LUKE LESSON 8
We will begin this lesson in Luke 3:17. We have just learned in
the previous lesson that many thought John the Baptist to be Messiah.
John quickly tells them that he is not. He had explained by saying his
baptism was of water and Jesus' baptism was of fire. Now we will pick
up in verse seventeen.
Luke 3:17 "Whose fan [is] in his hand, and he will throughly purge
his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he
will burn with fire unquenchable."
This is a prophetic statement by John speaking of the separation
Jesus will make of His own from the evil on Judgement day. Christians
are the wheat. The Lord will gather us unto Him, but the chaff
(unbeliever) has nothing but the lake of fire to look forward to. This
fan in His hand just means that He can get this all stirred up and
going all by Himself. When you fan a fire, it burns hotter. His floor
will be clean, regardless of what must be done to cleanse it. Jesus
taught the separation of good from evil here on the earth and also
taught in the parable of the wheat and the chaff the different fates
of the two. Notice in verse 17, that it is Jesus who is the Judge.
Luke 3:18 "And many other things in his exhortation preached he
unto the people."
Verse 40 of Acts chapter 2 is possibly speaking of the same thing.
Acts 2:40 "And with many other words did he testify and exhort,
saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation." You see that
what both of these are saying is the same. John's message was repent
and be baptized. The thing that was different was that he spoke to
each individual something that they could relate to. He preached what
they needed to hear. He spoke loudly to some and to others in a gentle
voice. He said whatever would touch their heart and cause them to
repent.
Luke 3:19 "But Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him for
Herodias his brother Philip's wife, and for all the evils which Herod
had done,"
Herod was a very evil ruler. John the Baptist is beheaded by him
later on as John's ministry grows. John had told Herod that he was
living in sin, because he had taken his own brother's wife to live
with. Strangely enough, Herod was afraid of John.
Luke 3:20 "Added yet this above all, that he shut up John in
prison."
Herod knew that John was telling him the truth. Herod had great
respect for John even though he put John in prison. As we said, Herod
was afraid of John. Herod knew the people would follow John, if he
asked them. I really believe Herod's greatest fear was not in John
leading an army against him but was fear of John's God. He didn't like
John going around telling that he should not be living with his
brother Philip's wife, either.
Luke 3:21 "Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass,
that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened,"
This does not mean that the whole countryside was baptized. It
just means "all" of the people who "wanted" to be baptized. In other
words. Jesus didn't come in and stop others so that He might be
baptized first. The other gospels do not mention prayer at the
baptism. It appears that Jesus was praying, and the heaven opened.
Luke 3:22 "And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a
dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my
beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased."
We see here God the Father speaking from heaven, God the Son being
baptized, and God the Holy Ghost appearing as dove. We have discussed
in these lessons, over and over, that God is a Spirit and can appear
in any form He wants to. the Dove, however, throughout Scripture
symbolizes the Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost. We see at Jesus' baptism the
Godhead. The Father approved everything Jesus did. Those who heard
this voice should never have a doubt who Jesus was. We should never
forget that Jesus was then, and always will be God: God the Word
before He came to earth and God the Son for His stay on earth. The
Spirit of God dwelled in Him. Jesus was baptized not for His own
benefit (he didn't need to be baptized). but for ours. He wanted to
show us that being baptized was important.
Luke 3:23 "And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of
age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was [the son] of
Heli,"
Genealogies are given for man. This is why it was necessary to
show the genealogy of Joseph, who was not even Jesus' Father. The
world thought that Jesus was Joseph's son so the line had to show back
from Joseph to David. This genealogy differs in a few ways from
Matthew. This genealogy goes back to Adam and God, whereas the one in
Matthew begins with Abraham. Very good records were kept in the
Hebrews' line of King David. As I said, genealogies are kept for the
world, not for God. We will not belabor the point here. Note that
Jesus was 30 years old when His official ministry began. The fact of
Him being 30, 3X10 shows us that God is dealing with mankind (world
government). Also, Hebrew men in the service of God began their
ministry at 30.
Luke 3:24 "Which was [the son] of Matthat, which was [the son] of
Levi, which was [the son] of Melchi, which was [the son] of Janna,
which was [the son] of Joseph," Luke 3:25 "Which was [the son] of
Mattathias, which was [the son] of Amos, which was [the son] of Naum,
which was [the son] of Esli, which was [the son] of Nagge," Luke 3:26
"Which was [the son] of Maath, which was [the son] of Mattathias,
which was [the son] of Semei, which was [the son] of Joseph, which was
[the son] of Juda,"
You may notice that the names are not always identical in Matthew
and Luke. Possibly, the place that each of them got the records from
spelled them a little different. I do not believe that to be
important. The names that are significant are the same in both lines.
