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MARCH 27
Luke 3:1–38
Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of
3 Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being gov-
16:21,22 wooden image…sacred pillar. A ernor of Judea, Herod being tetrarch of Gali-
reference to the wooden poles, images, or lee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and
trees that represented the Canaanite goddess the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias te-
Asherah. A stone pillar symbolic of male fertil- 2
ity was also prevalent in the Canaanite reli- trarch of Abilene, while Annas and Caiaphas
gion. These were forbidden by the first two were high priests, the word of God came to
commandments (Ex. 20:3–6; Deut. 5:7–10). John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.
3 And he went into all the region around the Jor-
dan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the
Psalm 37:30–36 remission of sins, as it is written in the book of
4
the words of Isaiah the prophet, saying:
30 The mouth of the righteous speaks
wisdom,
And his tongue talks of justice.
31 The law of his God is in his heart; 3:2 Annas and Caiaphas were high priests.
None of his steps shall slide.
According to Josephus, Annas served as high
32 The wicked watches the righteous, priest A.D. 6–15, when he was deposed by
And seeks to slay him. Roman officials. He nonetheless retained de
33 The LORD will not leave him in his facto power, as seen in the fact that his suc-
hand, cessors included 5 of his sons and Caiaphas, a
Nor condemn him when he is judged. son-in-law (Matt.26:3).Caiaphas was the actu-
al high priest during the time Luke describes,
34 Wait on the LORD, but Annas still controlled the office. This is
And keep His way, seen clearly in the fact that Christ was taken to
And He shall exalt you to inherit the Annas first after His arrest, then to Caiaphas
land; (Matt. 26:57).
When the wicked are cut off, you shall
see it. 3:4 Make His paths straight. Quoted from
35 I have seen the wicked in great power, Isaiah 40:3–5.A monarch traveling in wilderness
And spreading himself like a native regions would have a crew of workmen go
green tree. ahead to make sure the road was clear of debris,
36 Yet he passed away, and behold, he was obstructions, potholes, and other hazards that
no more; made the journey difficult. In a spiritual sense,
Indeed I sought him, but he could not John was calling the people of Israel to prepare
their hearts for the coming of their Messiah.
be found.
Proverbs 12:17–19
“The voice of one crying in the
17 He who speaks truth declares
righteousness, wilderness:
But a false witness, deceit. ‘Prepare the way of the LORD;
18 There is one who speaks like the Make His paths straight.
5 Every valley shall be filled
piercings of a sword,
But the tongue of the wise promotes And every mountain and hill brought
low;
health.
19 The truthful lip shall be established The crooked places shall be made
forever, straight
But a lying tongue is but for a moment. And the rough ways smooth;
6 And all flesh shall see the salvation
of God.’ ”
Then he said to the multitudes that came out
7
to be baptized by him, “Brood of vipers! Who
12:18 speaks…piercings. The contrast here
is between cutting words that are blurted out warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
8 Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance,
(Ps. 106:33) and thoughtful words that bring
health (Eph. 4:29,30). and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have
Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that
God is able to raise up children to Abraham
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