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Luke Chapter Three

 

Luke 3

In chapter 3 we find the exercise of the ministry of the word towards Israel and that for the introduction of the Lord into this world. It is not the promises to Israel and the privileges secured to them by God nor the birth of that child who was heir to all the promises; the empire itself a testimony to Israel's captivity being an instrument for the accomplishment of the word respecting the Lord. The years are here reckoned according to the reign of the Gentiles. Judea is a province in the hands of the Gentile empire and the other parts of Canaan are divided under different chiefs subordinate to the empire.

The Jewish system continues nevertheless; and the high priests were there to note the years of their subjection to the Gentiles by their names and at the same time to preserve the order the doctrine and the ceremonies of the Jews as far as could be done in their circumstances at that period.

Now the word of God is ever sure and it is when the relationships of God with His people fail on the side of their faithfulness that God in sovereignty maintains His relationship by means of communications through a prophet. His sovereign word maintains it when there are no other means.

But in this case Jehovah's message to His people had a peculiar character; for Israel was already ruined having forsaken the Lord. The goodness of God had still left the people outwardly in their land; but the throne of the world was transferred to the Gentiles. Israel was now called to repent to be forgiven and to take a new place through the coming of the Messiah.

The testimony of God is therefore not in connection with His ordinances at Jerusalem although the righteous submit to them. Nor does the prophet call them back to faithfulness on the ground on which they were. It is His voice in the wilderness making His paths straight in order that He may come as from without to those who repented and prepared themselves for His coming. Moreover since it was the Jehovah Himself who came His glory should not be confined within the narrow limits of Israel. All flesh should see the salvation wrought by God. The condition of the nation itself was that out of which God called them to come by repentance proclaiming the wrath that was about to fall upon a rebellious people. Besides if God came He would have realities the true fruits of righteousness and not the mere name of a people. And He came in His sovereign power which was able to raise up out of nothing that which He would have before Him. God comes. He would have righteousness as to man's responsibility because He is righteous. He could raise up a seed unto Abraham by His divine power and that from the very stones if He saw fit. It is the presence the coming of God Himself that here characterises everything.

Now the axe was already at the root of the trees and each was to be judged according to its fruits. It was in vain to plead that they were Jews; if they enjoyed that privilege where were its fruits? But God did not accept any according to man's estimate of righteousness and privilege nor the proud judgment the self-righteous might form of others. He addressed Himself to the conscience of all.

Accordingly the publicans objects of hatred to the Jews as instruments of the fiscal oppression of the Gentiles; and the soldiers who executed the arbitrary mandates of the kings imposed on the people by the Roman will or that of heathen governors were exhorted to act in accordance with that which the true fear of God would produce in contrast with the iniquity habitually practised in accordance with the will of man; the multitude were exhorted to practical charity while the people considered as a people were treated as a generation of vipers on whom the wrath of God was coming. Grace dealt with them in warning of judgment but judgment was at the door.

Thus from verses 3-14 we have these two things: in 3-6 the position of John towards the people as such in the thought that God Himself would soon appear; in 6-14 his address to the conscience of individuals; verses 7 8 9 teaching them that the formal privileges of the people would afford no shelter in the presence of the holy and righteous God and that to take refuge in national privilege was only to bring wrath upon themselves-for the nation was under judgment and exposed to the wrath of God. In verse 10 he comes to details. In verses 15-17 the question as to the Messiah is solved.

The great subject however of this passage-the great truth which the testimony of John displayed before the eyes of the people-was that God Himself was coming. Man was to repent. Privileges granted meanwhile as means of blessing could not be pleaded against the nature and the righteousness of Him who was coming nor destroy the power by which He could create a people after His own heart. Nevertheless the door of repentance was open according to His faithfulness towards a people whom He loved.

But there was a special work for the Messiah according to the counsels the wisdom and the grace of God He baptised with the Holy Ghost and with fire. That is to say He brought in the power and the judgment which dispelled evil whether in holiness and blessing or in destruction.

He baptises with the Holy Ghost. This is not merely a renewal of desires but power in grace in the midst of evil.

He baptises with fire. This is judgment that consumes the evil.

This judgment is thus applied to Israel His threshing-floor. He would gather His wheat in safety elsewhere; the chaff should be burnt up in judgment.

But at length John is put in prison by the regal head of the people. Not that this event took place historically at that moment; but the Spirit of God would set forth morally the end of his testimony in order to commence the life of Jesus the Son of man but born the Son of God in this world.

