Nazarene Commentary 2000©

21^st Century Paraphrase of the Hebrew Scriptures© –
21^st Century Version of the Christian Scriptures© [NCMM]

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THE GOSPEL OF LUKE

CHAPTER THREE:
JOHN THE BAPTIST, JESUS’ BAPTISM AND GENEALOGY

[“You Are My Son”]
Key word: Son

Luke 3:1, 2 – Factual Data

|| Matthew 3:1-12; 112 Mark 1:1-8 113
112 Matthew 3:1-12: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Matthew. The symbol || indicates parallel information in another Gospel.
113 Mark 1:1-8: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Mark.

LK3:1 Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar 114 – [when] Pontius Pilate 115 was governor of Judea, Herod 116 was the tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip 117 was the tetrarch of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanius 118 was tetrarch of Abilene,
114 The fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar: One absolute date in human history is the year Augustus died and Tiberius became Emperor of Rome – 14 AD – thus this is the year 29 AD in the fall. This is the exact year Daniel foretold when Messiah would appear. [Daniel 9:24-27]
115 Pontius Pilate: He was appointed Roman governor of Judea in 26 AD by Tiberius. Josephus mentions him. [Jewish Antiquities, XVIII, 55-59 (iii, 1); (Jewish Antiquities, XVIII, 60-62 [iii, 2]; The Jewish War, II, 175-177 [ix, 4])] As does the Jewish theologian Philo of Judea who is not flattering. [The Embassy to Gaius, XXXVIII, 299-305] An inscription was uncovered in 1961 confirming the existence of Pilate.
116 Herod: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Matthew 14:1.
117 Philip: Son of Herod the Great by Cleopatra of Jerusalem.
118 Lysanius: An inscription confirms his existence. [Corpus Inscriptionum Graecarum, Vol. 3, No. 4521]
LK3:2 also Annas 119 and Caiaphas 120 were chief priests – God’s message 121 came to John the son of Zechariah in the desert.
119 Annas: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Matthew 26:3, John 18:13, and Acts 4:6.
120 Caiaphas: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Matthew 26:65; John 11:49-53; 18:12-14; Acts 5:17.
121 God’s message: Or, word, command.

Luke 3:3-6 – John Preaches Baptism of Repentance

LK3:3 And so John went into all the surrounding regions of the Jordan [river], preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, 122
122 Sins: Against the Law of Moses.
LK3:4 just as it has been written in the bible 123 of the prophet Isaiah’s words: “A voice crying in the desert: 124 ‘Prepare the way of YHWH! 125 Make His paths straight!’
123 Bible: Or, book, scroll, writings. The Greek is BIBLO.

124 A voice crying in the desert: The source is Isaiah 40:3-5. Compare Matthew 3:3; Mark 1:3.
125 YHWH: Isaiah has the Tetragram.
LK3:5 Every valley will be filled in, and every mountain and hill will be leveled off. The crooked will be straightened and the rough smoothed out. LK3:6 All flesh will see the salvation of The God.” [Isaiah 40:3-5 LXX]

Luke 3:7-9 – Vipers, Repent!

LK3:7 So John told the crowds that came out to be baptized by him: “You offspring of vipers, 126 who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 127
126 You offspring of vipers: Or, generation of vipers, brood of snakes. John does not speak well of the Jews of his period. [Isaiah 59:5] Jesus does the same. [Matthew 23:33]
127 The coming wrath: Likely including the period of Great Oppression between 66-70 AD.
LK3:8 You had better produce fruitage worthy of repentance. 128 Do not start to convince yourselves: ‘Abraham is our father!’ 129 For I tell you that The God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these rocks! 130
128 Fruitage worthy of repentance: True repentance – a feeling of regret for past thoughts, words, and conduct – must be accompanied by visible evidence of such repentance. [Matthew 3:8]
129 Abraham is our father: Compare John 8:33. A claim relied on by some Jews to this day.
130 Raise up children to Abraham from these rocks: Merely relying on a genealogical connection with Abraham is of no value.

