Luke 3
3
The Preaching of John the Baptist
(Mt 3.1–12; Mk 1.1–8; Jn 1.19–28)
1It was the fifteenth year of the rule of the Emperor Tiberius; Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip was ruler of the territory of Iturea and Trachonitis; Lysanias was ruler of Abilene, 2and Annas and Caiaphas were high priests. At that time the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the desert. 3So John went throughout the whole territory of the River Jordan, preaching, “Turn away from your sins and be baptized, and God will forgive your sins.”
4 #
Is 40.3–5 (LXX) As it is written in the book of the prophet Isaiah:
“Someone is shouting in the desert:
‘Get the road ready for the Lord;
make a straight path for him to travel!
5Every valley must be filled up,
every hill and mountain levelled off.
The winding roads must be made straight,
and the rough paths made smooth.
6The whole human race will see God's salvation!’ ”
7 #
Mt 12.34; 23.33 Crowds of people came out to John to be baptized by him. “You snakes!” he said to them. “Who told you that you could escape from the punishment God is about to send? 8#Jn 8.33Do those things that will show that you have turned from your sins. And don't start saying among yourselves that Abraham is your ancestor. I tell you that God can take these stones and make descendants for Abraham! 9#Mt 7.19The axe is ready to cut down the trees at the roots; every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown in the fire.”
10The people asked him, “What are we to do, then?”
11He answered, “Whoever has two shirts must give one to the man who has none, and whoever has food must share it.”
12 #
Lk 7.29
Some tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, “Teacher, what are we to do?”
13“Don't collect more than is legal,” he told them.
14Some soldiers also asked him, “What about us? What are we to do?”
He said to them, “Don't take money from anyone by force or accuse anyone falsely. Be content with your pay.”
15People's hopes began to rise, and they began to wonder whether John perhaps might be the Messiah. 16So John said to all of them, “I baptize you with water, but someone is coming who is much greater than I am. I am not good enough even to untie his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17He has his winnowing shovel with him, to thresh out all the grain and gather the wheat into his barn; but he will burn the chaff in a fire that never goes out.”
18In many different ways John preached the Good News to the people and urged them to change their ways. 19#Mt 14.3–4; Mk 6.17–18But John reprimanded Herod, the governor, because he had married Herodias, his brother's wife, and had done many other evil things. 20Then Herod did an even worse thing by putting John in prison.
The Baptism of Jesus
(Mt 3.13–17; Mk 1.9–11)
21After all the people had been baptized, Jesus also was baptized. While he was praying, heaven was opened, 22#Gen 22.2; Ps 2.7; Is 42.1; Mt 3.17; Mk 1.11; Lk 9.35and the Holy Spirit came down upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my own dear Son. I am pleased with you.”
The Ancestors of Jesus
(Mt 1.1–17)
23When Jesus began his work, he was about thirty years old. He was the son, so people thought, of Joseph, who was the son of Heli, 24the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph, 25the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai, 26the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein, the son of Josech, the son of Joda, 27the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri, 28the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmadam, the son of Er, 29the son of Joshua, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, 30the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim, 31the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David, 32the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Salmon, the son of Nahshon, 33the son of Amminadab, the son of Admin, the son of Arni, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah, 34the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor, 35the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah, 36the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech, 37the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalaleel, the son of Kenan, 38the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.
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Good News Bible with Deuterocanonicals/Apocrypha. Scripture taken from the Good News Bible (r) (Today's English Version Second Edition, UK/British Edition). Copyright © 1992 British & Foreign Bible Society. Used by permission.
Luke 3
3
John the Baptizer
1-2A powerful message from God came to John, Zechariah’s son, when he was living out in the lonely wilderness. # 3:1–2 Some believe that John may have been a member of the Qumran community of Jewish Essenes, who lived in the wilderness because they viewed the Jewish religious system as corrupt. This prophetic commission came to John during the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, son of Caesar. Pontius Pilate was governor over Judea at that time. Antipas, son of Herod, was governor over Galilee, Herod’s brother Philip was over the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was over Abilene. # 3:1–2 Abilene was a region west of Ituraea. This happened during the days of two high priests, Annas and Caiaphas. # 3:1–2 As the forerunner of Jesus Christ, the prophet John was a hinge of human history who forever changed the world. Luke carefully dates this event by giving us six markers. Historians have dated the reign of Tiberius Caesar as beginning in AD 14. The fifteenth year of his reign would be AD 28–29. Regarding Annas and Caiaphas, never in Jewish history had there been two high priests. The priesthood was corrupt. Even though Caiaphas, Annas’ son-in-law, was the high priest, Annas remained the real authoritative leader behind the scenes (John 18:13; Acts 4:6).