It is with verse 21 that this history begins and in a manner both wonderful and full of grace. God by John the Baptist had called His people to repentance; and those on whom His word produced its effect came to be baptised by John. It was the first sign of life and of obedience. Jesus perfect in life and in obedience come down in grace for the remnant of His people goes thither taking His place with them and is baptised with the baptism of John as they were. Touching and marvellous testimony! He does not love at a distance nor merely in bestowing pardon; He comes by grace into the very place where the sin of His people had brought them according to the sense of that sin which the converting and quickening power of their God had wrought in them. He leads His people there by grace but He accompanies them when they go. He takes His place with them in all the difficulties of the way and goes with them to meet all the obstacles that present themselves; and truly as identifying Himself with the poor remnant those excellent of the earth in whom was all His delight calling Jehovah His Lord; and making Himself of no reputation not saying that His goodness extended to God not taking His eternal place with God but the place of humiliation; and for that very reason of perfection in the position to which He had humbled Himself but a perfection that recognised the existence of sin because in fact there was sin and it behoved the remnant to be sensible of it in returning to God. To be sensible of it was the beginning of good. Hence He can go with them. But in Christ however humble grace might be His taking that path with them was grace that wrought in righteousness; for in Him it was love and obedience and the path by which He glorified His Father. He went in by the door.

Jesus therefore in taking this place of humiliation which the state of the beloved people required and to which grace brought Him found Himself in the place of the fulfilment of righteousness and of all the good pleasure of the Father of which He thus became the object as in this place.

The Father could acknowledge Him as the One who satisfied His heart in the place where sin and at the same time the objects of His grace were found that He might give free course to His grace. The cross was the full accomplishment of this. We shall say a word on the difference when speaking of the temptation of the Lord; but it is the same principle as to Christ's loving will and obedience. Christ was here with the remnant instead of being substituted for them and put in their place to atone for sin; but the object of the Father's delight had in grace taken His place with the people viewed as confessing their sins [1] before God and presenting themselves to God as concerned in them while by this really morally out of them and renewed in heart to confess them without which the Lord could not have been with them except as a witness to preach grace to them prophetically.

Jesus having taken this position and praying-appearing as the godly man dependent on God and lifting up His heart to God thus also the expression of perfection in that position-heaven opens to Him. By baptism He took His place with the remnant; in praying-being there-He exhibited perfection in His own relationship with God. Dependence and the heart going up to God as the first thing and as the expression so to say of its existence is the perfection of man here below; and in this case of man in such circumstances as these. Here then heaven can open. And observe it was not heaven opening to seek some one afar from God nor grace opening the heart to a certain feeling; but it was the grace and perfection of Jesus which caused heaven to open. As it is said "Therefore doth my Father love me because I lay down my life." Thus also it is the positive perfection of Jesus [2] that is the reason of heaven's opening. Remark also here that when once this principle of reconciliation is brought in heaven and earth are not so far from each other. It is true that till after the death of Christ this intimacy must be centred in the Person of Jesus and realised by Him alone but that comprised all the rest. Proximity was established although the grain of wheat had to remain alone until it should "fall into the ground and die." Nevertheless the angels as we have seen could say "Peace on earth the good pleasure [of God] in men." And we see the angels with the shepherds and the heavenly host in the sight and hearing of earth praising God for that which had taken place; and here heaven open upon man and the Holy Ghost descending visibly upon Him.

Let us examine the import of this last case. Christ has taken His place with the remnant in their weak and humble condition but in it fulfilling righteousness. The entire favour of the Father rests upon Him and the Holy Ghost comes down to seal and anoint Him with His presence and His power. Son of God man on earth heaven is open to Him and all the affection of heaven is centred upon Him and upon Him associated with His own. [3] The first step which these humbled souls take in the path of grace and of life finds Jesus there with them and He being there the favour and delight of the Father and the presence of the Holy Ghost. And let us always remember that it is upon Him as man while Son of God.

Such is the position of man accepted before God. Jesus is its measure its expression. It has these two things-the Father's delight and the power and seal of the Holy Ghost; and that in this world and known by him who enjoys it. There is now this difference already noticed that we look by the Holy Ghost into heaven where Jesus is but we take His place down here.

Let us contemplate man thus in Christ-heaven open-the power of the Holy Ghost upon Him and in Him-the testimony of the Father and the relationship of the Son with the Father.

It will be remarked that the genealogy of Christ is here traced not to Abraham and David that He should be the heir of the promises after the flesh but to Adam; in order to exhibit the true Son of God a man on earth where the first Adam lost his title such as it was. The last Adam the Son of God was there accepted of the Father and preparing to take upon Himself the difficulties into which the sin and fall of the first Adam had brought those of his race who drew nigh to God under the influence of His grace.

