LUKE LESSON 7

    We will begin this lesson in Luke 3:1 "Now in the fifteenth year
of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of
Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip
tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the
tetrarch of Abilene,"  Luke 3:2 "Annas and Caiaphas being the high
priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the
wilderness."

    This, above is just setting the time that the things in chapter 3
occurs. Tiberius Caesar was the second Roman emperor. Pontius Pilate
was the governor of Judaea and was subordinate to Caesar. Herod was
subordinate to Pontius Pilate and was over the small area of Galilee
Where John the Baptist and Jesus lived. Annas and Caiaphas were the
head of the temple worship. We can see the chain of world power in
this area here. This "John", mentioned here, was John the Baptist.
This Word of God that John received was from God, not man. The message
John got was a message of the spirit. Of course, it will affect these
rulers indirectly: but the message is not for them as rulers. The
message John gets speaks to the soul of man.

    Luke 3:3 "And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching
the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;"

    John had one message. "repent". That should be the message of our
day. also. To repent is the first step on the way to being saved. Then
when we repent, we must change our mind and become a new creature in
Christ. Our thoughts must be different. We must walk a different walk
than before. Our desires must change. What John the Baptist was
saying is turn from your wicked ways and live a holy life pleasing
unto God. This country about Jordan was a number of miles long. It
might have included an area about 150 miles long. At least. we know
the people came from that far away. John had been chosen even before
his birth for this job. He had lived a near perfect life and was well
respected by those around him. This message that John had received
from God was very similar to the great commission which says, "Go ye
into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature." (Mark
16:15)

    Luke 3:4 "As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the
prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye
the way of the Lord, make his paths straight."

    You can find the Scripture in Isaiah in chapter 40. Verse 3. It
appears that John the Baptist was not speaking in the temple. He was
out in a desert area where few lived. John was preparing the people to
be ready for the Saviour. He was proclaiming the coming of the Lord.

    Luke 3:5 "Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and
hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and
the rough ways [shall be] made smooth;"

    This is speaking of obstacles of every kind which shall be done
away with so that everyone will be able to hear.

    Luke 3:6 "And all flesh shall see the salvation of God."

    Salvation is not just for one particular group; salvation is for
everyone who will accept it. Salvation is an offer of God to all
mankind. a way out.

    Luke 3:7 "Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be
baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee
from the wrath to come?"

    This was an evil generation. This was a generation who had turned
its back on God. The sad thing here is that John was speaking to
people who professed to know God. Our generation is like this. as
well. Our country claims to be under God, and sin is everywhere.
Movies are X, R, or PG rated. Television is so bad you can't allow the
children to watch even the shows especially made for them. If there
was ever a generation of people displeasing God, it is ours. Even
people who go to church and claim to be Christians are doing things
abominable to God. We take God so lightly that we have difficulty
having any time for Him at all. John the Baptist called them "vipers".
because they belonged to the old devil. No one wants to face the wrath
of God, then or now. We fear the wrath. but will not live a life
pleasing to God. The only way to avoid God's wrath (hot anger) is to
live pleasing before Him.

    Luke 3:8 "Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and
begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to [our] father:
for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up
children unto Abraham."

    The Lord does not have grandchildren, only children, who your
parents are makes no difference. The promise to Abraham and his
descendents was conditional. God would bless them, if they kept His
commandments. There was a curse if they did not keep His commandments.
Abraham's true seed do the works of Abraham as we read in St. John
8:39. Abraham's true seed are the ones mentioned in Galatians 3:29.
These fruits worthy of repentance are a changed life.

    Luke 3:9 "And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees:
every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down,
and cast into the fire."

    This verse 9 is speaking of what happens to those at the judgement
who have wasted their lives on themselves. Those who have lived in sin
to please their own flesh and have had no regard for the souls of
those around them. The end of these people is hell and the lake of
fire.

    Luke 3:10 "And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do
then?"

    This is the same question the young. rich man asked Jesus ("what
must I do to be saved"?).

    Luke 3:11 "He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two
coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat,
let him do likewise."

