1. Luke 3:1-2. In this concise description of the epoch at which John appeared, Luke begins with the largest sphere that of the empire. Then, by a natural transition furnished by his reference to the representative of imperial power in Judaea, he passes to the special domain of the people of Israel;... [ Continue Reading ]
SECOND PART: THE ADVENT OF THE MESSIAH, LUKE 3:1 TO LUKE 4:13. For eighteen years Jesus lived unknown in the seclusion of Nazareth. His fellow townsmen, recalling this period of His life, designate Him _the carpenter_ (Mark 6:3). Justin Martyr deriving the fact, doubtless, from tradition represents... [ Continue Reading ]
FIRST NARRATIVE: THE MINISTRY OF JOHN THE BAPTIST, LUKE 3:1-20. We already know from Luke 1:77 why the Messiah was to have a forerunner. A mistaken notion of salvation had taken possession of Israel. It was necessary that a man clothed with divine authority should restore it to its purity before the... [ Continue Reading ]
2. VERS. 3-6. The _country about Jordan_, in Luke, doubtless denotes the arid plains near the mouth of this river. The name _wilderness of Judea_, by which Matthew and Mark designate the scene of John's ministry, applies properly to the mountainous and broken country which forms the western boundary... [ Continue Reading ]
“ _Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?_ 8 _Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father; for I say unto you, that G... [ Continue Reading ]
3. VERS. 7-17. The following discourse must not be regarded as a particular specimen of the preaching, the substance of which Luke has transmitted to us. It is a summary of all the discourses of John the Baptist during the period that preceded the baptism of Jesus. The imperf. ἔλεγεν, _he used to s... [ Continue Reading ]
. But what then, the people ask, are those fruits of repentance which should accompany baptism? And, seized with the fear of judgment, different classes of hearers approach John to obtain from him special directions, fitted to their particular social position. It is the confessional after preaching.... [ Continue Reading ]
“ _And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ or not;_ 16 _John answered, saying unto them all: I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: He shall baptize y... [ Continue Reading ]
4. VERS. 18-20. We find here one of those general surveys such as we have in Luke 1:66; Luke 1:80; Luke 2:40; Luke 2:52. For the third time the lot of the forerunner becomes the prelude to that of the Saviour. The expression _many other things_ (Luke 3:18) confirms what was already indicated by the... [ Continue Reading ]
SECOND NARRATIVE: THE BAPTISM OF JESUS, LUKE 3:21-22. The relation between John and Jesus, as described by St. Luke, resembles that of two stars following each other at a short distance, and both passing through a series of similar circumstances. The announcement of the appearing of the one follows... [ Continue Reading ]
THIRD NARRATIVE: THE GENEALOGY OF JESUS, LUKE 3:23-38. In the first Gospel the genealogy of Jesus is placed at the very beginning of the narrative. This is easily explained. From the point of view indicated by theocratic forms, scriptural antecedents, and, if we may so express it, Jewish etiquette,... [ Continue Reading ]
2 _d. Luke 3:24-38_. And first, Luke 3:24-27: from Heli to the captivity. In this period Luke mentions 21 generations (up to Neri); only 19, if the various reading of Africanus be admitted; Matthew, 14. This last number is evidently too small for the length of the period. As Matthew omits in the pe... [ Continue Reading ]