The enemy was through sin in possession of the first Adam; and Jesus must gain the victory over Satan if He would deliver those who are under his power. He must bind the strong man. To conquer him practically is the second part of the christian life. Joy in God conflict with the enemy make up the life of the redeemed sealed with the Holy Ghost and walking by His power. In both these things the believer is with Jesus and Jesus with him.

Footnotes

[1] He took it in and with the godly remnant in the act which distinguished them from the unrepentant but was the right place of the people the first act of spiritual life. The remnant with John is the true Jew taking his true place with God. This Christ goes with them in.

[2] Remark here Christ has no object in heaven to fix His attention on as Stephen; He is the object of heaven. So He was to Stephen by the Holy Ghost when heaven was open to the saint. His Person is always clearly evident even when He puts His people in the same place with Himself or connects Himself with them. See on this Matthew.

[3] I do not speak here of the union of the church with Christ in heaven but His taking His place with the remnant who come to God through grace led by the efficacy of His word and by the power of the Spirit This is the reason I apprehend that we find all the people baptised and then Jesus comes and is associated with them.

── John DarbySynopsis of Luke

 

Luke 3

Chapter Contents

John the Baptist's ministry. (1-14) John the Baptist testifies concerning Christ. (15-20) The baptism of Christ. (21 22) The genealogy of Christ. (23-38)

Commentary on Luke 3:1-14

(Read Luke 3:1-14)

The scope and design of John's ministry were to bring the people from their sins and to their Saviour. He came preaching not a sect or party but a profession; the sign or ceremony was washing with water. By the words here used John preached the necessity of repentance in order to the remission of sins and that the baptism of water was an outward sign of that inward cleansing and renewal of heart which attend or are the effects of true repentance as well as a profession of it. Here is the fulfilling of the Scriptures Isaiah 40:3 in the ministry of John. When way is made for the gospel into the heart by taking down high thoughts and bringing them into obedience to Christ by levelling the soul and removing all that hinders us in the way of Christ and his grace then preparation is made to welcome the salvation of God. Here are general warnings and exhortations which John gave. The guilty corrupted race of mankind is become a generation of vipers; hateful to God and hating one another. There is no way of fleeing from the wrath to come but by repentance; and by the change of our way the change of our mind must be shown. If we are not really holy both in heart and life our profession of religion and relation to God and his church will stand us in no stead at all; the sorer will our destruction be if we do not bring forth fruits meet for repentance. John the Baptist gave instructions to several sorts of persons. Those that profess and promise repentance must show it by reformation according to their places and conditions. The gospel requires mercy not sacrifice; and its design is to engage us to do all the good we can and to be just to all men. And the same principle which leads men to forego unjust gain leads to restore that which is gained by wrong. John tells the soldiers their duty. Men should be cautioned against the temptations of their employments. These answers declared the present duty of the inquirers and at once formed a test of their sincerity. As none can or will accept Christ's salvation without true repentance so the evidence and effects of this repentance are here marked out.

Commentary on Luke 3:15-20

(Read Luke 3:15-20)

John the Baptist disowned being himself the Christ but confirmed the people in their expectations of the long-promised Messiah. He could only exhort them to repent and assure them of forgiveness upon repentance; but he could not work repentance in them nor confer remission on them. Thus highly does it become us to speak of Christ and thus humbly of ourselves. John can do no more than baptize with water in token that they ought to purify and cleanse themselves; but Christ can and will baptize with the Holy Ghost; he can give the Spirit to cleanse and purify the heart not only as water washes off the dirt on the outside but as fire clears out the dross that is within and melts down the metal that it may be cast into a new mould. John was an affectionate preacher; he was beseeching; he pressed things home upon his hearers. He was a practical preacher; quickening them to their duty and directing them in it. He was a popular preacher; he addressed the people according to their capacity. He was an evangelical preacher. In all his exhortations he directed people to Christ. When we press duty upon people we must direct them to Christ both for righteousness and strength. He was a copious preacher; he shunned not to declare the whole counsel of God. But a full stop was put to John's preaching when he was in the midst of his usefulness. Herod being reproved by him for many evils shut up John in prison. Those who injure the faithful servants of God add still greater guilt to their other sins.

Commentary on Luke 3:21 22

(Read Luke 3:21 22)

Christ did not confess sin as others did for he had none to confess; but he prayed as others did and kept up communion with his Father. Observe all the three voices from heaven by which the Father bare witness to the Son were pronounced while he was praying or soon after Luke 9:35; John 12:28. The Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him and there came a voice from heaven from God the Father from the excellent glory. Thus was a proof of the Holy Trinity of the Three Persons in the Godhead given at the baptism of Christ.