3John went preaching and baptizing throughout the Jordan Valley. He persuaded people to turn away from their sins and turn to God # 3:3 The two concepts—“turning from sin” and “turning to God for freedom”—form the definition of repentance. The Aramaic word has the concept of returning to God, to unite with Unity. for the freedom of forgiveness, # 3:3 John’s message was revolutionary, for the religion of the day taught that forgiveness could only be found by annually offering sacrifices in the temple (Heb. 10:1–4). John, an Essene, told the people that forgiveness of sin was a heart issue, not gained by an animal sacrifice offered in the corrupt religious system of the day. Repentance, which breaks open the heart, is more important than gaining forgiveness by religious acts. 4fulfilling what was written in the book of the prophet Isaiah:
“Listen! You will hear a thunderous voice in the lonely wilderness telling you to wake up and get your heart ready for the coming of the Lord Yahweh. # 3:4 Translated from the Aramaic. Make straight every twisted thing in your lives. 5-6Bring into the light every dark way. Make right every wrong. Remove injustice. Every heart of pride will humbly bow before him. Every deception will be exposed and replaced by the truth to prepare everyone everywhere to see the Life of God!” # 3:5–6 The Greek text, quoting from Isa. 40:3–5, is literally translated “Wake up and make lines for the Lord, make his side alleys straight. Every ravine will be filled, every mountain and hill shall be leveled, the crooked straightened, rough ways smoothed, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.” Every honest scholar recognizes this as more than a road construction project, implying a spiritual renewal in hearts. # 3:5–6 Translated from the Aramaic. The Aramaic word translated “life” often refers to salvation.
7John kept preaching to the many crowds who came out to be baptized, “You are nothing but the offspring of venomous snakes, full of deception! Who warned you to repent before the coming wrath of God? 8Then turn away from your sins, turn to God, and let your changed life be proof. Don’t think for a moment that it’s enough to simply be the favored descendants of Abraham. That’s not enough to save you. # 3:8 God values reformation over ritual. John’s ministry was to prepare people for the appearing of Jesus Christ through repentance and baptism. Repentance breaks open the heart and changes our attitudes toward God. Baptism was a burial of those who repented, preparing them for the germination of Christ coming to live within by the new birth. I’m telling you, God could make more sons of Abraham out of stones if he chose to!
9“Even now God’s axe of judgment is poised to chop down your barren tree right down to its roots! And every tree that does not produce good fruit will be leveled and thrown into the fire.”
10The crowd kept asking him, “What then are we supposed to do?”
11John told them, “Give food to the hungry, clothe the poor, and bless the needy.” # 3:11 The Greek text is literally “The one with two tunics is to share with him who has none, and he who has food is to do likewise.”
12Even the despised tax collectors came to John to be baptized, and they asked him, “What are we to do to prove our hearts have changed?”
13“Be honest,” he replied. “Don’t demand more taxes than what the law requires.” # 3:13 True repentance is tied to actions, a change of heart and deeds, not just words.
14“And us?” asked some soldiers. # 3:14 The soldiers were likely temple police. “What about us?”
John answered them, “Be content with what you earn. Never extort money or terrify others by threats of violence or be guilty of accusing the innocent.”
15During those days, everyone was gripped with messianic expectations, believing the Messiah could come at any moment, and many began to wonder if John might be the Christ.
16But John made it clear by telling them, “There is one coming who is mightier than I. He is supreme. # 3:16 The word translated “supreme” is found only in the Aramaic text. John was a true prophet who pointed others to the Supreme One. In fact, I’m not worthy of even being his slave. # 3:16 Or “loose his sandal strap,” which only a slave would do. I can only baptize you in this river, but he will baptize you into the Spirit of holiness and into his raging fire. # 3:16 The Aramaic text reads “He will baptize you into the Spirit of the Holy One and in light.” A baptism of light or fire would cleanse and change a life, giving new power to live for God and deal with every issue that hinders love and passion from burning in our hearts. It is the baptism of the Holy Spirit that all believers need today. 17He has in his hands a winnowing fork to clean up his threshing floor! # 3:17 The text is literally “in his hand is a winnowing fork.” This was a small pitchfork used to separate the chaff from the grain. He will separate the wheat from the chaff. The wheat he will gather into his barn, but he will burn the chaff in a fire that no one can ever put out!”
