October 17, 2014
Luke 3-6
At the beginning of chapter 3, we read more of the content of John the Baptist’s preaching than we find in any of the other gospel. At v. 12, the fully grown Son of God appears for baptism, with both God the Spirit, and God the Father in attendance. Luke’s version of Jesus’ genealogy completes chapter 3. It’s different form Matthew’s by going in reverse order all the way back to Adam. The names after David differ as well, some say, because Matthew traces Jesus legal lineage through Joseph, and Luke traces Jesus blood lineage through Mary.
Beginning with chapter 4, Luke’s content looks more like Matthew and Mark’s: the temptation, healings and exorcisms, the calling of the disciples, the questions of the Pharisees, and an extended except of Jesus’ teaching. Luke 6 is like the Sermon on the Mount in miniature, and, because of Luke 6:17, is sometimes called the Sermon on the Plain. Read the beginning of it (Luke 6:20-23) and note how it’s different from Matthew 5:1-12. I don’t have a problem with this. I just imagine that sometimes Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit,” and at other times he simply said, “Blessed are the poor!” Both are true.
The other unique account in these chapters is back in Luke 4:14-30. There, in his home town, Jesus identifies himself as the Messiah, the one who fulfills Isaiah 61:1-2. All his “homeys” seemed fine with this, yet wonder, “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” But when Jesus calls them on their doubts, and reveals his plan to reach out to Gentiles, they tried to kill him! If Jesus was rejected in hi home town, how would he be received in Morton, were he to show up?
Your fellow pilgrim through the New Testament,
Pastor Gary
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