LUKE 3

In today’s study our titles are; Verses 1-15 The preaching of John the Baptist. Verses 16-20 The Emblems of the Holy Spirit. Verses 21-22 John baptizes Jesus. Verses 23-38 The True Genealogy of Jesus. Luke 3 and verse 1 reads.

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,

We are given a date here in God’s Word. Julius Caesar being the surname of the first Roman Emperor, taken as a title for all who followed him. It is where we get our word Czar today, Caesar means; Severed. And is Latin. Tiberius is the second Roman Caesar, succeeding Julius. His name means; From the Tiber, which was a river, as “god-river” notice the lowercase G for god. He reigned from 14 AD through 37 AD. This verse gives us the year 29 AD. Herod and his brother Philip are both appointed Tetrarchs, or kings, of their given areas by the Roman authorities.

Luke 3:2] Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.

Caiaphas was appointed high priest by Valerius Gratus, governor of Judaea, after removal of Simon, son of Camith, A.D. 18, and was removed A.D. 36 by Vitellius, governor of Syria, who appointed Jonathan, son of Ananus (Annus, father-in-law of Caiaphas), his successor. Important to understand that God did not appoint Caiaphas high priest, but the Roman authorities did. Now, John the Baptist receives the word of God in the wilderness, this is where he received the sign of the Holy Spirit as a dove.

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

John the Baptist, being the last of the prophets, is our example today on how to teach the Word of God. It is said right here that he preached baptism of repentance for the remission of sins; and this is what we need to declare before baptism. We first repent, then declare that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

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.
[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;
[6] And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.

John quoted Isaiah 40 and verse 1 reads.

Isa.40:1] Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.
[2] Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the LORD’s hand double for all her sins.
[3] The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
[4] Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain:
[5] And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.

The glory of the LORD is Salvation. As for verse 6 above, let’s go to Psalms 98 and verse 2 reads.

Psa.98:2] The LORD hath made known his salvation: his righteousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the heathen.

We also find in Isaiah 52 and verse 10 reads.

Isa.52:10] The LORD hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.

His outstretched saving arms that were pulled from their sockets when they crucified him on the cross. Back to Luke 3 and verse 7 reads.

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?

We see here that among them were those of the serpent’s seed. That’s right, Serpent’s seed, these are Kenites. But just so you know, even a Kenite can receive salvation if he repents and declares that Jesus is the Son of God. These won’t, they will behead John and crucify our Lord Jesus.

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.

Jesus would also talk with these same Kenites in John 8 let’s pick it up with verse 37 and it reads.

John 8:37] I know that ye are Abraham’s seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you.
[38] I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.
[39] They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham.
[40] But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.
[41] Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God.
[42] Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.
[43] Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.
[44] Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

This is why here at ChristMinistries.org we do teach the Serpent’s Seed because it is God’s Word. Here we have the first murderer, that was Cain, and his descendants are called Kenites. Their father was the serpent in the garden, Satan. Did you notice the lowercase f in father above. Back to Luke 3 and verse 9 reads.

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.

Let’s go to Hebrews 12 and verse 29 reads.

Heb.12:29] For our God is a consuming fire.

Hell does not exist today in the fashion in which we grew up thinking. That was a lie, it is God who consumes and that means blotted out as if they never existed. This happens at the White Throne Judgement. He also mentioned trees, whenever you hear the word trees you should think about spiritual eyes to see, as in the garden or with Jesus healing the blind man in Mark 8:23-25. Jesus will open your spiritual eyes before he opens your eyes to see another man. Back to Luke 3 and verse 10 reads.

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

After being baptized they asked what now?

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.

He said to take care of the poor and needy. It is the sign of a Christian to be compassionate to those who are in need. The widow, the fatherless, those that are hungry for the Word of God, feed them milk at first, then bring them to maturity in God’s Word.

Luke 3:12] Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do?
[13] And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you.
[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.

Not only common people, but government officials, soldiers, and many others of the synagogues came to John to be baptized.

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;

Wondering if John was the Messiah. He will set them straight. Remember he was the voice crying in the wilderness as prophesied by Isaiah.

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:
[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.

We learned above in Hebrews 12:29. Our God is a consuming fire. Understanding the Trinity helps with these verses.

Luke 3:18] And many other things in his exhortation preached he unto the people.
[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,
[20] Added yet this above all, that he shut up John in prison.