Luke 3:27 "Which was [the son] of Joanna, which was [the son] of
Rhesa, which was [the son] of Zorobabel, which was [the son] of
Salathiel, which was [the son] of Neri," Luke 3:28 "Which was [the
son] of Melchi, which was [the son] of Addi, which was [the son] of
Cosam, which was [the son] of Elmodam, which was [the son] of Er,"
Luke 3:29 "Which was [the son] of Jose, which was [the son] of
Eliezer, which was [the son] of Jorim, which was [the son] of Matthat,
which was [the son] of Levi,"
These descendents mentioned in Luke many believe to be the line to
Jesus through Mary. even though it is not stated at the outset.
Luke 3:30 "Which was [the son] of Simeon, which was [the son] of
Juda, which was [the son] of Joseph, which was [the son] of Jonan,
which was [the son] of Eliakim," Luke 3:31 "Which was [the son] of
Melea, which was [the son] of Menan, which was [the son] of Mattatha,
which was [the son] of Nathan, which was [the son] of David,"
It is very important to the Hebrews for David to be in the direct
lineage of Jesus. They really expected Messiah to be a strong man of
war like David. They thought Messiah would free them from the Roman
rule.
Luke 3:32 "Which was [the son] of Jesse, which was [the son] of
Obed, which was [the son] of Booz, which was [the son] of Salmon,
which was [the son] of Naasson,"
We see in this "Booz", the husband of Ruth, that there were Hebrew
and Gentile roots. You see, Ruth was a Moabite woman (Gentile). Ruth,
a Gentile, and Booz, a Hebrew, were in the direct lineage of Jesus.
Luke 3:33 "Which was [the son] of Aminadab, which was [the son] of
Aram, which was [the son] of Esrom, which was [the son] of Phares,
which was [the son] of Juda,"
We know that Jesus was the Lion of the tribe of Juda. Here we see
Juda in the lineage.
Luke 3:34 "Which was [the son] of Jacob, which was [the son] of
Isaac, which was [the son] of Abraham, which was [the son] of Thara,
which was [the son] of Nachor,"
Of course, this is one of the most important genealogy
connections, because the promise was to come through Abraham, Isaac,
and Jacob. This shows covenant connection.
Luke 3:35 "Which was [the son] of Saruch, which was [the son] of
Ragau, which was [the son] of Phalec, which was [the son] of Heber,
which was [the son] of Sala," Luke 3:36 "Which was [the son] of
Cainan, which was [the son] of Arphaxad, which was [the son] of Sem,
which was [the son] of Noe, which was [the son] of Lamech,"
We see, here, the Hebrew nation came from Shem. In our Genesis
study, we go into Noah's three sons starting the three types of
people. The Negroid, Asiatics, and the Caucasians, We see the Hebrews
as descendents of Shem. We also see Noah, who was saved from world
destruction.
Luke 3:37 "Which was [the son] of Mathusala, which was [the son]
of Enoch, which was [the son] of Jared, which was [the son] of
Maleleel, which was [the son] of Cainan," Luke 3:38 "Which was [the
son] of Enos, which was [the son] of Seth, which was [the son] of
Adam, which was [the son] of God."
Seth, you remember, was the son given to Adam and Eve to replace
Abel who Cain killed. His line was the godly line.
Luke 8 Questions
1. Many thought John the Baptist to be whom?
2. How did John explain that he was not who they thought?
3. What happens to the chaff?
4. Who separates the evil and the good on judgement day?
5. What was John's message?
6. What had John told Herod that disturbed him?
7. What did Herod do to John?
8. Why was Herod afraid of John?
9. Who baptized Jesus?
10. What is said in Luke that is not in the other gospels?
11. How did the Holy Ghost appear at the baptism?
12. What did God the Father do at Jesus' baptism?
13. What symbolizes the Holy Spirit of God?
14. How old was Jesus when He was baptized?
15. Who are genealogies given for?
16. This genealogy in Luke is believed by many to be whose?
17. Messiah was to come in whose line?
18. Hebrew men in the service of God began at what age?
19. Jesus was the Lion of the tribe of ___________.
20. What did the Hebrews expect Messiah to be like?
21. What is significant about Booz?
22. Why are Abraham. Isaac, nd Jacob important in the lineage of
Jesus?
23. Of Noah's three sons, which one did the Hebrews descend from?
24. What do the 3 sons of Noah represent?
25. Who did Seth replace?
26. Of Adam and Eve's sons, which did the godly line descend from?
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