LUKE—NOTE ON LUKE 3:1 Preparation for the Ministry of Jesus. Luke describes John the Baptist’s ministry of preparation for Jesus (Luke 3:1). Then the focus shifts to Jesus himself (Luke 3:21). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
LUKE—NOTE ON LUKE 3:2 HIGH PRIESTHOOD OF ANNAS AND CAIAPHAS. Caiaphas was the actual high priest at this time (A.D. 18–36). Annas had been high priest A.D. 6–15 but was still called “high priest” after he left office (see notes on John 18:13; 18:24). THE WORD OF GOD CAME TO JOHN designates him as a... [ Continue Reading ]
LUKE—NOTE ON LUKE 3:3 BAPTISM OF REPENTANCE. To repent, or “change one’s mind,” called for a change in a person’s attitude toward God that affected one’s actions and life choices. Baptize means “to dip or immerse.” When people were baptized by John, going under the water symbolized the cleansing of... [ Continue Reading ]
LUKE—NOTE ON LUKE 3:4 The quotation is from Isaiah 40:3. These metaphors of “preparing” the way of the coming Messiah involve both the removal of obstacles (EVERY MOUNTAIN AND HILL SHALL BE MADE LOW) and the bringing about of moral reform (THE CROOKED SHALL BECOME STRAIGHT; compare Luke 1:52; Luke 1... [ Continue Reading ]
LUKE—NOTE ON LUKE 3:6 ALL FLESH SHALL SEE predicts the salvation of the Gentiles (see Luke 2:30). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
LUKE—NOTE ON LUKE 3:7 VIPERS. Poisonous snakes. WHO WARNED YOU TO FLEE? That is, “Who has told you to flee the coming wrath by merely submitting to a rite of baptism?” ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
LUKE—NOTE ON LUKE 3:8 “WE HAVE ABRAHAM AS OUR FATHER.” Compare John 8:39, John 8:53. One is not a member of God’s family by birth but by responding personally to God’s call. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
LUKE—NOTE ON LUKE 3:9 THE AXE... TREES. A warning that the coming judgment is very close (compare Luke 13:6). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
LUKE—NOTE ON LUKE 3:10 WHAT THEN (in light of vv. Luke 3:7) SHALL WE DO? See vv. Luke 3:12. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
LUKE—NOTE ON LUKE 3:11 TUNICS. Garments worn under the cloak (see Luke 6:29). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
LUKE—NOTE ON LUKE 3:12 TAX COLLECTORS. See note on Matt. 5:46–47. They collected tolls, tariffs, and customs, and were notoriously dishonest and despised. SOLDIERS. John does not say that working for the Roman government as a tax collector or soldier is in itself morally wrong, but God expects uprig... [ Continue Reading ]
LUKE—NOTE ON LUKE 3:16 HE (the Messiah) WILL BAPTIZE YOU WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT AND FIRE. This baptism took place at Pentecost in Acts 2:1. Whether being baptized “with the Holy Spirit and fire” will be positive (the purifying fire of the Spirit at Pentecost; Acts 1:8; Acts 2:3) or negative (the divin... [ Continue Reading ]
LUKE—NOTE ON LUKE 3:17 WINNOWING FORK. A wooden pitchfork used to throw chaff and grain into the air to separate them. UNQUENCHABLE FIRE portrays the horrible nature of the final judgment. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
LUKE—NOTE ON LUKE 3:18 John is different from the OT prophets because he is the first preacher of the GOOD NEWS of the kingdom of God (see Luke 16:16). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
LUKE—NOTE ON LUKE 3:21 Jesus’ identity as God’s Son (Luke 1:31) is confirmed at his baptism by a voice from heaven (Luke 3:22) and his anointing by the Spirit (Luke 3:22; Luke 4:1, Luke 4:18); by his genealogy (Luke 3:38); and by Satan’s acknowledgment of him as the Son of God at his temptation ... [ Continue Reading ]
LUKE—NOTE ON LUKE 3:22 THE HOLY SPIRIT DESCENDED ON HIM. The Holy Spirit prepares Jesus for his ministry (see Luke 4:1, Luke 4:14, especially vv. Luke 3:18). YOU ARE MY BELOVED SON. God’s declaration (compare Luke 1:31; Luke 2:49) will be repeated at the transfiguration ... [ Continue Reading ]
LUKE—NOTE ON LUKE 3:23 Luke traces Jesus’ lineage back to Adam to show that Jesus is the fulfillment of the hopes of all people (compare note on Matthew 1:17). The genealogies in Matthew 1:1 and Luke differ significantly in the period from David to Jesus, even naming different fathers for Joseph (Ja... [ Continue Reading ]
LUKE—NOTE ON LUKE 3:38 For THE SON OF GOD, see Luke 1:31; Luke 2:11; Luke 3:22. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]