Luke 3 - Jesus' Family Tree!

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Enduring Word Commentary Luke 3

John the Baptist Prepares the Way

3 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar—when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Traconitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene— 2 during the high-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. 3 He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 4 As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet:

Luke gives details regarding the historical context when John the Baptist came on the scene. The rulers included the Roman emperor, the Roman governor or Judea, and the Jewish tetrarch. The tetrarch was a ruler of a 1/4 of the land. Therefore, there were four tetrarchs, though not all are mentioned in this passage. These were all known as ruthless and cruel rulers. 

The high priests were Annas and Caiaphas. 

Luke also listed the religious leaders of Judea in the period of Jesus’ ministry. Caiaphas was actually the High Priest, but his father-in-law Annas (the patriarch of the family) was the real influence among the priestly class. The mention of these two corrupt high priests reminds us that the Jewish leaders were more interested in power politics than in serving God. - Guzik

Notice the Word olf God came to John in the wilderness. The Word of God comes to us in many ways. Through preaching, through reading the bible, through prayer, and through the witness of the Holy Spirit. 

“A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him. 5 Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth. 6 And all people will see God’s salvation.’” (Isaiah 40:3-5)

Luke connected Isaiah the prophet with John's ministry. John's purpose was the prepare the way for Jesus. All of creation would be affected by Jesus the Messiah's coming to earth. 

Luke connected John the Baptist with the one prophesied by Isaiah (Isaiah 40:3-5). John himself was aware of this from his early days, because his father was aware of it from before John’s birth (Luke 1:76-77). - Guzik

John’s great message was that things can be set right. The Messiah is here to do things that are too big for man: filling valleys, leveling mountains, setting crooked roads straight and rough roads smooth.

7 John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 9 The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”

Many responded and came to be baptized by John. John met them by saying, "You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?" This is an interesting way to great them. 

Addressing your audience as a family of snakes is not a customary way to begin a sermon. Asking them “why are you here anyway?” isn’t a smooth introduction. But John wasn’t interested in preaching a soft message or in tickling ears. - Guzik

John also enjoined them to produce fruit which was evidence of their repentance. Repentance is a behavioral change to put one in alignment with God. Repentance always leads to a change of lifestyle, which John calls "fruits". 

John also called them out for thinking that just because they were descendants of Abraham, it did not mean they would not face judgment. They needed to produce fruit by repenting just like everyone else.  

John cautioned against trusting in Abraham’s merits as sufficient for salvation. It was widely taught that Abraham’s merits were plenty for any Jew’s salvation, and that it was impossible for any descendant of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob to go to hell. - Guzik

10 “What should we do then?” the crowd asked. 11 John answered, “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.” 12 Even tax collectors came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?” 13 “Don’t collect any more than you are required to,” he told them. 14 Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?” He replied, “Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely—be content with your pay.”

Luke's gospel shows its emphasis on helping the poor. When ask, "What shall we do?", John's  examples have to do with giving something material to those need, or not taking advantage of them. Even those in power, like the soldiers, he told them not to use their power to get money out of people, or accuse them falsely. Even the tax collectors got baptized. Later, we will see Jesus calling a prominent tax collector, Matthew, to be one of his closest followers. 

John’s instructions were quite ordinary. He demanded that people share, that they be fair with each other, and that they not be mean and cruel; that they be happy with what they get. These are things we teach our smallest children. - Guzik

15 The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Messiah. 16 John answered them all, “I baptize you with[b] water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with[c] the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” 18 And with many other words John exhorted the people and proclaimed the good news to them. 19 But when John rebuked Herod the tetrarch because of his marriage to Herodias, his brother’s wife, and all the other evil things he had done, 20 Herod added this to them all: He locked John up in prison.

The people wondered if John was the Messiah, but he quickly dismissed such a notion. He baptized with water for repentance, but the Messiah would baptize them with the Holy Spirit and fire.  Fire was a sign of cleansing and judgment. When the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost, the Spirit was described as tongues of fire that descended upon the disciples. (Acts 2:3)

John also made it clear that he was not in any way to be equated with the Messiah. He said he was not even worthy to untie his sandals. In another gospel he said, "I must decrease and he must increase". (John 3:30)

What a great reminder to all of us in full time or part time ministry. It should never be about us. We should always be pointing to Jesus. As a leader it is tempting to make it about you, which leads to pride. Most pastors who have had a fall in ministry became prideful and started being more concerned about the praise of men, than the praise of their heavenly Father. 