Commentary on Luke 3:23-38

(Read Luke 3:23-38)

Matthew's list of the forefathers of Jesus showed that Christ was the son of Abraham in whom all the families of the earth are blessed and heir to the throne of David; but Luke shows that Jesus was the Seed of the woman that should break the serpent's head and traces the line up to Adam beginning with Eli or Heli the father not of Joseph but of Mary. The seeming differences between the two evangelists in these lists of names have been removed by learned men. But our salvation does not depend upon our being able to solve these difficulties nor is the Divine authority of the Gospels at all weakened by them. The list of names ends thus "Who was the son of Adam the son of God;" that is the offspring of God by creation. Christ was both the son of Adam and the Son of God that he might be a proper Mediator between God and the sons of Adam and might bring the sons of Adam to be through him the sons of God. All flesh as descended from the first Adam is as grass and withers as the flower of the field; but he who partakes of the Holy Spirit of life from the Second Adam has that eternal happiness which by the gospel is preached unto us.

── Matthew HenryConcise Commentary on Luke

 

Luke 3

Verse 2

[2] Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.

Annas being high priest and Caiaphas — There could be but one high priest strictly speaking at once. Annas was the high priest at that time and Caiaphas his sagan or deputy.

Verse 4

[4] As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet saying The voice of one crying in the wilderness Prepare ye the way of the Lord make his paths straight.

Isaiah 40:3.

Verse 5

[5] Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight and the rough ways shall be made smooth;

Every valley shall be filled … — That is every hinderance shall be removed.

Verse 6

[6] And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.

The salvation of God — The Saviour the Messiah.

Verse 8

[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 God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

Say not within yourselves We have Abraham to our father — That is trust not in your being members of the visible Church or in any external privileges whatsoever: for God now requires a change of heart; and that without delay.

Verse 10

[10] And the people asked him saying What shall we do then?

He answereth — It is not properly John but the Holy Ghost who teaches us in the following answers how to come ourselves and how to instruct other penitent sinners to come to Christ that he may give them rest. The sum of all this is Cease to do evil learn to do well. These are the fruits worthy of repentance.

Verse 20

[20] Added yet this above all that he shut up John in prison.

He shut up John — This circumstance though it happened after is here mentioned before our Lord's baptism that his history (that of John being concluded) may then follow without any interruption.

Verse 21

[21] Now when all the people were baptized it came to pass that Jesus also being baptized and praying the heaven was opened

Jesus praying the heaven was opened — It is observable that the three voices from heaven see Luke 9:29 35; John 12:28; by which the Father bore witness to Christ were pronounced either while he was praying or quickly after it. Matthew 3:13; Mark 1:9.

Verse 23

[23] And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph which was the son of Heli

And Jesus was — John's beginning was computed by the years of princes: our Saviour's by the years of his own life as a more august era.

About thirty years of age — He did not now enter upon his thirtieth year (as the common translation would induce one to think) but he now entered on his public ministry: being of such an age as the Mosaic law required. Our great Master attained not as it seems to the conclusion of his thirty-fourth year. Yet what glorious achievements did he accomplish within those narrow limits of time! Happy that servant who with any proportionable zeal despatches the great business of life; and so much the more happy if his sun go down at noon. For the space that is taken from the labours of time shall be added to the rewards of eternity.

The son of Heli — That is the son-in-law: for Heli was the father of Mary. So St. Matthew writes the genealogy of Joseph descended from David by Solomon; St. Luke that of Mary descended from David by Nathan. In the genealogy of Joseph (recited by St. Matthew) that of Mary is implied the Jews being accustomed to marry into their own families.

Verse 38

[38] Which was the son of Enos which was the son of Seth which was the son of Adam which was the son of God.

Adam the son of God — That is whatever the sons of Adam receive from their human parents Adam received immediately from God except sin and misery.

── John ‘WesleyExplanatory Notes on Luke

 

Chapter 3. Duties of the Forerunner

Crooked
Rough

I. John the Baptist the Forerunner

  1. Forerunner's Message
  2. Forerunner's Witness
  3. Forerunner's Cost

II. Baptism and Prayer of Jesus

  1. Heaven Opened at His Prayer
  2. Descending of the Holy Spirit
  3. God Speaks of His Pleasure

III. The Genealogy of Jesus the Son of Man

  1. The Strain of Mary
  2. Tracing back to Adam
  3. The Son of God
── Chih-Hsin ChangAn Outline of The New Testament