    John is saying in this, you say you have repented and want to live
for Jesus, now show me by giving up your selfish ways. Begin to do for
others and stop thinking so much of yourselves. Jesus will teach later
on that in as much as you have done this for the least of these, you
have done it for Him. Giving to someone who cannot possibly pay you
back is giving to God.

    Luke 3:12 "Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto
him, Master, what shall we do?"

    These publicans were people who collected taxes for the Romans.
This is a very good question they have asked.

    Luke 3:13 "And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is
appointed you."

    Some of the tax collectors took bribes and pocketed some of the
money for themselves. This type of employment was looked down upon by
the Jews, but it appears here that John is saying, "If you must do
this job, be honest and don't put any more burden on the people than
is required".

    Luke 3:14 "And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And
what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man,
neither accuse [any] falsely; and be content with your wages."

    We see, here, that many of the soldiers desired to be among those
who repented and were ready for the coming of the Lord. John, again,
tells them to do their job well without cruelty. He tells them to be
careful and not to accuse anyone of a crime they did not do.  Again,
he reminds them to be satisfied with the wages they make and not to
covet others' money or wealth. These soldiers being armed could cause
others around them problems, if they desired. John is warning them not
to do this.

    Luke 3:15 "And as the people were in expectation, and all men
mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, or not;"

    It appears that many believed that John the Baptist was the
"looked for" Messiah. They had expected Messiah for so long, and John
seemed right for what they were looking for. Certainly, he was like no
other man that they had ever come into contact with. They, also, know
of his miracle birth to aged parents. The other gospels do not mention
that many thought John to be Messiah. He was so different it is not
surprising that many thought this to be Messiah.

    Luke 3:16 "John answered, saying unto [them] all, I indeed baptize
you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose
shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy
Ghost and with fire:"

    John. here, is trying to cool down their belief that he might be
Messiah. He tells them quickly. that he is not Messiah. John is
attempting to prepare them for the Messiah. John the Baptist's message
is "repent". "Repent", as we said before, means to have a change of
heart, to turn from the old ways and walk in a better life. The
baptism of John was certainly different from Jesus' baptism. John's
was the baptism of repentance, the washing away of sins and rising to
a new and better life. The baptism of Jesus sets you on fire to work
for Him. This baptism of John was not the baptism of power from on
high.  This baptism of fire was the baptism evident at Pentecost.
John knew that he was not Messiah and was quick to tell others that he
was not.  He was a voice proclaiming the coming of the Saviour. this
baptism of fire the Messiah would bring would burn away the sin and
set all who receive it on fire to work for Messiah. Just as Isaiah's
lips were purged with fire in Isaiah 6:6.




































                           Luke 7 Questions

1.  In verse 1, who did the Word of God come to?
2.  Where was he when the Word came?
3.  Who was reigning at the time?
4.  Who were the 2 high priests at this time?
5.  Who was this "John" the son of?
6.  This message that John gets is to what?
7.  What was John preaching?
8.  In what area did he preach?
9.  What does repent actually mean?
10. What is the great commission given to believers?
11. What had Isaiah prophesied about John?
12. What was John preparing the people for?
13. What does verse 5 really mean about the valleys being made low?
14. Who shall see the salvation of God?
15. What kind of generation did John call the multitude that came to
    be baptized?
16. Who were these people. really?
17. How can we relate them to people of our day?
18. How is the only way to avoid God's wrath?
19. What did John warn them about Abraham?
20. What lowly thing did John say that God could raise seed of Abraham
    from?
21. What did John tell the soldiers to do?
22. Who are Abraham's true seed?
23. These fruits worthy of repentance are what?
24. If a tree does not bring forth good fruit. what is done to it?
25. What kind of fate awaits those who refuse Jesus?
26. What question did they ask John?
27. In verse 11. what was John really saying to them?
28. Who were the publicans?
29. How could they be saved?
30. What changes did John tell them to make in their lives?
31. What did John tell the soldiers to do?
32. Who did the people believe John was?
33. Why did they believe this?
34. What was the difference in John's baptism and the baptism of
    Jesus?
35. What does Jesus' baptism cause you to do?