The rabbis of Jesus’ day taught that a teacher might require just about anything of his followers except to have them take off his sandals. That was considered too humiliating to demand. Yet John said that he was not even worthy to do this for Jesus. - Guzik

Note John both exhorted them and proclaimed the Good News to them. Part of proclamation of the gospel is to turn from things you know are wrong to follow Jesus. Most people think repentance is bad news. I.e. "I have to give up all of these things to follow Jesus!" But, as we give up things that are not good for us and don't honor Jesus, we won't miss them. In fact many of these habits/behaviors are what are keeping us from experiencing the abundant life Jesus came to offer us. 

Finally, John wasn't afraid to confront those in power. He rebuked King Herod for his immoral relationship with his brother's wife, as well as other evil things he had done. Herod wasn't used to people calling him out, so he locked John up in prison thinking he could silence him. 

The relationship between Herod and Herodias was both complicated and sinful. He was her uncle, and he seduced her from his half-brother. In marrying Herodias, Herod at once married a woman both his niece and his sister-in-law. - Guzik

“Josephus says that the reason for the arrest was that Herod ‘feared lest the great influence John had over the people might put it in his power and inclination to raise a rebellion; for they seemed ready to do anything he should advise.’” (Barclay)

The Baptism and Genealogy of Jesus

21 When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened 22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

Surprisingly Jesus showed up on the scene to be baptized. In Matthew it says he did this to fulfill all righteousness. Meaning he was being obedient to His Father. (Matthew 3:15) This was a significant because the Holy Spirit descended upon him like a dove in bodily form. So the question is did Jesus have the Holy Spirit before he was baptized. 

Here is some good commentaries on this issue. 

The Holy Spirit and Jesus:

The concept of the Holy Spirit being with Jesus from conception is widely believed in Christianity. 

The Gospel narratives, especially Matthew and Luke, focus on the moment of Jesus's baptism in the Jordan River as a pivotal event. 

At his baptism, the heavens open, the Spirit descends upon him like a dove, and a voice from heaven declares, "You are my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased" (Luke 3:22; Matthew 3:16). 

The Significance of the Baptism:

This event publicly affirmed Jesus's identity as the Son of God and marked the beginning of his ministry. 

The Spirit's descent is seen as an empowerment and anointing for his work and mission. 

It's not that Jesus needed the Holy Spirit, as he always had the Spirit, but rather that his baptism is presented as the point of his public manifestation of that divine power. 

Interpretations and Different Perspectives:

Some interpret this as the moment Jesus received the full measure of the Holy Spirit, while others view it as the public declaration and empowerment of a gift that was already inherent in him. 

Some Christian traditions emphasize the baptism in the Holy Spirit as a distinct experience that follows salvation, while others view it as a continuous process or a deeper immersion in the Spirit. 

John the Baptist, who baptized Jesus, states that Jesus would baptize with the Holy Spirit, further emphasizing the significance of the event. 

23 Now Jesus himself was about thirty years old when he began his ministry. He was the son, so it was thought, of Joseph, the son of Heli, 24 the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melki, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph, 25 the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai, 26 the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein, the son of Josek, the son of Joda, 27 the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri, 28 the son of Melki, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmadam, the son of Er, 29 the son of Joshua, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, 30 the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim, 31 the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David, 32 the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Salmon,[d] the son of Nahshon, 33 the son of Amminadab, the son of Ram,[e] the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah, 34 the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor, 35 the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah, 36 the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech, 37 the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalalel, the son of Kenan, 38 the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.

Jesus began his public ministry at age 30, which was an age of maturity in the Jewish culture. Priests started their ministries at age 30 as well. 

Here are a lot of helpful commentaries about Luke's listing of Jesus' genealogy, which is different from Matthew's. 

According to ancient custom, genealogies were almost always traced through the father, not the mother. This was a problem in the unique situation of a virgin birth.

Luke differs in the account of Matthew from David onward, but they both end their genealogies with Joseph. The best explanation for this seems to be that Luke followed Mary’s line (Jesus’ actual lineage) while Matthew followed Joseph’s line (His legal lineage by adoption). This was Luke’s point in his important phrase “being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph.”

Luke began with Joseph because he followed proper form and included no women in his genealogy The son of… the son of: The fact that Luke could give Jesus’ genealogical history was not unusual. Josephus traced his own genealogy from “the public records” (Autobiography, paragraph 

1). It was also well known that the famous Rabbi Hillel could prove his descent from King David with reference from the public registers. The son of Adam, the son of God: Luke traced his genealogy all the way back to Adam, to show that Jesus belonged to all mankind, not only to the Jewish people.

Importanlty ...

Luke traced his genealogy all the way back to Adam, to show that Jesus belonged to all mankind, not only to the Jewish people. -

Luke, the historian, make a careful investigation of the facts to show that Jesus was truly a man and He was truly the Messiah the Old Testament had prophesied about.