Let’s get this straight, it was Herodias, Philip’s wife, who Herod took for his wife that had John the Baptist put in prison. Let’s go to Leviticus 18 and verse 16 reads.

Lev.18:16] Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy brother’s wife: it is thy brother’s nakedness.

And in Leviticus 20 verse 21 reads.

Lev.20:21] And if a man shall take his brother’s wife, it is an unclean thing: he hath uncovered his brother’s nakedness; they shall be childless.

These are the laws of Moses. The Pharisees should have been the first to say to king Herod that it was unlawful, but they too are appointed by the Roman authorities. Back to Luke 3 and verse 21 reads.

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,
[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.

Jesus is God with us, Immanuel. Wherever the two are, there is the Holy Spirit. This coming down of the Holy Spirit is for John the Baptist only to see, it was the sign that the Father gave him while he was in the wilderness. Now we come to the True genealogy of Jesus Christ. different from the genealogy we read in Matthew chapter 1 for a reason. In Matthew, that was the genealogy of Joseph, Joseph was not the father of Jesus, God was. We need to take it from Mary’s father Heli.

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,

We learn here that Jesus was thirty years old in 29 AD. We also have “as was supposed” which means son-in-law. And we have here the correction as it says the son of Heli. Heli being Mary’s father. We will see that Heli was of the king line also. This genealogy takes us from Mary’s father Heli back to Adam. Christ did not come through Soloman, he came through Nathan, Soloman’s brother. Why is this so important? This has to do with the Key of David. Let’s go to Revelation 3 and verse 6 reads.

Rev.3:6] He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Pay attention, God’s Elect, he is speaking to you here.

Rev.3:7] And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;

Here we have the key of David spoken by Jesus.

Rev.3:8] I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.
[9] Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.

Speaking of the serpent’s seed, the Kenites. They will worship the LORD, not you, because they are behind you when all knees will bow.

Rev.3:10] Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

Speaking about the hour of temptation, Mat.24, Mark 13, and Luke 21. When God’s Elect will be delivered up to Satan for the Holy Spirit to speak through us at the sixth trump.

Rev.3:11] Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
[12] Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.

Knowing the Word that states that we have two seed lines, one of the woman’s, the other of the serpent which was Satan. Giving us Cain who was the father of the Kenites. This is the Key of David. That Jesus Christ came through the king line and the priest line. Most specifically through Aaron. We learned in chapter 1 that Mary and Elisabeth were sisters. Both are daughters of Aaron. Giving us KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS, in the order of Melchisedek. The second part of The Key of David. Now I want you to know these names are in Greek. Back to Luke 3 and verse 24 reads.

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,
[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,
[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,
[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,
[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,
[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,
[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,
[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,

Here we have Nathan, as prophesied by the prophet Zechariah, let’s go to Zechariah 12 and verse 10 reads.

Zec.12:10] And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.

Do not overlook “Whom they have pierced”.

Zec.12:11] In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem, as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon.
[12] And the land shall mourn, every family apart; the family of the house of David apart, and their wives apart; the family of the house of Nathan apart, and their wives apart;

We see here that it is Nathan that the Christ is to come through and not Solomon. But, let’s keep reading, something else is given for those whose eyes are opened.

Zec.12:13] The family of the house of Levi apart, and their wives apart; the family of Shimei apart, and their wives apart;

The house of Levi is also mentioned, KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS, Melchisedek. Now, from this point on Matthew 1 and Luke 3 match up because all is correct. Back to Luke 3 and verse 32 reads.

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,

Booz is Greek for Boaz, the kinsman redeemer of Ruth. Another beautiful book in God’s Word, find time to read it, it teaches us the law of kinsman redeemer. Christ is our Redeemer.

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,
[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,
[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,
[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,
[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,
[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.

This is the Key of David, that Christ would come through Seth and Seth would come through Adam who was the son of God. We learned in Genesis 3 that Cain was not the son of Adam, but from the Serpent. Let’s go to Revelation 12 and verse 9 reads.

Rev.12:9] And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

We see here that serpent is another name for Satan. Know the Key of David by studying the Word of God and he will open your eyes to the truth. Let’s go to his throne.

Father, we thank you for your word and ask that you bless all that love you in Jesus’s precious name, Amen.

KJV along with The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of The Bible