18John used many similar warnings as he preached the good news and prepared # 3:18 Translated from the Aramaic text. the people. 19He even publicly rebuked Antipas, son of Herod, the governor of Galilee, for the many wicked things he had done. He fearlessly reprimanded him for seducing and marrying his sister-in-law, Herodias.
20Adding to his many other sins, Herod had John seized and locked up in prison.
The Baptism of Jesus
21-22One day, Jesus came to be baptized # 3:21–22 Jesus identified with sinners, even at his baptism. Although he had no sin, he chose to become one with sinners and was washed by John as a preview of what would happen when he became sin (2 Cor. 5:21) and was judged for our sins at the cross. along with all the others. As he was consumed with the spirit of prayer, # 3:21–22 We read about Jesus praying eight times in Luke’s Gospel. (1) At his baptism Jesus prayed and the heavens were opened, revealing his sonship. Jesus asked the Father to send the Holy Spirit to strengthen him for his wilderness temptations (3:21–22). (2) Jesus prayed in solitude, and miracles broke loose in his ministry (5:16–17). (3) Jesus prayed all night before he chose his twelve companions (6:12–16). (4) Jesus prayed for his apostles to receive the full revelation of who he is (9:18–22). (5) When Jesus was about to be glorified in splendor on the mountain, he prayed, and his face glowed with a flashing light (9:28–29). (6) Jesus prayed that he would be an example to every one of his disciples (11:1). (7) Jesus prayed for Peter’s restoration and future ministry (22:31–32). (8) Jesus prayed in Gethsemane for strength and glory as the terrors of Calvary lay before him (22:41–46). the heavenly realm ripped open above him and the Holy Spirit descended from heaven in the form of a dove # 3:21–22 What a beautiful picture: a dove resting on a lamb! To have the power of the Spirit (dove), we need to have the nature of the Lamb (Jesus). Although Jesus had the Holy Spirit from his birth, at his baptism he received the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit to fulfill his ministry. God gives more and more of his Spirit to those who love him and obey him. and landed on him. Then God’s audible voice was heard, saying, “My Son, you are my beloved one. # 3:21–22 The heavenly voice confirms the identity of Jesus as Messiah. God quoted Ps. 2:7 and Isa. 42:1, both of which are considered as speaking of the Christ. God publicly stated that Jesus was the long-awaited and much-loved Son, the Christ. The Trinity is clearly seen in this passage: Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and the Father. Through you I am fulfilled.” # 3:21–22 As translated from the Aramaic text. The Greek text states, “in whom I am greatly pleased.” When the presence of the Holy Spirit came upon the Son of God, those around him heard the voice of the Father. We see from this a picture of the triune God, three in one. The Trinity is clearly seen in this passage: Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and the Father.
The Ancestry of Jesus Christ
23-38Jesus, whom everyone assumed to be Joseph’s son, was about thirty years old when he began his ministry. # 3:23–38 Old Testament priests could not begin their ministry until they were thirty years old. The number thirty is the biblical number of maturity. Both Joseph and David were promoted to the place of honor when they were thirty. Here are the names of Mary’s # 3:23–38 Matthew gives us the genealogy of Jesus from Joseph’s family, while some suggest Luke’s genealogy is from Mary’s side. Luke is the only Gospel writer who gives much attention to women. Neither Matthew nor Luke gives a complete genealogy. ancestors, traced from her father all the way back to Adam:
Eli, # 3:23–38 Matthew identifies Joseph’s father as Jacob (Matt. 1:16), while Luke says he was Eli’s (Heli’s) son (Luke 3:23). The ancient world often referred to a man’s sons-in-law as sons. Thus it is possible that Eli was Mary’s father and Joseph’s father-in-law. Matthat, Levi, Melki, Jannai, Joseph, Mattathias, Amos, Nahum, Esli, Naggai, Maath, Mattathias, Semein, Josech, Joda, Joanan, Rhesa, Zerubbabel, Shealtiel, Neri, Melchi, Addi, Cosam, Elmadam, Er, Joshua, Eliezer, Jorim, Matthat, Levi, Simeon, Judah, Joseph, Jonam, Eliakim, Melea, Menna, Mattatha, Nathan, David, Jesse, Obed, Boaz, Salmon, Nahshon, Amminadab, Admin, Arni, Hezron, Perez, Judah, Jacob, Isaac, Abraham, Terah, Nahor, Serug, Reu, Peleg, Eber, Shelah, Kenan, Arphaxad, Shem, Noah, Lamech, Methuselah, Enoch, Jared, Mahalaleel, Cainan, Enos, Seth, and Adam, the son of God.
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