LK3:9 Even now the ax is about to chop the root of the trees. 131 And so every tree not producing good fruit 132 will be chopped down and hurled into the fire.” 133
131 The ax is about to chop the root of the trees: The claim of Abrahamic roots is worthless now if one is lacking the faith of Abraham. [Matthew 3:10]
132 Every tree not producing good fruit: Compare Matthew 7:19 where Jesus teaches the same.
133 Hurled into the fire: The analogy is to the brush fire resulting from burning up pruned limbs. Compare Luke 3:17.

Luke 3:10-14 – “What Shall We Do?”

LK3:10 So the crowds asked John: “What shall we do?” 134
134 What shall we do: Likely the question is in response to the “fruitage that befits repentance.”
LK3:11 John told them: “The person with two outer cloaks should share 135 with the person having none, and the person with food should do the same.”
135 Share: It is interesting to note the first answer to the question, “What shall we do?” The spirit is at the center of what the Nazarene is to teach later. [Luke 6:30-35] The early Christians did this in great measure. [Acts 2, 4, 5] For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on “sharing” at Romans 12:13 and 2 Corinthians 8:14.
LK3:12 Then tax collectors came to be baptized and they asked John: “Teacher, what shall we do?” LK3:13 John told them: “Do not collect more tax than is required by law.” 136
136 Do not collect more tax than is required by law: Or, WMS: stop collecting any more than is prescribed for you. Compare an example at Luke 19:8.
LK3:14 Now soldiers also asked him: “What shall we do?” John answered them: “Do not extort money 137 from anyone, and do not slander any person. 138 Be satisfied with your wages.” 139
137 Do not extort money: Or, molest no one, rob no one, don’t use threats. It is interesting John does not tell them to leave their military service.
138 Do not slander any person: Or, blackmail, false accusation, informing. [Exodus 23:1, 7]
139 Be satisfied with your wages: Or, supplies, provisions. The military is always under paid for what they do.

Luke 3:15-17 – The Baptisms of the One Coming

LK3:15 Now the people were in great expectation 140 and everyone was wondering in their hearts regarding John, whether he might be the Christ.
140 Great expectation: Or, suspense, on tiptoe. There was a strong messianic spirit of anticipation at the beginning of the 1^st Century. Compare Luke 19:11.
LK3:16 So then John told them all: “I baptize you with water, but someone is coming who is stronger than me – someone I am not worthy 141 to even untie his sandal straps – he will baptize you with holy Pneuma 142 and with fire.
141 I am not worthy: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Mark 1:7.
142 Baptize you with holy Pneuma: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on spirit baptism compare 1 Corinthians 12:12, 13.
LK3:17 His winnowing tool is in his hand and he is ready to clean out his threshing floor [Micah 4:12] to gather the wheat 143 into his barn. The chaff [Psalm 1:4] he will burn up in a fire that cannot be put out. [Isaiah 66:24]
143 Wheat: Compare Matthew 13:30.

Luke 3:18-20 – John’s Teaching and Imprisonment

|| Matthew 14:3-12; 144 Mark 6:17-29 145
144 Matthew 14:3-12: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Matthew.
145 Mark 6:17-29: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Mark.

LK3:18 So with many words like these John continued to encourage the people as he preached the Good News. LK3:19 Now, Herod the tetrarch had been rebuked by John regarding Herodias who was his brother’s wife, and also about other evil things Herod did. LK3:20 On top of it all Herod also added the imprisonment of John.

Luke 3:21-23 – The Baptism of Christ

|| Matthew 3:13-17; 146 Mark 1:9-11 147
146 Matthew 3:13-17: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Matthew.
147 Mark 1:9-11: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Mark.

