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Scott's Reference Library
December 7, 2003 | December 10, 2006 | December 6, 2009
Luke 3:1 through Luke 3:6 (NIV)
1In 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—2during the high
priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah
in the desert. 3He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a
baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 4As is written in the book of
the words of Isaiah the prophet:
“A voice of one calling in the desert,
‘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 mankind will see God’s salvation.’”
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
VERSES 1-14
The scope and design of John’s ministry were, to bring the people from their
sins, and to their Saviour. He came preaching, not a sect, or party, but a
profession; the sign or ceremony was washing with water. By the words here used
John preached the necessity of repentance, in order to the remission of sins,
and that the baptism of water was an outward sign of that inward cleansing and
renewal of heart, which attend, or are the effects of true repentance, as well
as a profession of it. Here is the fulfilling of the Scriptures, Isaiah 40:3, in
the ministry of John. When way is made for the gospel into the heart, by taking
down high thoughts, and bringing them into obedience to Christ, by levelling the
soul, and removing all that hinders us in the way of Christ and his grace, then
preparation is made to welcome the salvation of God. Here are general warnings
and exhortations which John gave. The guilty, corrupted race of mankind is
become a generation of vipers; hateful to God, and hating one another. There is
no way of fleeing from the wrath to come, but by repentance; and by the change
of our way the change of our mind must be shown. If we are not really holy, both
in heart and life, our profession of religion and relation to God and his
church, will stand us in no stead at all; the sorer will our destruction be, if
we do not bring forth fruits meet for repentance. John the Baptist gave
instructions to several sorts of persons. Those that profess and promise
repentance, must show it by reformation, according to their places and
conditions. The gospel requires mercy, not sacrifice; and its design is, to
engage us to do all the good we can, and to be just to all men. And the same
principle which leads men to forego unjust gain, leads to restore that which is
gained by wrong. John tells the soldiers their duty. Men should be cautioned
against the temptations of their employments. These answers declared the present
duty of the inquirers, and at once formed a test of their sincerity. As none can
or will accept Christ’s salvation without true repentance, so the evidence and
effects of this repentance are here marked out.