Luke 3 Commentary

Luke continues his extended prologue by introducing the ministry of John the Baptist. He establishes that the word of God came to John, and broke the so-called, “four-hundred-year period of silence” during the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberias Caesar.

Luke introduces John the Baptizer as the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy and his message of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

John issues a surprising and startling rebuke to the crowds who have heard of his popularity and have come to be baptized by him. John warns them to not simply rely on their Jewish heritage to save them from impending judgement.

After John’s fiery warnings, the crowds come to John asking what they should do in order to receive forgiveness and avoid the wrath to come. John tells them to put God’s commandment to love your neighbor as yourself into practice by being generous with your possessions. When reviled tax collectors and hated soldiers come and ask John the same question as it applies to them, he gives them a similar answer.

John confesses that he is not the Messiah. John is only a lowly forerunner of the Messiah. John shifts metaphors and warns that the Messiah is coming very soon to reap. He will gather the faithful unto Himself and He will incinerate everything that is unfit and everyone who is unworthy when He appears.

Luke narrates the fate of John the Baptist and tells why he was imprisoned by Herod.