# Luke 03 đ: John Prepares the Way
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> [!info] Table of Contents
> [[#đ Scripture Text (NET)]]
> [[#đ Verse-by-Verse Commentary]]
> [[#đ¤ Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights]]
> [[#đ§ Chapter Summary]]
> [[#âď¸ Christ in This Chapter]]
> [[#đ Key Observations / đ Life Application]]
> [[#đŹ Discussion Questions]]
> [[#âď¸ Key Verses to Remember]]
> [[#đ Related Passages]]
> [[#đ Devotional Reflection]]
> [[#đ Internal Notes]]
## đ Scripture Text (NET)
(The NET Bible: New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 2005)
### The Ministry of John the Baptist
**Principle**: Pure Gospel = Repent. Hope has come.
[[M0016- John the Baptist]]
[[#Verse 01.]] In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip was tetrarch of the region of Iturea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene,Â
[[#Verse 02.]] during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness.
[[M0013- Caiaphas]]
[[#Verse 03.]] He went into all the region around the Jordan River, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
[[#Verse 04.]]Â As it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah,
**_âThe voice_**Â **_of one shouting in the wilderness:_**
**_âPrepare the way for the Lord,_**
**_make_**Â **_his paths straight_**.
[[#Verse 05.]] **_Every valley will be filled,_**
**_and every mountain and hill will be brought low,_**
**_and the crooked will be made straight,_**
**_and the rough ways will be made smooth,_**
[[#Verse 06.]] Â **_and all humanity_**Â **_will see the salvation of God.ââ_** [[Isaiah 40]]
[[#Verse 07.]] So John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, âYou offspring of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?Â
[[#Verse 08.]] Therefore produce fruit that proves your repentance, and donât begin to say to yourselves, âWe have Abraham as our father.â For I tell you that God can raise up children for Abraham from these stones!Â
[[#Verse 09.]] Even now the ax is laid at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.â
[[#Verse 10.]] So the crowds were asking him, âWhat then should we do?â
[[#Verse 11.]] John answered them, âThe person who has two tunics must share with the person who has none, and the person who has food must do likewise.âÂ
[[#Verse 12.]] Tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they said to him, âTeacher, what should we do?â
[[#Verse 13.]] He told them, âCollect no more than you are required to.âÂ
[[#Verse 14.]] Then some soldiers also asked him, âAnd as for usâwhat should we do?â He told them, âTake money from no one by violence or by false accusation, and be content with your pay.â
[[#Verse 15.]] While the people were filled with anticipation and they all wondered whether perhaps John could be the Christ,
[[#Verse 16.]] John answered them all, âI baptize you with water, but one more powerful than I am is comingâI am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
[[#Verse 17.]] His winnowing fork is in his hand to clean out his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his storehouse, but the chaff he will burn up with inextinguishable fire.â
[[#Verse 18.]] And in this way, with many other exhortations, John proclaimed good news to the people.Â
[[#Verse 19.]] But when John rebuked Herod the tetrarch because of Herodias, his brotherâs wife, and because of all the evil deeds that he had done,Â
[[#Verse 20.]]Â Herod added this to them all: He locked up John in prison.
### The Baptism of Jesus
**Principle**: Follow His example.
[[#Verse 21.]] Now when all the people were baptized, Jesus also was baptized. And while he was praying, the heavens opened,Â
[[#Verse 22.]] and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, âYou are my one dear Son; in you I take great delight.â
### The Genealogy of Jesus
**Principle**: Genealogy through Mary.
[[#Verse 23.]] So Jesus, when he began his ministry, was about thirty years old. He was the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli,Â
[[#Verse 24.]]Â the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph,Â
[[#Verse 25.]]Â the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai,Â
[[#Verse 26.]]Â the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein, the son of Josech, the son of Joda,
[[#Verse 27.]] the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri,
[[#Verse 28.]]Â the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmadam, the son of Er,Â
[[#Verse 29.]]Â the son of Joshua, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi,Â
[[#Verse 30.]]Â the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim,Â
[[#Verse 31.]] the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David,
[[#Verse 32.]] the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Sala, the son of Nahshon,Â
[[#Verse 33.]] the son of Amminadab, the son of Admin, the son of Arni, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah,Â
[[#Verse 34.]] the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor,Â
[[#Verse 35.]]Â the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah,Â
[[#Verse 36.]] the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech,Â
[[#Verse 37.]] the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalalel, the son of Kenan,Â
[[#Verse 38.]]Â the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.
