Tom Mount – July 21, 2024

 

Exposition of Luke 3:1-22

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.

  • “In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar” – Luke provides historical context, typical of Greco-Roman histories. He mentions seven leaders: Tiberias Caesar (Emperor, AD 14-37); Pontius Pilate (Procurator of Judea, 26-36); Herod Antipas (Tetrarch of Galilee and Perea, 4 BC-AD 39); Philip (Tetrarch of Iturea and Traconitis, 4 BC-AD 34); Lysanias (Tetrarch of Abiline, dates unknown); Annas (High priest, 6-15); Caiaphas (High priest, 18-37). Dated to around AD 28-29.
  • “the word of God came to John” – A divine summons resulting in John’s subjective sense of “calling.” God gives us callings, assignments and tasks.
  • “preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins” – John’s water baptism was a symbolic/ritual act that demonstrated a humble, repentant, obedient heart posture toward God. Christian baptism is similar. If haven’t been: get baptized! If have been, renew your baptismal vows weekly.

4 As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: “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.’”

  • “As it is written” – The text is from Isaiah 40:3-5. It was originally addressed to Israel in Babylonian exile, but also looked ahead to the coming of Messiah.
  • “Prepare the way for the Lord” – Common language in the ANE for preparing the way for a king. It is a metaphor for getting ourselves ready to meet God.
  • “And all people will see God’s salvation” – When we reach out to God, God always reaches out to us (James 4:7-10).

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.”

  • “You brood of vipers!” –Is name calling evil?
  • “Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath… the ax is already at the root of the trees” – Judgment is imminent. The time to act is now!
  • “Produce fruit in keeping with repentance” – Behave like humble, repentant, obedient, loving children of God.
  • “Do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father’” – Many Jews believed they were “saved” because of their genetic tie to Abraham. Don’t trust in any “religious” activity. Only obedient trusting in Jesus saves us.

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.”

  • “Share…” – Don’t be selfish but generous with your “stuff” (treasures, talents, time). See Matt 10:8.

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.”

  • “Tax collectors” – don’t use your position unfairly or unjustly: no kickbacks, no bribes.
  • “Soldiers” – don’t misuse your power for personal gain: no extortion, no false accusations of people you want to take advantage of. Be content with your pay.

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 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 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.

  • “Wondering… if John might possibly be the Messiah” –They were hungry and expectant, like Simeon and Anna. Are we? (See Lk 12:36; 1 Cor 1:7; 2 Ptr 3:12).
  • “The straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie” – Note John’s humility. Untying a person’s sandals was so demeaning that even Jewish slaves were exempt from it.
  • “He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire…” – Jesus is the burning, fiery, glorious presence of God! His very existence will “baptize” us all into a new reality: either with the same fiery presence of God within us (his Holy Spirit) or with the fire of eternal judgment surrounding us. The choice is ours.
  • “With many other words John exhorted the people and proclaimed the good news to them” – It is always “good news” when it’s true, if it leads to our salvation.

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.

  • “When John rebuked Herod… he locked John up in prison” – Herod Antipas married his sister-in-law, the wife of Philip. Speaking truth to power (which is our prophetic role) invites hatred and persecution. It cost John his life.