LK3:21 Now it happened during the time that time when all the people were being baptized Jesus also was baptized. 148 While he was praying the sky opened up,
148 Jesus also was baptized: Luke does not mean Jesus was baptized among a throng, but that during this period Jesus came privately to John to be baptized. The crowds were not to witness the anointing of Messiah.
LK3:22 and the holy Pneuma descended upon Jesus in the bodily shape of a dove. Then a Voice came out of the sky, “You are my beloved Son! I confirm you!” 149
149 I confirm you: Or, well pleased, take delight, my chosen, approved. The Greek is EU-DOCESA [Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #2106 think well, approve, approbate]
LK3:23 And so when Jesus began his work he was about thirty years old, 150 and according to others the son of Joseph, 151 the son of Heli…
150 About thirty years old: Either he was about to turn 30 or had recently turned 30.

151 The son of Joseph: As far as most people were concerned Joseph was the father of Jesus.

Luke 3:24-38 – The Family Tree Back to Adam

|| Matthew 1:1-17 152
152 Matthew 1:1-17: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Matthew. Matthew follows the genealogy through Mary and Luke through Joseph. Few people can trace their lineage back to Adam though all humanity came from him.

LK3:24 …of Matthat, of Levi, of Melchi, of Jannai, of Joseph, LK3:25 of Mattathias, of Amos, of Nahum, of Esli, of Naggai, LK3:26 of Maath, of Mattathias, of Semein, of Josech, of Joda, LK3:27 of Joanan, of Rhesa, of Zerubbabel, 153 [Ezra 3:2] of Shealtiel, [1 Chronicles 3:17] of Neri,
153 Zerubbabel: Governor of Judea after the Babylonian exile.
LK3:28 of Melchi, of Addi, of Cosam, of Elmadam, of Er, LK3:29 of Jesus, of Eliezer, of Jorim, of Matthat, of Levi, LK3:30 of Symeon, of Judas, of Joseph, of Jonam, of Eliakim, LK3:31 of Melea, of Menna, of Mattatha, of Nathan, [2 Samuel 5:14] of David, 154 [1 Samuel 16:13]
154 David: Second king of Israel.
LK3:32 of Jesse, [1 Samuel 17:58] of Obed, [Ruth 4:17] of Boaz, [Ruth 4:13] of Salmon, [Ruth 4:21] of Nahshon, [Numbers 1:7] LK3:33 of Amminadab, [Ruth 4:20] of Arni, [1 Chronicles 12:10] of Hezron, [Ruth 4:19] of Perez, [Ruth 4:18] of Judah, 155 [Genesis 29:35]
155 Judah: The source of the name “Jew.”
LK3:34 of Jacob, [Genesis 25:26] of Isaac, [Genesis 21:3] of Abraham, 156 [Genesis 11:27] of Terah, [Genesis 11:26] of Nahor, [Genesis 11:24]
156 Abraham: The father of all Jews and Arabs.
LK3:35 of Serug, [Genesis 11:26] of Reu, [Genesis 11:20] of Peleg, [Genesis 11:18] of Eber, 157 [Genesis 11:16] of Shela, [Genesis 11:14]
157 Eber: Or, Heber. The source of the name “Hebrew.”
LK3:36 of Cainan, 158 of Arphaxad, [Genesis 11:12] of Shem, 159 [Genesis 11:10] of Noah, 160 [Genesis 5:29] of Lamech, [Genesis 5:25]
158 Cainan: Missing from some texts.
159 Shem: The father of all Semitic peoples.
160 Noah: The father of all human beings today.
LK3:37 of Methuselah, [Genesis 5:21] of Cainan, [Genesis 5:9] LK3:38 of Enos, [Genesis 4:26] of Seth, [Genesis 5:4] of Adam, 161 [Genesis 5:1] [the son] of The God.
161 Adam: The father of all human beings pre-Flood and post-Flood.

Review Questions on Chapter Three

When did John the Baptist begin his ministry?
What did John preach?
How does he answer the question, ‘What shall we do?’
Whose coming does John mention?
Describe the baptism scene of Jesus.
How old was Jesus when he began?
How far back does Luke trace the genealogy of Jesus?

Mark Heber Miller