## đ Verse-by-Verse Commentary
###### Overall.
###### Verse 01.
###### Verse 02.
###### Verse 03.
###### Verse 04.
###### Verse 05.
###### Verse 06.
###### Verse 07.
###### Verse 08.
###### Verse 09.
###### Verse 10.
###### Verse 11.
###### Verse 12.
###### Verse 13.
###### Verse 14.
###### Verse 15.
###### Verse 16.
###### Verse 17.
###### Verse 18.
###### Verse 19.
###### Verse 20.
###### Verse 21.
###### Verse 22.
###### Verse 23.
###### Verse 24.
###### Verse 25.
###### Verse 26.
###### Verse 27.
###### Verse 28.
###### Verse 29.
###### Verse 30.
###### Verse 31.
###### Verse 32.
###### Verse 33.
###### Verse 34.
###### Verse 35.
###### Verse 36.
###### Verse 37.
###### Verse 38.
## đ¤ Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights
1. Luke dates John's ministry to the fifteenth year of Tiberius (3:1), around AD 28 to 29, one of the most precise dates in the Gospels.
2. Luke names seven rulers and leaders in 3:1-2, anchoring the gospel in real history.
3. Annas had been high priest from AD 6 to 15, but he stayed powerful while his son-in-law Caiaphas held the office (3:2; John 18:13).
4. Luke quotes more of Isaiah 40 than the other Gospels do, adding that all people will see God's salvation (3:6), a favorite theme of Luke.
5. Vipers were common in the Judean wilderness. John's image (3:7) may picture snakes fleeing before a brush fire.
6. Tax collectors bid for the right to collect taxes and could keep anything they collected above the required amount (3:13).
7. The soldiers who came to John (3:14) were likely Jewish soldiers serving Herod Antipas rather than Roman legionaries.
8. Herod Antipas married Herodias, his half-brother's wife, and John publicly condemned it (3:19).
9. Jesus was about thirty years old when He began His ministry (3:23), the same age as Joseph entering Pharaoh's service and David becoming king (Genesis 41:46; 2 Samuel 5:4).
10. Matthew's genealogy starts with Abraham and moves forward. Luke's starts with Jesus and moves backward all the way to Adam (3:23-38).
## đ§ Chapter Summary
> [!note] đą Still growing. This section is on its way.
## âď¸ Christ in This Chapter
Christ is the beloved Son in whom the Father delights (3:22), anointed by the Spirit for His mission. His genealogy reaches back to Adam (3:38), showing He came as the last Adam for all humanity (1 Corinthians 15:45).
## đ Key Observations / đ Life Application
> [!note] đą Still growing. This section is on its way.
## đŹ Discussion Questions
1. John told the crowds to produce fruit that proves their repentance (3:8). What does real repentance look like in everyday life?
2. John gave practical answers to tax collectors and soldiers (3:12-14). What might he tell you to change in your work or daily habits?
3. The Father declared His delight in Jesus before His public ministry began (3:22). How does knowing you are loved, not for your performance, change how you live?
## âď¸ Key Verses to Remember
- đ verses 4-6: John fulfills Isaiah's call to prepare the way, and all people will see God's salvation.
- đ verse 8: Produce fruit that proves repentance.
- đ verse 16: John points to the One who will baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire.
- đ verse 22: The Spirit descends and the Father declares His delight in His beloved Son.
## đ Related Passages
- đ [[Isaiah 40#Verse 03.|Isaiah 40:3-5]] - Prepare the way of the Lord.
- đ [[Romans 04#Verse 12.|Romans 4:12]] - True children of Abraham.
- đ [[James 02#Verse 15.|James 2:15-16]] - Sharing with those in need.
- đ [[Acts 02#Verse 03.|Acts 2:3-4]] - Tongues of fire at Pentecost.
- đ [[Malachi 03#Verse 02.|Malachi 3:2-3]] - The refiner's fire.
- đ [[Psalm 02#Verse 07.|Psalm 2:7]] - You are My Son.
- đ [[Matthew 01#Verse 01.|Matthew 1:1-17]] - Matthew's genealogy of Jesus.
## đ Devotional Reflection
đ SOAP: [[Luke 03 - SOAP|You Bring God Great Joy]]
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## đ Internal Notes