receivedhe will be put to death. The most unwelcome message, even today, is the voice of the prophet. The world will not receive a man who contradicts its philosophy of life. If you want to be popular, and this is also true of preachers, you have to sing in unison with the crowd. God have mercy on the pulpit that is nothing in the world but a sounding board for what the congregation is saying. The world does not want to hear the voice of God, especially when that voice speaks of judgment. John’s message was very strong.

Luke 3:4

I wonder how long a preacher would last in any church if he began his Sunday sermon by saying, “O generation of vipers”? I do not think he would be in the pulpit the following Sunday. The people would soon get rid of him. I do not recommend using John’s unusual introduction for a sermon, but I do think it would be appropriate in many churches.

Luke 3:8

John’s message was one of repentance. That is not exactly our message today, although repentance is included in faith. Paul said to the Thessalonian believers that they had “…turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God” (1Th_1:9). You can’t turn to God without turning from something. (When you turn to anything, you turn from something else.) When you turn to God, you turn from sinand that is repentance. When you accept Christ as your Savior, you are going to turn from the things of the world. Perhaps you have heard about the love of God, but you have not been moved by it and you have wondered why.

You need to hear that voice crying in the wilderness, “Repent.” Repentance is not the message of the hour; we preach the grace of God, but if you have been a recipient of God’s grace and have turned to Him, you are going to have to turn from your sins. If you do not turn from your sins, you have not really turned to God. Repentance is involved in salvation, but today God’s message is, “…Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved …” (Act_16:31).

Luke 3:9

In John’s day, trees that did not produce were useless. They were cut down and used for firewood. John’s message is strong. John never brought the message of the redeeming love of God. He wasn’t called to give that message. His was a message of impending judgment. We need to recognize that this is one of the facets of the message from God for our day also. The nation of Israel had not been productive, as God had expected, and judgment was going to be their portion. John was telling Israel that if they did not bring forth fruit, the axe would come down on the root of the tree. The Lord Jesus Christ is saying the same thing to the church today.

Luke 3:10

John was telling Israel in plain, understandable language that they were living for “self” and not attempting to share what they had with others.

Luke 3:12

The publicans were tax collectors and were well known for their greediness. They turned, however, to John and asked, “What shall we do?” They also turned to the Lord.

Luke 3:14

This is a practical message that John gave to these people who came from different classes and conditions. My friend, if you are a printer, you reveal that you are a Christian by the way you print. If you are a soldier, you reveal your Christianity by the way you soldier. If you are a housewife, you reveal your Christianity by the way you are a housewife. You reveal what you are. “Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them” (Mat_7:20).

Luke 3:15

John makes it clear that his message is not the final one. He is preparing the way for the One to come. John baptized with water. Jesus has been baptizing with the Holy Spirit for over nineteen hundred years now. He shall also baptize with fire at His second coming. Fire speaks of judgment. Some folk think that this is a reference to the Day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came, and there was the appearance of fire on the heads of those assembled. However, it is important to notice that in Act_2:3 it was “…like as of fire …” (italics mine)it was not fire. The coming of the Holy Spirit was not the fulfillment of the baptism of fire. That will take place at the second coming of our Lord.

Luke 3:19

John had reproved Herod publicly because he had married Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip. Herodias had been furious over this and demanded that John be put in prison. Herod fulfilled her desire and had John arrested and imprisoned.

Luke 3:21

THE BAPTISM OF JESUSLuke is not attempting to give a chronological order of events. If he were, he would have recorded the baptism of Jesus before the arrest of John the Baptist. At the baptism of Jesus, the Trinity is revealed. The Holy Spirit descends upon Jesus, who is also a member of the Trinity, and the heavenly Father speaks from heaven.

Luke 3:23

GENEALOGY OF MARYThe rest of this chapter deals with the genealogy of Mary, not Joseph. The genealogy of Joseph is found in Matthew’s Gospel. Matthew’s genealogy begins with Abraham and comes down to the Lord Jesus Christ through David and through Solomon. The legal title to the throne came through Joseph. Luke’s genealogy is different. It is given in reverse order from Matthew’s. Luke goes back to David and then back to Adam. Luke gives Mary’s story, and this is clearly her genealogy. The royal blood of David flowed through her veins also, and Jesus’ blood title to the throne of David came through her. Two things about this genealogy should be noted. First, Dr. Luke makes it clear that Joseph was not the father of the Lord Jesus Christ. The word son as it is used in this genealogy is not in the better manuscripts. Joseph was not the son of Heli. The word son is added to indicate the lineage through the father (the man) who was the head of the house. In other words, the genealogy is listed according to the man’s name. In Matthew, where it is giving the genealogy through Joseph, it states that Jacob begat Joseph. The second important thing to notice is verse Luk_3:31 which reads:

Luke 3:31

Matthew traces the line of Christ through David’s son, Solomon. That is the royal line. Luke traces the line of Christ through David’s son, Nathan. Mary had the blood of David in her veins. Jesus Christ is the Son of David. Luke reveals Jesus Christ as the Son of Man and the Savior of the world. His line does not stop with Abraham, but goes all the way back to Adam who was the first “son” of Godthe created son of God. But he fell from that lofty position when he sinned. Jesus Christ, the last Adam and the Son of God, is come to bring mankind back into that relationship with God which Adam formerly had and lost. This relationship is accomplished through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.